TORONTO (AP) — Sporting Kansas came out on top late Saturday night with a 3-1 win over FC Toronto, with Remi Walter and Jake Davis scoring seven minutes apart in the second half after trailing by three points. decided.
It was the first meeting between the two clubs in 1,758 days, but that didn't matter to Sporting KC (2-1-3), who had a 7-0-4 record in their past 11 games. The length between matches was the longest against any opponent for Sporting KC. Coach Peter Vermes has a 12-1-6 record against Toronto since taking over in 2009, with his only loss coming on March 9, 2013 at Rogers Center. . Sporting KC has an overall record of 5-0-4 at BMO Field, Toronto's current home.
Sporting KC made a fast break midway through the second half and took a 2-0 lead. Walter scored the goal in the 57th minute with an unassisted left-footed shot into the bottom left corner of the goal. In the 64th minute, Jake Davis capitalized on an assist from William Agada and placed his right-footed shot into the bottom left corner for a two-goal lead. It was Walter's second goal of the season and Davis' first.
20-year-old forward Arenis Vargas scored his first career goal in his third appearance of his rookie season, making it 3-0 in the 83rd minute. Vargas took advantage of Davis' assist and landed his right-footed shot in the same spot that Walter and Davis hit.
Toronto (3-2-1) avoided a shutout and scored its first goal of the season seven minutes into stoppage time when Jonathan Osorio received a pass from J'Quir Marshall-Ratti.
Sporting KC's Tim Melia waved off one hit. Luka Gavran made six saves in his seventh career start for Toronto. Gavran made five saves in Toronto's scoreless first half. Melia's save came in the second half.
Under first-year coach John Herdman, Toronto has matched the club's best start through five games.
Sporting KC lost 3-2 to Los Angeles Galaxy, but they were given a two-goal lead after 70 minutes for the first time in club history.
Toronto is on the road to play the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday. Sporting KC will return home to face the Portland Timbers on April 7th.
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