Goaltender Tim Melia made six saves as Sporting Kansas City (0-0, 3 points) defeated reigning Western Conference champion LAFC (1-1, 4 points) 0-0. , helping them continue their undefeated start heading into the 2024 season. ) Saturday night at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
In an entertaining encounter packed with scoring opportunities on both sides of the pitch, Melia and LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris stood tall to ensure they shared the spoils in the 12th meeting in the history of the two clubs. With his 77th clean sheet in all competitions for Sporting, Melia became the 10th goalkeeper in MLS history to record 30 regular season road shutouts.
Undefeated in the first three games of the season for the first time since 2017, Sporting returns home next Saturday, March 16th to take on the San Jose Earthquakes (0-3) with kickoff at 7:30pm CT. 0, 0 points). at Children's Mercy Park. Tickets for the contest are available at SeatGeek.com.
Manager Peter Vermes used a familiar lineup with only one change from last weekend's 1-1 home draw against the Philadelphia Union. With Remi Walter suffering from a minor ankle injury, midfield rookie Memo Rodriguez made his first start since signing with Sporting in February. In attack, Mexican striker Alan Pulido, who celebrated his 33rd birthday on Friday, achieved a remarkable milestone by making his 350th professional appearance for the club.
A lively opening in Hollywood saw both sides threatened early on. Melia made two saves early on, dropping Ryan Hollingshead's header low from a set-piece and tucking it in, then in sensational fashion with an outstretched hand after the Colombian midfielder had a shot on goal. blocked Eduardo Atuesta's shot.
At the other end, captain Jonny Russell deflected a 20-yard shot from French World Cup winner Lloris to touch the top of the crossbar in the eighth minute. Immediately afterwards, German midfielder Eric Tommie hit two long-range shots, the first narrowly missing the target, the second flying into the hands of Lloris, and in the 20th minute, Russell was freed from a difficult angle. He curled the kick high.
A stifling wave of pressure from Sporting created two quick scoring chances just after the half-hour mark. Rodríguez, who stole the ball from LAFC through his team's skillful pressing, played a through ball to Pulido's path, and under pressure, Pulido's side-footed shot was saved by Lloris. The hosts were unable to avoid danger and the ensuing shot was sent wide by Rodriguez from the top of the box.
Vermes' side caused another scare in the 34th minute, when Tommy dropped the ball over the top of the goal to Pulido. Pulido took a touch inside the box, spun around and fired a right-footed shot at Russell, but he missed the target. The Scottish winger came even closer to goal eight minutes into the second half, receiving a diagonal pass from Pulido, cutting into the middle and curling a left-footed ball that beat an outstretched Lloris against the far left post.
LAFC showed some flair for a counterattack seconds after Russell hit the wooden frame, breaking down the right channel, but Cristian Olivera's shot harmlessly missed Melia's right post. Olivera could have gotten his name on the scoresheet again in the 62nd minute, but was unable to add the finishing touch from close range on a low cross from the left side of the box.
After absorbing a short LAFC attack, Sporting struck back in the 70th minute, with Tommy sprinting forward and spreading the ball out to the left, with Saroj forcing a save from Lloris at his near post. Eleven minutes later, the Gabonese international ruined his luck when the Sporting goalkeeper succeeded in making a comeback and Melia denied LAFC forward and current MLS Golden Boot winner Denis Bouanga with a deft stop.
A series of suffocating all-action matches in the 84th minute created chances for both teams. Rodriguez unleashed a low piledriver, but Lloris tipped it well against the left post, allowing substitute David Martinez to fire a breakaway shot wide of the target, leaving just Melia alone. Five minutes later, Lloris was busy again, scoring a 30-yard thump from Pulido.
Melia saved his best moment for the final play of the game. Olivera had a decent look inside the penalty area as LAFC launched a flurry of attacks in search of a winner, but as referee Lorenzo Hernandez blew the final whistle, his left-footed shot deflected off the in-form Melia. It was written.
Sporting Kansas City: Tim Melia. Jake Davis, Danny Rossello, Andrew Fontas, Tim Liebold. Nemanja Ladoja, Eric Toomey, Memo Rodriguez.Johnny Russell (C), Alain Pulido, Daniel Saloy
Subwoofer not used: John Palskamp, Zohan Basson, Robert Castellanos, Kayden Pierre, Robert Voloder, Felipe Hernandez, Steven African, Willy Agada, Arenis Vargas
LAFC: Hugo Loris. Ryan Hollingshead, Jesus Murillo, Aaron Long, Omar Campos. Timothy Tillman, Jilly Sanchez (C) (David Martinez 78'), Eduardo Atuesta.Cristian Olivera, Mateusz Bogus, Dennis Bouanga
Subwoofer not used: Abraham Romero, Sergi Palencia, Eddie Segura, Eric Duenas, Tommy Musto, Thomas Angell, Nathan Aldous
Summary of fraud:
SKC — Memo Rodriguez (yellow card, unsporting conduct) 27 minutes
LAFC — Omar Campos (yellow card, unsporting conduct) 31 minutes
SKC — Andreu Fontas (yellow card; unsporting conduct) 49 minutes
SKC — Danny Rossello (yellow card, unsporting conduct) 60 minutes
LAFC — Eduardo Atuesta (yellow card, unsporting conduct) 88'
SKC — Jake Davis (yellow card, unsporting conduct) 90+2'
