Sporting KC Make Multiple Comebacks Before Falling to Portland

Sporting Kansas City returned to Children’s Mercy Park for their second game under interim head coach Kerry Zavagnin.

It was kids’ day at CMP and the KC Cauldron pulled out some (primarily) Sesame Street themed two-poles. They also featured Brisket Bob, who would end up cutting a lot of brisket during the afternoon game.

Mostly, Sesame Street themed two-poles for kids' day from the @KCCauldron.Raise hell #SportingKC

— Chad Smith (@chadcsmith.bsky.social) 2025-04-13T18:18:00.234Z

The same lineup was rolled out that won 2-0 over St. Louis City SC last weekend with the main change being Nemanja Radoja missing from the bench after popping up on the injury report.

Our XI is in shape 🔹 #SportingKC

— Sporting Kansas City (@sportingkc.com) 2025-04-13T17:57:56.602Z

The visiting Portland Timbers brought new Designated Player David Da Costa to town for his first visit and previously injured DP Jonathan Rodriguez was available off the bench.

Kelsy kicks off the action in KC in today's Starting XI 👊Presented by Drive Toyota

— Portland Timbers (@timbers.com) 2025-04-13T17:23:04.482Z

The game got off to a quick start for Sporting KC. The team forced a turnover deep in Portland’s territory in the second minute and a quick interchange between Dejan Joveljic and Daniel Salloi led to a great chance that was kicked away by James Pantemis in goal. Almost immediately after a nice ball over the top from Manu Garcia found Salloi but he missed his first touch taking him towards goal and the chanced petered out. Despite that, there was a markedly ticked up aggression in going to goal more quickly.

Shortly after, there was a weird play that gave Portland the ball and it led to a goal. The ball struck the ref, but he didn’t call for a drop ball and instead called offside against SKC. Portland then took that play down, earned a corner and scored. Salloi, as the captain, had a long conversation with the ref but it all stood.

As for the goal itself, for some reason Joveljic was defending Portland’s best attacking player Da Costa who puts him in the spin cycle and delivered a killer ball to David Ayala who deflects it in for the opening goal. 1-0 Portland.

Weird sequence. The ball strikes the ref but the ref lets Portland have the ball anyways. The subsequent corner has Joveljic defending Portland's best attacker and Da Costa assists Ayala. #SportingKC #SKCvPOR

— Chad Smith (@chadcsmith.bsky.social) 2025-04-13T18:38:41.579Z

It wouldn’t take long for Sporting KC to respond. Diego Chara stomped Shapi Suleymanov’s foot (a theme on the afternoon) and setup a free kick. Being a left-footed free kick, Shapi stepped up to take it. He didn’t necessarily look like he was shooting as much as hoping for a deflection, but the ball slid through everyone and into the back of the net! 1-1!

Shapi Suleymanov opens his account for Sporting Kansas City!! 1-1#SportingKC #SKCvPOR

— KC Soccer Journal (@kcsoccerjournal.bsky.social) 2025-04-13T18:43:23.202Z

It wasn’t long after that Sporting KC had a shout for a penalty kick. Logan Ndenbe clearly appears to be fouled (look at the shin guards flying out). However, the ref must have deemed he couldn’t have gotten to the ball because they didn’t even bother to look at it. Goal kick given.

Ndenbe taken down in the box (shin guards come flying out). Goal kick given. And basically no review because it restarted quick… #SportingKC #SKCvPOR

— KC Soccer Journal (@kcsoccerjournal.bsky.social) 2025-04-13T18:47:26.983Z

That missed penalty call could be an issue because Portland went down and quickly retook the lead. Portland took a quick throw-in just as a second ball rolled onto the field. Ayala lined up a shot and it took a deflection off striker Kevin Kelsey as Pulskamp dove towards the area Ayala shot at. The deflection sent it in and put Portland back up a goal. 2-1. Unlucky.

Another deflection. Poor Pulskamp is going the wrong way and Portland re-take the lead. Kelsey gets the deflection on the Ayala shot. 2-1. #SportingKC #SKCvPOR

— Chad Smith (@chadcsmith.bsky.social) 2025-04-13T18:54:13.087Z

Lost in the chaos of the back-and-forth play were a few yellow cards to the Portland Timbers, including to winger Antony. That would matter because a few minutes after the Portland goal, already on a yellow, Antony stomped Shapi in the box. After a long review, a penalty was given. However, stunningly, no yellow card was given.

After a long review, referee Pierre-Luc Lauziere goes back and gives a penalty kick for this Antony stomp on Shapi. Unsure how he escaped a second yellow. #SportingKC #SKCvPOR

— KC Soccer Journal (@kcsoccerjournal.bsky.social) 2025-04-13T19:01:00.281Z

Joveljic made no mistake when he stepped up to the penalty spot. He drained his fifth goal of the season with a filthy Panenka down the middle. 2-2!

Dejan Joveljic with his fifth on the season with this dirty Panenka! 2-2! #SportingKC #SKCvPOR

— KC Soccer Journal (@kcsoccerjournal.bsky.social) 2025-04-13T19:02:54.580Z

The frenetic pace of the first half slowed down a bit, though Sporting KC had the better of the remaining half and seven minutes of stoppage time.

SKC did get a bit of a scare when a weird sequence played out right before halftime. Antony, who somehow hadn’t gotten himself a red card, came in late to a challenge on Fernandez and missed the ball. Fernandez completed the pass but the way Antony left his leg underneath Joaquin he took a nasty stomp. Fernandez escaped with a yellow, though play was held for the VAR to take a look for a possible red card.

Antony (who again should have seen a second yellow) is late into this challenge, doesn't win the ball, but Fernandez steps on him bad after the pass. Yellow. Reviewed briefly for red but the yellow stands. #SportingKC #SKCvPOR

— Chad Smith (@chadcsmith.bsky.social) 2025-04-13T19:18:04.944Z

The half ended 2-2. Portland led in yellow cards, two (Antony and Smith) to one (Fernandez). They held less than a percentage advantage in possession (50.6 to 49.4) but were level on shots (five each) and SOG (three each).

The second half started with Ian Smith (who was on a yellow) coming out for Claudio Bravo. Less than two minutes in, Sporting KC surrendered a chance to Portland. Pulskamp and Fernandez had a miscommunication playing it out of the back leaving the Timbers with a dangerous chance that they sent over the bar.

Shortly after, disaster struck. Khiry Shelton through the ball in to Jansen Miller who was too casual on the ball and was picked off by Antony who played a square ball to Kelsey for his second of the night. 3-2 Portland.

Way too casual here from Miller. Shelton throws it too him and he's picked off. Antony (who again should be red carded) to Kelsey for a brace. 3-2. #SportingKC #SKCvPOR

— Chad Smith (@chadcsmith.bsky.social) 2025-04-13T19:40:40.783Z

Things went from bad to worse for Kansas City. Portland earned a series of corners before knocking home a fourth goal. The Da Costa corner came in and was headed hard at Pulskamp who dealt it parrying it to the side, but most of the defense just watched as Kelsey gathered the rebound and hit a hard cross that somehow a Portland player got a leg on to deflect it into the goal. 4-2 Portland lead.

Portland with a fourth. The ball watching… 2-4. #SportingKC #SKCvPOR

— Chad Smith (@chadcsmith.bsky.social) 2025-04-13T19:45:39.886Z

Immediately after that Erik Thommy replaced Shapi on the right wing. The disappointing start to the half seemed to take both Sporting and the crowd out of the game after two promising first half comebacks.

Sporting did show signs of life with a few nice balls over the top, with the best being a chance for Jake Davis to get on the scoresheet. A ball was played in from deep that Salloi flicked on to an onrushing Davis. Pantemis came out and made himself big and shot down the Davis shot to maintain the two-goal lead. KC made a few more changes to try to spark a comeback or to save some still rehabbing legs. In the 69th Memo Rodriguez and Tim Leibold replaced Shelton and Ndenbe respectively. The move pushed Davis to right back and Memo took over his midfield spot.

The changes nearly made something happen with Leibold help spark an attack up the left side of the pitch when he played a direct ball into Salloi inside. Daniel found Dejan who tried to work his magic, but Pantemis again made a massive save.

Near magic from Dejan but Pantemis shuts the five hole to make the massive save. #SportingKC #SKCvPOR

— Chad Smith (@chadcsmith.bsky.social) 2025-04-13T20:10:37.179Z

Sporting KC made a couple late changes bringing on extra offense as William Agada and Stephen Afrifa replaced Jacob Bartlett and Garcia. The changes made an impact as Afrifa made an immediate impact earning a penalty kick getting pushed down in the box.

Afrifa earns the PK… but Joveljic gets his shot saved. Still 4-2 Portland.#SportingKC #SKCvPOR

— KC Soccer Journal (@kcsoccerjournal.bsky.social) 2025-04-13T20:23:57.785Z

Unfortunately for SKC, the penalty would be saved by Pantemis who had a fantastic game. Dejan Joveljic will want that one back.

Dejan Joveljic has his PK saved… It'll end 4-2 with Portland winning on the road. #SportingKC #SKCvPOR

— Chad Smith (@chadcsmith.bsky.social) 2025-04-13T20:25:11.587Z

The game had a few more promising moments, but Kansas City couldn’t pull off their chances and lost 4-2. It’s the team’s sixth loss of the season. They are back in action next week on the return trip to California to play the San Jose Earthquakes next Saturday, April 19th at 9:30 PM CDT.