Revival & Survival: Sporting Kansas City hold two-goal lead at Seattle Sounders

It seemed a task too far. Last place Sporting Kansas City at first place Seattle Sounders. Only three goals on the season versus a side that had not given up a goal at home all season. By the end, goals from Erik Thommy and Alan Pulido stemmed the tied, even against a penalty call that meant a harrowing final half hour.

Sporting Kansas City (0-7-3) is struggling, slumping or soaked in mediocrity, drenched in doom. However one wants to label it, after four straight losses, only three goals on the season, and zero wins in MLS in 2023, it has not been inspiring from Sporting. At Seattle Sounders (6-2-2) on Sunday afternoon, Sporting Kansas City hoped to be marked safe from tying the league record set by Real Salt Lake (2007) and the Colorado Rapids (2019) for the longest winless streak to start a season.

The last time the two sides met, Sporting suffered a 4-1 loss at the feet of Jordan Morris’ four goals. Hope was not bright, certainly not rising.

Facing calls for his removal from fans, Sporting Kansas City Sporting Director and Manager Peter Vermes put the following starting eleven on the turf on Sunday afternoon:

The #SEAvSKC XI#SportingKC | @BlueKC pic.twitter.com/t5eSXZB3Hj

— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) May 7, 2023

But soccer is weird. Erik Thommy led an attack up the right inner channel in the 4th minute. The German played for Daniel Salloi who squared for a running Gadi Kinda near the middle of Seattle’s box. Kinda’s touch was long, but a persisting Thommy latched on and hit a turf-burner under Sounders’ goalkeeper Stefan Frei for the lead. The goal was a start. Of what, the next 86 minutes would tell. No matter, the goal was the first Seattle had surrendered at home on the season.

⬅️ Daniel's cross in
➡️ Gadi's tap to Erik
🏹 Thommy puts it home!#SportingKC | #SEAvSKC pic.twitter.com/wNhw90h3O4

— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) May 7, 2023

The hosts took the cue and began to dominate the ball near the 20th minute. Sporting navigated the shift with a hustling play from Remi Walter five minutes later that cutoff Seattle playmaker Nico Lodeiro from a dangerous ball inside the top of Sporting’s box.

Still, Sporting found themselves chasing the ball, and, more significantly, chasing players as Seattle’s superior movement evolved. Sporting, though, had opportunities when the ball turned over.

In minute thirty-one, Thommy cut to the top of the box from the left inner channel. Spying Pulido, Thommy shifted his hips and instead played perpendicular, beating three defenders, for the Mexican’s diagonal run. Shooting against his momentum, Pulido put his first league of the season inside the far post for a stunning 2-0 Kansas City lead.

Alan's first League goal since his return 🥹👏#VamosKC pic.twitter.com/FgpY9hyNef

— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) May 7, 2023

Soccer is a game for opportunists, and Sporting had played the role well thus far. Getting Thommy to attack space on the right and getting numbers into the box have been valuable adjustments. As a result, both goals have either come from or been finished from Zone 14 or Zone 17.

At the halftime break, Vermes took off Kinda, as the playmaker is getting back to match fitness, for Felipe Hernandez.

Sporting kept on the pressure, despite Seattle possession, by not giving the ball up easily under pressure in the back and by enterprising movement and individual ingenuity on the ball. What a difference sustained momentum and confidence can make: A tale as old as time. A bit of swagger had crept back into Sporting Blue.

The 65th minute brought a problem for Sporting. Logan Ndenbe, battling on the very left top edge of his own box, flung his arm out and hit Seattle’s Fredy Montero, arguably inhibiting his route to the ball. Referee Victor Rivas pointed to the spot; Lodeiro put the spot kick easily past Kansas City’s Tim Melia. At 2-1, it was now a different match.

Veteran Roger Espinoza stepped on for Thommy in the 75th minute to help quell Seattle’s attacking momentum. The sub was followed by Khiry Shelton for Daniel Salloi four minutes later. Then, as the match became a battle of wills, Vermes replaced Pulido with Graham Zusi with four minutes left in the ninety.

Sporting out scrapped the Sounders – and nearly scored via Espinoza – in the desperate final minutes and won three points for the first time in 2023, avoiding a dubious MLS honor in the result.

Sporting will continue a stretch of five matches in 14 days with a Round of 32 US Open Cup match at Houston Dynamo on Wednesday, before hosting Minnesota United at the weekend.