Sporting Kansas City (2-1-3, 9 points) earned a 3-1 road victory over Toronto FC (3-2-1, 10 points) on Saturday, thanks to three second-half goals. and contributed to the club's move. Go to the Western Conference table.
Remi Walter opened the scoring with his second goal of the season, while Jake Davis and Arenis Vargas each scored their first MLS career goals.
Without club captain Johnny Russell and designated player Alan Pulido, they faced a Toronto FC defense that had conceded just two goals all season (the fewest in MLS). Sporting KC scored a season-high three goals and remained undefeated in three games on the road this year (1-0) -2). The victory north of the border also gives Sporting KC an 11-game regular season against Toronto (7-0-4) and a nine-game road trip to BMO Field (5-0-4) under coach Peter Vermes. (loss) and remains undefeated.
The two teams, playing for the first time since 2019, wasted little time creating chances during a lively end-to-end first 10 minutes of the first half.
In the 8th minute, Daniel Saloy squeezed between two Toronto FC defenders inside the penalty area, but the ball was deflected off his feet by goalkeeper Luca Gavran near the penalty spot. The loose ball fell to Willy Agada at the top of the box, whose first attempt was blocked by Sigurd Rorsted on the edge of the six-yard box.
Less than a minute later, Gavran was back in the game, parrying a half-volley from Nemanja Ladoja, who had come close to scoring in back-to-back games.
On the other hand, Sporting KC goalkeeper Tim Melia made a great save of his own in the 10th minute to deny Toronto FC playmaker Federico Bernardeschi's shot. Matty Longstaff looked poised to pounce on the rebound, but his volley from 10 yards out went over the bar.
Robert Volodar kept the game scoreless with a vital block on Prince Owusu in the 32nd minute, and from there Sporting threatened to break the deadlock for the fourth time before the half-time break. Ta. In the 36th minute, Tim Liebold made a strong save from Gavran from a narrow angle.
Just over a minute later, Gavran was at full strength again to deny Agada a header from Remi Walter's corner kick. After scoring last week, the 24-year-old almost put his name on the scoresheet with a powerful strike that crashed against the crossbar in the 41st minute.
Sporting Kansas City almost found a breakthrough just before halftime with an opportunistic counter-attack by the team's two outside backs in the 44th minute. Davis put an early ball into Liebold's path behind Toronto's backline, but his chip shot was deflected by the onrushing Gavran.
Sporting Kansas City would be looking for three goals in the second half Saturday after knocking on the door throughout the first 45 minutes, but it all started in the 57th minute. LaDoya won the ball with an aerial challenge in midfield and Eric Tommie, playing in his 300th professional game, carried the ball 50 yards forward and his cross was cut out by Kevin Long.
Walter made a clearance and from 25 yards left he lasered a left-footed shot into the bottom corner of the goal to put Sporting ahead. The 28-year-old Frenchman played his 100th regular season game for Sporting KC and has now scored nine goals in all competitions since joining the club in 2021, while Tommy provided his 16th assist in all competitions. Obtained.
Sporting Kansas City scored in the 64th minute when Davis (who had scored four goals for Sporting KC II but had never scored at the MLS level) capped off a nine-pass scoring sequence with touches by eight different players. Double your lead. In sublime fashion. The 22-year-old from the Sporting KC academy fired a right-footed strike from 30 yards out that proved to be the eventual winner.
Leibold played at both ends of the field during the five-minute frenzy, first with a timely intervention in the 68th minute when he slid in to deny Jahquil Marshall-Ratty's shot from close range, and then in the 73rd minute otherwise. He almost scored a goal. Gavran blocked the deflected cross with a kick save.
The Toronto FC goalie was clutch again in the 82nd minute, denying Vargas on a sharp 35-yard run into the area. The 20-year-old Honduran, who scored six goals for Sporting KC II last season and returned from his first call-up to the Honduras national team in midweek, is undaunted and has quickly risen to prominence.
Vargas took his first touch past Shane O'Neill and then a Toronto FC defender. With his second touch, he calmly fired a shot past Gavran to give Sporting KC, who had scored one goal in the second half, three points. brought eyes. 30 minutes in the second half. Davis earned the assist and leads the team with three assists this season.
Toronto would ruin their shutout with 7 minutes and 10 seconds left in second-half stoppage time. Jonathan Osorio, the club's captain and all-time appearances leader, scored the winning goal in the closing stages after meeting a cross from Marshall Ratti.
The win was Sporting's first against an Eastern Conference opponent since 2022, and the 37th regular-season road win of Melia's career, breaking his tie for 10th in MLS history with Luis Robles. Melia, who is in his 10th year with Sporting and is the club's longest-serving player, made his 238th appearance on Saturday, breaking the tie with Sporting KC assistant coach Kelly Zavagnin and becoming the club's all-time leader in regular-season appearances. It became the rank.
Sporting returns home to begin a three-game homestand starting Sunday, April 7th at Children's Mercy Park against the Western Conference vs. Portland Timbers at 12:30 PM CT . Tickets, including the Coca-Cola Friends & Family 4-pack and Wild West 5-pack, can be purchased online at SeatGeek. The MLS Round 8 final will be broadcast nationally on FOX and FOX Deportes, as well as available for free with MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Sporting Kansas City: Tim Melia. Jake Davis, Danny Rosselló, Robert Voloder, Tim Liebold. Nemanja Ladoja, Remi Walter, Memo Rodriguez (Felipe Hernández, 78 minutes). Eric Toomey (Steven Africa 90+6 minutes), Willy Agada (Alenis Vargas 78 minutes), Daniel Saloy (C)
Subwoofer not used: John Palskamp, Zohan Basson, Robert Castellanos, Kayden Pierre, Marinos Tsionis
Toronto FC: Luka Gavran. Shane O'Neill, Kevin Long, Sigurd Rorsted (Kosi Thompson 68 minutes). Jerkir Marshall-Rutti, Matty Longstaff (DeAndre Carr 68 minutes), Alonso Coello (Deavi Flores 59 minutes), Tyrese Spicer. Federico Bernardeschi, Jonathan Osorio (C); Prince Owusu (Ayo Akinola 86')
Subwoofer not used: Eme Mabica, Kassis Mailula, Greg Langitzin, Kobe Franklin, Jordan Peruza
Score summary:
SKC – Remi Walter 2 (Eric Toomey 1) 57'
SKC – Jake Davis 1 (Willie Agada 1) 64'
SKC – Arenis Vargas 1 (Jake Davis 3) 83'
TOR – Jonathan Osorio 1 (Jahquille Marshall Ratti 1) 90+7'
Summary of fraud:
SKC – Jake Davis (yellow card, unsporting conduct) 44 minutes
TOR – Alonso Coelo (yellow card, unsporting conduct) 57 minutes
SKC – Tim Liebold (yellow card, unsporting conduct) 71 minutes
TOR – Jonathan Osorio (yellow card; unsporting conduct) 85 minutes
