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Sporting KC takes 3-1 victory at Toronto FC

Second half goals powers SKC to the win

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1 month ago

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Remi Walter | Credit: Thad Bell

The first half started with back-and-forth action where Toronto controlled possession but Sporting KC had the better chances. The second was dramatically different goal-wise. While Toronto still had more possession, Sporting KC took control in the second half scoring three goals before conceding a late consolation goal to the home side. Two first time goal scorers capped a nice rebound from the loss the previous week.

Sporting Kansas City was not only missing captain Johnny Russell but also Alan Pulido as well. Memo Rodriguez started in the midfield and Erik Thommy moved to the wing for Russell. Wily Agada took Pulido’s spot at center forward. Toronto FC were missing several players as well but have been strong at home with two shutouts.

“I think the first half, we played very well, to be honest with you,” manager Peter Vermes stated. “I thought we created great, great chances in transition. Easily should have been 2-0 up at halftime, but the mentality to defend – because a few guys on their team came back from injury which they inserted at different times of the game which posed some challenges through the run of play, and it was like we called timeout and made some adjustments and I thought that the players within the game were very adaptable and dealt with the game really well. I’m a little bit upset with the fact that we didn’t get a shutout. We deserved a shutout. But to get three goals on the road to a team that’s been playing as well as they have, they were big points for us and then obviously they’re bonus points because they’re out of conference, so that was huge.”

The Toronto squad.

The first few minutes were wide open and back and forth. Toronto’s Luka Gavran was called on to make some great saves. One of the most dangerous chances for SKC was saved by Gavran in the 37th minute when Agada headed the ball on goal off of a corner.

Toronto went right down the pitch and found the net but was called off in the play. A couple of minutes later Agada had another great chance that went off the crossbar. Tim Leibold also had a good opportunity in the 44th minute. Quick passing by SKC played him in on goal alone. Gavran to cut down the angle to make the save but it seemed to foreshadow the second half.

SKC came out strong in the second half and it paid off in the 57th when Remi Walter scored his second of the year.  TFC cleared a shot out of the box that fell to Walter who laced it back on goal. Gavran had little chance and the visitors were up 1-0.

 

A few minutes later Jake Davis received a pass, took a touch and launched a shot from well outside the box. The shot went through traffic and Gavran did not track it well. The goal doubled up the lead for SKC.

Alenis Vargas subbed on for Agada in the 78th minute and by the 83rd he had his first MLS goal. Davis knocked the ball forward for Vargas. The Hondurian forward touched the ball past his defender and then as Gavran came out for him, Vargas poked it past him to make the lead 3-0.

With the assist, Jake Davis became one of only six players under the age of 23 to notch a goal and an assist for Sporting KC since 2014. Players under the age of 23 with at least one goal and one assist in a regular season game for SKC since 2014: Jake Davis (2024) Willy Agada (2022) Gianluca Busio (2021) Daniel Salloi (2018) Daniel Salloi (2017) Soony Saad (2014)

 

TFC pulled one back and ruined the shutout for Tim Melia in the 97th when Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty swung a ball across the box. Jonathan Osorio knocked it in and the game finshed 3-1.

Sporting Kansas City: Tim Melia; Jake Davis, Dany Rosero, Robert Voloder, Tim Leibold; Nemanja Radoja, Remi Walter, Memo Rodriguez (Felipe Hernandez 78′); Erik Thommy (Stephen Afrifa 90+6′), Willy Agada (Alenis Vargas 78′), Daniel Salloi (C)

Subs Not Used: John Pulskamp, Zorhan Bassong, Robert Castellanos, Kayden Pierre, Marinos Tzionis

Toronto FC: Luka Gavran; Shane O’Neill, Kevin Long, Sigurd Rosted (Kosi Thompson 68′); Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, Matty Longstaff (Deandre Kerr 68′), Alonso Coello (Deybi Flores 59′), Tyrese Spicer; Federico Bernardeschi, Jonathan Osorio (C); Prince Owusu (Ayo Akinola 86′)

Subs Not Used: Aime Mabika, Cassisu Mailula, Greg Ranjitsingh, Kobe Franklin, Jordan Perruzza

Scoring Summary:
SKC – Remi Walter 2 (Erik Thommy 1) 57′
SKC – Jake Davis 1 (Willy Agada 1) 64′
SKC – Alenis Vargas 1 (Jake Davis 3) 83′
TOR – Jonathan Osorio 1 (Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty 1)

Misconduct Summary:
SKC – Jake Davis (yellow card; unsporting behavior) 44′
TOR – Alonso Coello (yellow card; unsporting behavior) 57′
SKC – Tim Leibold (yellow card; unsporting behavior) 71′
TOR – Jonathan Osorio (yellow card; unsporting behavior) 85′

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