Three points at home for Sporting Kansas City

Every once in a while, something happens that makes one believe things are getting better…

And that went down in a thrilling 2-1 win over Minnesota United FC. Goals from Dejan Joveljic and Manu Garcia, combined with a gritty effort and some backline refinement, earned a needed three points for Sporting Kansas City. But, the win was not without drama.

Sporting Kansas City (3-10-2) returned to Sporting Park Wednesday night for their first home match since the FIFA World Cup ended last weekend. Minnesota United (6-5-4) was the guest, playing their first match since the World Cup break began in mid-May.

A 3-2 loss at St. Louis City last Thursday marked Sporting’s return to the schedule since finishing the first 14 matches at the bottom of the Western Conference. Home cooking is a major key to pulling the club back into contention and to gaining gravity, gravity built by the tremendous month of the city’s hosting of six World Cup matches and serving as the base camp for four nations’ teams.

Newly-signed defenders Or Blorian and Emir Karic (as a substitute) made their debuts v City. Sporting KC’s Manager Raphael Wicky filled out his lineup card like this:

The starting eleven featured three changes from the St. Louis trip as Wyatt Meyer (a late scratch then due to illness), Jake Davis, and Karic started along the backline. Sporting’s rebuild – in its recent form – has focused on rebuilding from the back. Minnesota would be the second test during this transfer window. Will the Sporting Kansas City faithful see hope loading?

Manu Garcia, via the other frontrunners in combination, fired the first shot for Kansas City in the 4th minute. The strike from 16 yards was right at MNUFC’s goalkeeper Drake Callender.

Sporting played direct often early out of their 4-2-3-1 in possession. Yet, on the ball The Loons looked a composed side with creative ideas to exploit space, while Kansas City looked scrappers mostly reliant on their speedy wingers.

Case in point in the 15th minute: Minnesota smartly moved the ball inside to outside and back, playing a runner who found space between the lines. A give-and-go and a pass inside means a ringing off Sporting’s far post. Seconds later, a dipping strike from 21 yards forces a fabulous save down to his left from KC goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland.

As the match went into the 21st minute, Kansas City became more patient and composed on the ball, however dependent on wing play they predictably were.

But, from strength comes strength. Central midfielder Lasse Berg Johnsen played Capita wide right on the counter in the 28th minute. A push of the ball, a stepover, and acceleration saw Capita glide by his mark and play for a near post running Dejan Joveljic. The Serbian ace finished first time to complete the textbook counter and put the home side in front. The goal was Joveljic’s 8th of the season in 16 matches.

Still Sporting’s midfield was a sieve, the backline susceptible, as Minnesota found gaps and lanes into Kansas City’s box.

In the 44th minute The Loons’ Joaquin Pereyra snuck behind Sporting right back Jake Davis. Pereyra hit a loaded cross/shot that Cleveland parried away. Shortly, after, Joveljic broke free at midfield for Kansas City. He fed a running Harris to his left. Harris waited to attract defenders and was taken down at the edge of the box: free kick Sporting from the left edge of Minnesota’s box.

Joveljic took the kick, forcing a strong save from Callender.

The half would end as such, portending an exciting second half.

Band on the run? Man on the run? The second half began with Capita running rampant up the left wing, sometimes with teammates trailing behind. But, the Angolan winger has the wherewithal to pull it back too. The first burst from the gate meant an innocuous corner for Sporting.

It was the other winger, Calvin Harris in the 51st minute. Harris pelted the near post with a strike from the left, inside United’s box, off a feed from Joveljic.

After a Minnesota rush in the 54th minute, Harris did it one better. Receiving from Manu Garcia in the inner left channel, the Middlesborough, England, native fed a beautiful diagonal pass for Davis inside the right side of The Loons’ box. Davis took one touch inside, then fed a trailing Garcia. ‘I’ll take it from here,’ said Garcia and rippled the net inside the near post for a 2-0 Kansas City lead.

Sporting Kansas City’s backline had grown wise to Minnesota’s penetrations. Blorian and Meyer both began to step into attackers in space to force them backwards, and the midfield, perhaps inspired by the turn of events, fought earnestly.

Minnesota Manager Cameron Knowles brought on two fresh attacking subs in the 64th minute to try and change the momentum. In the 68th minute, it was Davis, who, after Cleveland made another strong save, cleared a flighted ball off the line with a relatively easy header to save the shutout and keep Sporting in the driver’s seat.

Wicky sent Kwaku Agyabeng on for Garcia and Stephen Afrifa for Capita in the 72nd minute. The two left the match having setup the home side for three points. Would Kansas City see it through?

Three minutes later, that outcome was in doubt. Off a foul by Joveljic deep on the left edge of Sporting’s box. The ensuing free kick was played directly to Devin Padelford’s head and into the back of Sporting’s net.

Harris led a break in the 77th minute, only to shoot from distance when he had Afrifa open wide to his left.

Wicky opted for fresh defenders in Jayden Reid to take off Karic and Jacob Bartlett to take off Bassong in the 79th minute. The tide kept turning as United threatened repeatedly.

Wonderful defending from Meyer on a diagonal running Mamadou Dieng in the 83rd minute helped keep Sporting in front as the two sides exchanged fast-paced attacks.

A shot whisked by Cleveland’s far post in the 90th minute. Reid recovered the ball from a runaway attacker moments later as Sporting’s grit seemed destined to hold onto the win. Cleveland pounced on another ball, before Afrifa threatened on the opposite end. It was entertaining soccer at the height of drama.

After four minutes of added time, Sporting had won the night. And perhaps the hearts of those in attendance.

Sporting Kansas City will return to the pitch quickly, traveling to visit LAFC Saturday night at BMO Stadium.