Sporting Kansas City and the LA Galaxy clashed on Star Wars Day, May 4th.  The two teams came into the match bringing up the rear in the Western Conference. Sporting Kansas City has won two of it’s last four games under interim manager, Kerry Zavagnin, while LA is off to an historically bad start for a defending MLS Cup champion.

Sporting Kansas City lined up in their typical 4-3-3 wearing their primary kits with John Pulskamp between the pipes shielded by a backline of Logan Ndenbe, Robert Voloder, Jansen Miller, and Andrew Brody. The midfield trio was Jacob Bartlett, Nemanja Radoja, and Manu Garcia. The front line was Daniel Salloi and Shapi Suleymanov flanking Dejan Joveljic who was making his first appearance against his old team after the blockbuster deal in the winter transfer window that brought him to Kansas City.

The Galaxy, dressed in their purple secondary kits, also lined up in a 4-3-3 with Christian Ramirez, Joseph Paintsil, and Gabriel Pec leading the attack. German legend, Marco Reus, Edwin Cerillo, and Diego Fagundez lined up in the midfield. The backline was comprised of John Nelson, Emiro Garces, Maya Yoshida, and Miki Yamane in front of keeper, John McCarthy.

A New Hope. #SKCvLA | #SportingKC pic.twitter.com/pWJ45lMhB1

— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) May 4, 2025

The match started evenly between the two worst sides in the west and was a relatively sloppy affair. Through the first ten minutes, the teams traded possession before the Galaxy began to impose themselves on the game. It was the home team, emboldened by the A New Hope tifo which struck first. Sporting won a gorgeous tackle in the defensive third and were able to begin an attack with combination play between newcomers, Manu Garcia and Shapi. The winger eventually squared it across the top of the box for Radoja who fed Daniel Salloi. The Hungarian attempted a low cross across the six yard box but it was deflected into the net by Maya Yoshida for an own goal. 1-0 Sporting.

The Galaxy attempted to get back into the game by attacking Andrew Brody with Paintsil and his pace. The winger repeatedly cut in and put balls into the box to test the Sporting defense but an organized defense protected Pulskamp. In the 25th minute, Marco Reus received a chipped through ball, turned, and drove into the box. Pulskamp charged to close down the angle and the German midfielder cut the ball back into the middle. Sporting was quick to pounce and were able to prevent any additional danger.

Pulskamp made another moment of magic in the 29th minute when Gabriel Pec took down a lobbed in ball with his chest. As he looked to create danger, Pulskamp rushed him and was able to deflect the ball out for a corner. The attack may not have led to a goal but there were severe consequences. Logan Ndenbe went down and needed to be substituted for Tim Leibold in the 32nd minute.

The first yellow card of the game came in the 38th minute when Jacob Paintsil was booked for simulation. He attempted to get around Jacob Bartlett in the box and collapsed to the ground with pretty minimal contact. Tim Leibold earned a booking in the 42nd minute when he chopped down Gabriel Pec from behind with a late slide tackle. Emiro Garces picked up the last yellow of the first half in stoppage time when he pulled down Tim Leibold as he attacked down the left side. Jacob Bartlett stood over the ball for the set piece and aimed for the backpost but really overcooked the ball and sent it flying into the stands.

HALFTIME STATS

At the break, the visitors had the advantage in possession 60% – 40%.

Despite Sporting having a 1-0 lead, they trailed in shots 0-6 (1 on target). Your eyes aren’t deceiving you.  Sporting led 1-0 without a shot.

LA led xG 0.9 to 0.

LA led in passes 329 to 117 and passing accuracy 90% to 84%. They also led in corners 5-0.

SECOND HALF

At the break, Jake Davis entered the match for Andrew Brody. The second half began much like the first, with the Galaxy maintaining possession in Sporting’s half and regularly testing the home team’s backline. In the 49th minute, Marco Reus earned a corner kick after a clever run and a cross that was deflected out of bounds. On the ensuring corner kick, Yoshida rose above everyone and found the ball with his head, but it was deflected off the back of Jansen Miller – who had his back to the play. Jacob Paintsil had another moment of danger in the 51st minute when LA hit a driven cross to the backpost. It found Paintsil, who likely would have scored with a diving header, but he instead hit it with his thigh and sent the ball over the crossbar.

Sporting finally earned a corner in the 58th minute. However, Jacob Bartlett again over hit the ball and sent it flying past everyone and out of bounds. In the 59th minute, Bartlett made way for Zorhan Bassong and Shapi Suleymanov was substituted for Erik Thommy. Joveljic’s first real look came when Salloi touched the ball around Garces and sent the striker streaking into the box. His cross was cleared, knocked off Salloi, and went out for a throw in.

In the 63rd minute Greg Vanney made his first substitution bringing Miguel Berry in for Christian Ramirez. LA kept up the pressure on Sporting’s backline. In the 64th minute, Gabriel Pec gave everyone a heart attack with a dangerous move in the box but the rookie, Jansen Miller, was able to avert any danger. Sporting broke forward on the counter and was able to maintain some possession to try to ease things on the defense.

Gabriel Pec tormented Jake Davis for about 30 minutes and earned himself a free kick deep in the offensive half in the 69th minute. Reus hit a dangerous inswinger that was on frame and required Pulskamp to make a leaping save to keep the scoreline 1-0. In the 71st minute, Diego Fagundez was supposed to come off for Mauricio Cuevas. While LA was attempting the double switch, Gabriel Pec went down again. Pec ended up leaving the game as a result of the Davis challenge and Cuevas entered for Pec instead of Fagundez. Julian Aude also entered the match for John Nelson.

LA’s other star winger, Paintsil, went down shortly after and was substituted in the 80th minute. Brazilian youth international, Matheus Nascimento, entered the match for Paintsil. Sporting opted to make their final change of the match in the 82nd minute when Manu Garcia was substituted for Memo Rodriguez. Unfortunately, Garcia took too long to leave the field and Rodriguez was not allowed to enter the match until 84th minute.

As Kansas City attempted to grind out three points at home, the Galaxy got increasingly frustrated and desperate. The fourth official raised the board letting the teams know there would be 6 minutes of stoppage time. Reus earned a free kick in a very dangerous area when he was fouled by Bassong about two yards outside the area. The veteran cut the ball back and forced Bassong to pull him down, giving the German legend an opportunity on goal. Reus’ free kick was exceptional but didn’t dip enough to land on frame. It rang off the top of the crossbar and went out for a Kansas City goal kick. As stoppage time ticked to 96:30, LA got one final corner. The ensuing set piece was delivered in, cleared, and Chris Penso blew his whistle to give the home team all three points.

In the 30 years of Wizards soccer, they had never played a match without taking a shot. Not only did the Wiz finally…achieve (??) that feat, but they took home a result as well. Not only did Sporting make history, but LA did as well. With their loss, it’s an historically bad start to a season – 11 games without a win – as well as the worst start for a defending champion ever.

FINAL STATS

Possession: LA – 64.5% SKC – 35.5%

Shots: LA – 11 SKC – 0

Shots on goal: LA – 1 SKC – 0

Passes: LA – 701 SKC – 266

Passing Accuracy: LA 90.7% SKC 80.1%

Corners: LA – 12 SKC – 1

Expected goals LA – 1.9 SKC – 0

Fouls: LA – 8 SKC -7

Yellow Cards: LA – 2 SKC – 1

POINTS: SKC – 3 LA – 0

Never tell me the odds pic.twitter.com/KlKCCpoEtd

— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) May 5, 2025

A New Hope indeed.  SPORTING!