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Sporting KC beats FC Dallas in hard-fought match

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Sporting Kansas City returns to action just three days after a 2-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids on Independence Day, their second game of five in just 14 days, and with that in mind, there have been some big changes to the lineup, with seven new starters in Alan Pulido, Andrew Fontas, Memo Rodriguez, Daniel Salloy, Tim Leibold, Robert Castellanos and Arenys Vargas.

Dallas, looking to keep its cards close to home ahead of Wednesday's crucial U.S. Open Cup match, similarly rotated heavily.

first half

The game started pretty choppy, as one would expect with a lot of rotations. Jake Davis was helped off an early loss of possession just outside his own 18-yard box. After a back-and-forth game, Sporting KC took the lead in the 11th minute following a corner kick. Memo made a perfect pass and Willy Aghada leapt up to head the ball in to make it 1-0.

Soon after, Dallas went on a counterattack, forcing Castellanos to pull his attacker down with a smart tactical foul to avoid being one-on-one with Fontas. Soon after, Caden Pierre also got his heel kicked on a counter header. No card was issued, but a foul was called.

In the 23rd minute, Sporting KC doubled their lead! A well-planned attack seemed to fail as the ball went wide and Vargas caught it with his foot, but he clipped the ball and it hit Aghada's head again to make it 2-0!

A few minutes later, Saloj almost made it 3-0 when he completely snapped Toumasi's ankle and raced up the sideline, only for his shot to rattle off the crossbar.

Dallas pulled one back on the half-hour mark. Aghada missed the ball in midfield and passed it directly to the onrushing Bernard Kamungo. The defense stepped in, but an unlucky flick from Davis fell in front of Logan Farrington, whose scuffed shot ricocheted off Melia's head and Kamungo charged in and managed to tuck the ball into the net. 2-1.

In the 42nd minute, Sporting tried to pull one back when they turned the ball over in midfield and Pulido's shot sailed just over the bar. A minute later, Vargas and Pierre exchanged beautiful passes on the right side of the attack before KP dribbled past the entire Dallas defense and placed the ball just wide of the goalpost.

Three minutes of added time were added and Kansas City had some promising build-up plays but ultimately failed to find the back of the net. Just before half-time, Salloj was completely crushed just outside the penalty area but referee Natalie Simon correctly ruled the advantage and Agada shot, but it was easily saved by Maarten Paez. Simon looked ready to show a card but instead allowed Dallas to make a swift counter attack.

Latter half

Sporting KC made no substitutions at halftime, but Sebastian Ledgett replaced Thomas Pondeka for Dallas.

The first scary moment for KC came in the 49th minute, when a well-placed ball slipped through the defenders but the offside flag went up and the defence managed to cope. Just a minute later, a simple pass to Kamungo evaded Fontas and Melia made a safe. Moments later, SKC had a chance in the defensive third but Melia again parried a strong pass from Dallas.

KC had a slight advantage in the game but couldn't capitalize on it. Dallas went on the offensive in the 56th minute with three players brought on by Petar Moussa, Asier Illarramendi and Paul Arriola. Shortly after, Salloy was replaced by Steven Afrifa. Leibold was replaced by Zorhan Bassong. Pulido was replaced by Eric Tommy.

After an immediate miscommunication between Basson and Afrifa, KC came flying the other way with a beautiful through pass from Memo to Vargas. Unfortunately, Vargas moved too far before finding a free Tommy, and the defense closed in to thwart the attack. From here, the game took on a frenetic pace. Interceptions, scrambles, counterattacks, turnovers.

Dallas would be the first to pay the price, as Sporting KC played an incredibly high line and Dallas easily got behind it to tie the score, 2-2.

Shortly after, Shelton replaced KP at right back. A few minutes later, Aguada's third header was blocked by the outstretched leg of Páez, resulting in a corner kick. During the corner kick, Jonny Russell came on for Vargas in the 70th minute.

Substitutions disrupted the rhythm of the game, but if anyone had the upper hand, it was Dallas, who was even called for handball, but after a brief call, a goal kick was taken and the game continued.

In the 81st minute, the ball ricocheted to SKC's right, a great cross was sent into the box and Aghada's shot was blocked by Memo Rodriguez and the ball went into the side netting to give KC the lead.

In the 88th minute, Aghada again fell just short of a hat-trick when Bassong stole the ball and played a perfect through pass to Aghada, who instead of passing to Afrifa tried to beat the keeper, with Paes again denying it.

From there it was complete chaos, with Zorhan Bassong and Paul Arriola fighting in a corner, Bassong receiving a red card and Arriola a yellow card.

But that didn't matter, as Sporting KC won, 3-2, effectively ending the match. Dallas will face KC again on Wednesday in what should be a heated U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal match.





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