Recap: Sporting falls at home to Seattle Sounders FC
Sporting Kansas City (0-3-2, 2 points) lost 4-1 to Seattle Sounders FC (3-1-1, 10 points) at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night.
Forward Willy Agada gave Sporting an early lead with his first goal of the season, but Seattle responded forcefully as USA international Jordan Morris scored four unanswered goals – three of which were assisted by winger Leo Chu – as the Sounders broke their 10-game streak winless skid from last July.
Coach Peter Vermes fielded an unchanged line-up since last weekend’s away defeat by FC Dallas, the first time Sporting have used the same starting XI in consecutive games since last August. At the helm was seven-time MLS All-Star Graham Zusi, who recorded his 400th appearance for Sporting in all competitions, becoming Kansas City’s first player to reach that milestone, while Daniel Salloi made his 150th regular-season game and his fellow forward Khiry Shelton’s 100 regular games eclipsed season appearances for the club.
On the bench, Sporting were bolstered by the welcome return of striker Johnny Russell and goalkeeper Tim Melia, both of whom had recovered from their injuries from last season, as well as Mexican striker Alan Pulido, the club’s esteemed designated player who was most recently sidelined 15 months recovery from knee surgery.
Buoyed by a buzzing home crowd, Sporting drew first blood within five minutes. Salloi, who finished third of the weekend in MLS with shot attempts, quickly sliced past Cristian Roldan and Josh Atencio on the left edge of the box before a deep swing forced a save from Seattle goaltender Stefan Frei at the near post. However, Agada was on hand to net the rebound for his eighth of as many starts at Children’s Mercy Park since joining the club last summer.
Agada has now scored each of his last two goals in home games against Seattle after scoring the winner 1-0 last October. The goal-scoring game was Sporting’s earliest regular-season tally since Remi Walter scored in the fourth minute of a 2–1 away win in Seattle on October 23, 2021.
Seattle equalized in the 23rd minute with a left flank collapse. Cantering at full stride, Chu hissed a low delivery across the face of goal for Morris to get home at close range, breaking Sporting’s 235-minute home shutout streak that dates back to September 17, 2022.
The last 45 minutes belonged to the guests. Morris scored his second goal of the evening in the 54th minute, ending a fierce attack from Chu and Joao Paulo after Sporting keeper John Pulskamp had successfully parried a Nicolas Lodeiro free-kick. Morris then secured his first MLS hat-trick of his career in the 69th minute, firing deep into the right corner from a Lodeiro cross.
Morris buried his fourth goal of the game and seventh MLS leader of the season with a header as he nodded past Pulskamp from the left side of the box, who blocked a Chu cross.
Russell, who has captained Sporting since 2021, came on in the 61st minute for his first cap of the season and in the 84th minute midfielder Danny Flores was called up for his MLS and Sporting debut.
Vermes’ men will be looking to bounce back next Saturday when they take on reigning Eastern Conference champions Philadelphia Union (2-3-0, 6 points). Kick-off is scheduled for 6:30pm CT with live coverage on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass.
Sporting Kansas City: John Pulskamp; Graham Zusi (Jake Davis 83′), Robert Voloder, Andreu Fontas, Ben Sweat; Remi Walter, Roger Espinoza (Felipe Hernandez 46′), Erik Thommy (C) (Cam Duke 70′); Khiry Shelton (Johnny Russell, 61′), Willy Agada (Danny Flores, 84′), Daniel Salloi
Subs not used: Tim Melia, Robert Castellanos, Chris Rindov, Alan Pulido
Seattle Sounders FC: StefanFrei; Cristian Roldan (Sota Kitahara, 87th), Yeimar Gomez Andrade, Jackson Ragen, Kelyn Rowe (Ethan Dobbelaere, 84th); Joao Paulo (Danny Leyva 84′), Josh Atencio; Albert Rusnak, Nicolas Lodeiro (C), Leo Chu (Fredy Montero 78′); Jordan Morris (Dylan Teves 84′)
Subs not used: Jacob Castro, Stefan Cleveland, Abdoulaye Cissoko
Review summary:
SKC – Willy Agada 1 (without support) 5′
SEA – Jordan Morris 4 (Leo Chu 1) 23′
SEA – Jordan Morris 5 (Leo Chu 2, Joao Paulo 1) 54′
SEA — Jordan Morris 6 (Nicolas Lodeiro 1) 69′
SEA – Jordan Morris 7 (Leo Chu 3, Albert Rusnak 1) 77′
Summary of Misconduct:
SKC — Ben Sweat (yellow card; unsportsmanlike conduct) 53′
SKC – Ben Sweat (red card; second yellow card) 63′