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Sporting KC Dive into a Victory over the Chicago Fire

Sporting Kansas City earn the comeback victory over the lowly Chicago Fire in the Leagues Cup opener for their group.

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3 months ago

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Superman | Credit: Thad Bell

Late Sunday night marked the start of the second ‘real’ Leagues Cup with all 29 MLS teams and 17 Liga MX teams competing. In 2023 Lionel Messi joined the league and carried Inter Miami to the trophy. Sporting Kansas City advanced out of the group stage before running into Toluca last year. They’ll face Toluca again next week, but until then, they had to host the Chicago Fire first.

They rocked their retro KC Wizards kits and put out an interesting lineup. The graphic showed a 4-2-3-1 but I’d assumed it’d be more of a 4-3-3 with that midfield. However, it often did resemble a double pivot in the midfield.

Andreu Fontas got his first start since July 7th against FC Dallas. He was joined in the back by Tim Leibold, Robert Castellanos and Khiry Shelton. Dany Rosero was available on the bench after missing time, but he wouldn’t get into the game. The midfield was back to its optimal lineup with Remi Walter, Erik Thommy and Nemanja Radoja, though Memo Rodriguez was still not available from the bench. The front three featured Stephen Afrifa, Willy Agada and Daniel Salloi. Alan Pulido and Johnny Russell were also missing from the bench.

The Chicago Fire went with a mixed lineup, despite missing Shaqiri, who is not with the team and appears set for a permanent move away from Chicago.

First Half

The first big action of the match came in the 6th minute. After earning a foul just outside the box, Thommy drilled a knuckling free kick right into the keeper who pushed it out for a corner. Chicago followed that up with a couple half chances in quick succession. One that Tim Melia dove on to prevent a tap in on a cross and another that was shot wide after a Shelton turnover in the final third.

The chances just kept coming for Sporting KC after that. In the 11th minute, Afrifa cut inside only to have his shot deflected for another corner. In the 19th, Willy Agada got in deep for a chance of his own but blasted it off the crossbar.

Then, against the run of play, Chicago scored through Georgios Koutsias to take a 1-0 lead.

There was a hint of offside on the goal, but clearly both Castellanos and Fontas keep Chicago on. There were also calls for a foul in the buildup when Chicago took the ball off Agada, but no replay was shown of that action, and it was a bit inconclusive.

From here, SKC continued to dominate the game, but not finish off their attacks. In the 33rd minute, Daniel Salloi appeared to be taking off into the final third when Fabian Herbers grabbed his jersey, twice, and escaped a foul and card. That started a few chants directed at the referee, Rubiel Vazquez, who failed to give an obvious second yellow card last week against St. Louis City.

In the 39th minute, the bad luck would break! Sporting KC earned a free kick, that was almost a corner kick and Walter delivered an inch-perfect cross to the head of a charging Castellanos to tie up the game. 1-1.

[Update: After the game, Castellanos gave Peter Vermes credit for the adjustment that led to the goal.]

The teams would head into the half level at one apiece.

Second Half

Sporting KC picked up where they left off to start the second. They had Chicago under constant pressure and a beautiful buildup to what looked like a surefire goal. Afrifa’s initial shot was blocked, but the follow-up sat up perfectly for both Radoja and Agada. Hence the problem, as both tried to take it and collided with each other. Both guys were able to play on though.

The first yellow card would come shortly after as Jaylen Shannon committed a heavy foul on Afrifa in the buildup to the attack. It looked like the ref wasn’t going to go back and give a card, but after an awkward delay he did. The foul actually left Shannon worse for wear and he left the game after.

KC kept the pressure on, and multiple players tested the keeper. Salloi drilled a shot that was pushed out for a corner that ultimately drifted just over Casti’s head. Then Thommy went for the spectacular and just missed the top of the net.

Then, in more Vazquez refereeing nonsense, after he gave a foul to KC when Agada was shoved from behind, Chicago twice delayed a restart, and he allowed it and issued zero cards. He seemed to be indicating Sporting KC played the ball from the wrong spot, both times, even though they kept moving back. [Side note: It’s so bizarre the same ref would officiate back-to-back games, especially after he clearly blew a game changing call last game.]

In the 73rd minute, Sporting KC went to their bench for the first time bringing on Robert Voloder for Fontas.

In the 74th, Afrifa tried to put the team on his back. First, he did a delightful turn to beat his first man. Then he cut inside to beat his second before sending his shot off the bar.

Afrifa didn’t let the disappointment slow him down. Just moments later, Thommy sprayed a ball out wide to Afrifa who took a touch and then sent the ball into Agada who did his best Superman impression to put Sporting KC ahead!

In the 81st minute, Leibold was subbed out for Zorhan Bassong. The hopes of a Logan Ndenbe return are dashed. Shortly after that sub, Afrifa went down, and Alenis Vargas hopped up to replace him in the 84th minute. Immediately after the sub, Chicago recycled a ball off a corner and forced a big Melia save to preserve SKC’s lead.

[Update: Tim Melia wasn’t taking goal kicks and free kicks, instead Voloder was handling those. Vermes confirmed Melia’s leg was bothering him and it was precautionary. PV asked Melia after the game if it’ll prevent him from playing Monday against Toluca and he said, “no.” Melia added, “Robi can kick it further, anyways.”]

Just after that, the fresh Vargas started to give Chicago fits. Andrew Gutman responded by drilling him into the boards and earned himself a goal kick…

Chicago would continue to struggle to gain possession of the ball when six minutes of stoppage time was put up on the board. Sporting KC made some mistakes, but they ultimately killed it off and put themselves in a great spot to get out of the group stage of Leagues Cup. They are back in action, hosting Toluca, Monday, August 5th.

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I've been covering Kansas City soccer since 2014, including Sporting Kansas City, the KC Current, SKC II and more. I'm based out of Kansas City, MO, but got my start covering SKC while writing from Phoenix, AZ.

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