Miscues doom Sporting Kansas City in loss to Austin FC

A match marked by sloppy play early and opponents making meals of fouls must have lulled Sporting Kansas City to sleep, even after Kansas City enlivened the match early in the second half. The result was a 2-1 loss that kept Austin FC’s playoff hopes alive and drove Sporting’s season to the darkest of possible closings.

Saturday night at Sporting Park is a chance to gain smiles for Sporting Kansas City and their fans. A chance to see long-time friends in Austin FC midfielder Ilie Sanchez and Interim Head Coach Davy Arnaud, as well as Jack Jewsbury and Tim Melia in attendance. A chance to hear former star midfielder Benny Feilhaber on the AppleTV broadcast. And, most importantly, a chance to draw level on points with CF Montreal in the race to avoid the dreaded Wooden Spoon for the worst record in Major League Soccer.

Yet, as has been the case for weeks, Sporting Kansas City has to do it despite a litany of injuries. Although usual starting midfielder Lasse Berg-Johnson (hamstring) and likely starter Owen Wolff (quad, available in the 20) have been upgraded to questionable, starting backs Or Blorian (chest), Moises Mosquera (hamstring), and Justin Reynolds (quad) remain out.

Adding to the implications is that Austin FC is fighting to remain alive in the playoff hunt with four matches to go. Both teams are riding winless streaks, with Austin FC mired one deeper at five matches.

Sporting Head Coach Raphael Wicky sends the following eleven out to gain the three points:

Sloppy play on the wings and tight marking in the midfield meant no rhythm in the match early. Sporting, through the speed of Capita, then Stephen Afrifa, creates the early opportunities. The second opportunity sees the ball drop to Taylor Calheira, who fires towards goal, only to see an Austin FC block as goalkeeper Damian Las had challenged Afrifa.

After persistence from Taylor Calheira kept possession for Kansas City in the 16th minute, Capita cuts back right from the left edge of Austin’s box. Having beat Las, the shot steams over the crossbar.

Kwaku Agyabeng earns the first yellow of the match in the 21st minute for a strong tackle 36 yards on the left middle channel of Sporting’s goal. Sporting rejects the ensuing free kick, yet extended possession remains for Austin.

Sporting’s defense, on the brink of exceeding the MLS record for goals allowed, is allowing penetrations, but holding solid in the face of a coordinated Austin attack.

Having yet to impact the match is winger Andre Luiz. Off the ball runs, a key to unlocking a defense hell-bent on stopping the Brazilian, have not been in Luiz’s bag of tricks by the 34th minute.

Less than a minute after Mikkel Desler earned a yellow for impeding Capita, Kansas City’s Jake Davis lunges in with both feet, catching an ankle to see yellow as well.

It was Afrifa with a determined effort to wake the crowd in the 43rd minute. Prone on the pitch after slicing and dicing at the right edge of Austins’ box, Afrifa pops up, cuts right, and unleashes a stinger that forces Las to his left to double fist the effort away. Moments later, Afrifa receives from Calheira, only to scuttle a chance where he had time in alone.

Finally, Luiz has his moment just after three minutes of stoppage time are announced. Gliding past his defender on the right wing, Luiz gains seperation as he approaches Las’s goal. On his lesser right foot, Luiz squanders the chance to leave the match scoreless at the break.

Eight shots and an xG of 1.2 for Sporting Kansas City to Austin’s four and 0.3, plus five minutes rolling on the pitch told the story of the first half. Austin’s tactics are evident of a team not trying to lose and lose ground in the playoff hunt. But points – and goals – matter too.

Calvin Harris, Luiz’s favorite wing partner, enters the match for the second half in place of Capita.

Immediately, Afrifa fouls Austin’s Besard Sabovic, who spends more time on the pitch, to earn another yellow for Sporting. Ilie, Sporting’s former midfield maestro, earns a yellow for a foul on Afrifa in the 52nd minute. It is Kansas City’s Zorhan Bassong less than a minute after. The match yearns for someone, anyone, to bring substance to the play.

The main protagonist for Sporting on the night would be the one. After Luiz loses the handle on the ball deep inside the left channel of Austin’s box, he pokes the loose ball to Afrifa who steps into the ball and laces it low in the far corner past Las for the desperately needed opener. Finally, some energy enlivens Sporting Park.

Austin FC came alive as well. Twice Joseph Rosales is denied in front of Sporting’s goal. First, Rosales’ header is pushed aside by Sporting’s Stefan Cleveland, then, on the goal line, Jansen Miller dives to head away the following shot. Harbingers.

The next foray is the breakthrough for the visitors. Myrto Uzuni’s first shot is denied by Cleveland. The second finds its way off the bottom of the crossbar and over the line from close range to draw the match level.

Calheira makes way for Ruben Ramos Jr. in the 68th minute. In thee 74th minute, Jacob Bartlett steps on for Bassong and Owen Wolff, versus his former club, for Luiz.

Afrifa, off a delicious feed from Wolff, streaks into Austin’s box in the 75th minute. After the ball appeared to pop up on him, the Canadien’s attempt roles wide of the far post.

Three minutes on, Afrifa has the simplest chance of the night. Inside the six-yard box, alone, Afrifa has a ball come to his fee from Harris’ work in the inside left channel. Perhaps stunned, perhaps the pace was too quick, perhaps it was too simple. but the ball leaves Afrifa’s feet to trickle just wide of the near post.

Moments going wanting, often leave teams wanting. Despite a lunging aerial save from Cleveland off a left-wing cross, Sporting falls behind after a poor clearance from Emir Karic. Uzuni, ever-present in the box, cleans up the error in the 86th minute and puts Austin in front.

In front of seven minutes of added time, Shapi Suleymanov enters for Agyabeng as Sporting endeavors to ring something from the night.

A few chances, blocked by Austin’s defense or missed, gave Sporting fans glimmers of hope in the end, but the night had been lost.

Sporting Kansas City will travel to Minnesota FC for a midweek match on Wednesday before wrapping up the home schedule next Saturday afternoon versus FC Dallas.