Sporting KC fall 3-2 to Galaxy after conceding three in second half

A dominant first half for Sporting KC was quickly erased as the LA Galaxy scored three goals in nine minutes to take the points. A cold night at Children’s Mercy Park made the 3-2 comeback loss sting that much more.

Peter Vermes deployed a new formation – a 4-2-3-1 – putting both Agada and Pulido on the field at the same time. They started with Agada up top, and Erik Thommy on the right wing for an injured Johnny Russell, but the formation was quite fluid. The two strikers got their wires crossed in the box a couple times early on as they figured out how to share the field in those moments.

It's about that time ⏰#SKCvLA | @BlueKC pic.twitter.com/J515xEFHYx

— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) March 24, 2024

Sporting KC had a flurry of chances in the opening stages, but the scoring didn’t get started until the 34th minute. SKC was electing for short corners with Thommy to play the ball in from a better angle. It fell to Daniel Salloi at the far post, who found Radoja in front of goal for an easy finish. It was the Serbian’s first goal for the club since arriving last season.

Nemanja Radoja with his first goal in Sporting blue!

Tune in now to #SKCvLA on #MLSSeasonPass on@AppleTV: https://t.co/LL5fzMqIXM pic.twitter.com/kKHLyxgjWU

— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) March 24, 2024

Willy Agada doubled the lead with the last touch of the first half. It came off the sixth corner kick of the game for the home side, who finished the half with 17 shots. There may have been some questionable defending, but Willy will happily open his account for the year.

Sporting KC should have scored another in the first minute of the second half, but Agada chose to pass in stead of shoot. From there, everything changed.

The Galaxy scored two goals in three minutes, and they could have scored a couple more over this time as well. First it was Eriq Zavelta in the 72nd minute.

Chaos in the box 🤯

Game on as Eriq Zavaleta makes it a 2-1 game. pic.twitter.com/lGLw9w9RAp

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 24, 2024

Then Dejan Joveljic tied things up before the home fans knew what hit them. The onslaught continued and the Galaxy got the third goal in the 82nd off the foot of Mark Delgado.

It’s a disappointing result for SKC who were in position to move into second place in the Western Conference with a win. In stead, it’s the Galaxy sitting behind Minnesota United at the top of the table.

Next Saturday SKC travel to Canada to face Toronto FC.