KANSAS CITY – Sporting Kansas City (1-3-1; 6pts) took on LA Galaxy (2-3-0; 9pts) at Children’s Mercy Park, on Saturday. After a 2-1 win last week over the Earthquakes of San Jose, Sporting looks to continue its streak alive heading into Match Day 5.
Last Saturday, San Jose took an early lead in the match with a conceded corner and a tap-in just to the right of SKC goalkeeper, Tim Melia. Sporting quickly responded with their own conceded corner by Dany Rosero and a header in between the posts to equalize the match 1-1. A few minutes later, with the help from captain and forward Johnny Russell, MLS 2023 Comeback Player of the Year Alan Pulido gets his first goal of the season with a shot to the back of the net to give sporting the “go-ahead” goal to give sporting the first 3 points of the season. SKC midfielder Memo Rodriguez was asked about the primary emotion when a corner kick is placed just in the right spot. “Good, obviously I want to help the team with goals and assists.”
Manager Peter Vemies switched it up tonight with a 4-2-3-1 instead of the 4-3-3 we are used to seeing, part of the reason could be because of Johnny Russell’s absence due to an injury he suffered last week vs. San Jose The game started slow for both teams. The only real action came in the 34’ with a goal by Kansas City midfielder Nemanja Radoja off an assist by forward Dániel Sallói to get the first point of the night. The Sporting defense shining once again tonight with Jake Davis, Dany Rosero, Robert Voloder, and Tim Leibold. Sporting’s second goal comes from substitute forward for Johnny Russell, Willy Agada in the 48’.
Sporting was scoreless in the second half but on the other side of the ball, LA scored 3 goals within a matter of 8 minutes (72’, 75’, and 80’) by 3 different players (Eriq Zavaleta, Dejan Joveljic, and Marky Delgado). The Galaxy could have scored 5 goals, but 2 were waved for offsides. Again, all the Galaxys’ goals were scored within 10 minutes.
Goalkeeper Tim Melia Commented on the message to his team “It’s still early in the season”. Defender Jake Davis was asked about what he thinks went wrong “Just lapses in the game, I guess, that in the end punished us and, you know, we can’t let that happen.” Davis also commented on the formation change “Obviously, Erik [Tommy] and Johnny [Russell] are different players. But, you know, that wasn’t the issue, it was more defensive lapses.”
Sporting goes on the road north to play Toronto FC next Saturday. Catch the action on MLS Season Pass starting at 6:20
Cover photo: Parker Johnson/IONYOU Media
