Sounders FC Drops 2-1 Home Result to Sporting Kansas City

SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC (6-3-2, 20 points) lost 2-1 to Sporting Kansas City (1-7-3, 6 points) on Sunday afternoon’s Emerald Queen Casino pitch at Lumen Field. Nico Lodeiro scored his first goal of the season for Seattle, but two first-half goals secured the visitors three points. Now preparing for a two-game road trip this week, Sounders FC visits the LA Galaxy in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup game on Wednesday, May 10 (7:30 p.m. PT / Golazo Sports Network, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM). before taking on the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, May 13 (5:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, iHeartMedia, El Rey 1360 AM).

Sporting Kansas City got the opening goal in the fourth minute when Gadi Kinda crossed a ball to Dániel Sallói, who laid it off for Erik Thommy to score a finish over the face of the goal. The visitors doubled their lead in the 31st minute^St minute, Thommy slid a pass through a Seattle defense controlled by Alan Pulido, who shot past Stefan Frei from a tight angle.

Seattle won a penalty in the 64th minute^th Minute after Fredy Montero was knocked down in the area. Lodeiro stepped in, sending Sporting’s Tim Melia the wrong way for Seattle’s first of the day in the 66th minute^th Minute.

• Despite today’s loss, Seattle remains in first place in the Western Conference. With 20 points, the Rave Green are one point ahead of St. Louis and two points ahead of Los Angeles FC. Sounders FC is now preparing for a two-game away week, beginning with a Lamar Hunt US Open Cup clash at the LA Galaxy on Wednesday May 10th, followed by a trip to the Houston Dynamo on Saturday May 13th.

• In the all-time regular-season series against Sporting KC, Seattle moves up to 12-11-4 with a 6-6-2 mark at Lumen Field.

• Erik Thommy gave Sporting a fourth-minute opener this afternoon as Seattle conceded their first home goal in a league game.

• Prior to today’s contest, Seattle had won four of their first five home games of 2023, keeping clean sheets in all five games, becoming only the third team in MLS history to open a season with five straight home wins (Columbus in 2020 and New England in 2005).

• Club captain Nicolás Lodeiro scored his first goal of 2023 and his 57th goal^th struck in all competitions with his penalty goal in the 66 as a sounder^th game minute. The Uruguayan now sits fourth all-time in the Rave Green standings with former teammate Clint Dempsey.

• Lodeiro’s goal also marked his 41st^St regular goal of the season, broke a tie with Obafemi Martins for fifth best in club history.

• With just nine goals conceded in 11 games in 2023, Seattle now ranks fourth in the MLS with the fewest goals conceded.

• Goalkeeper Stefan Frei is approaching an important career milestone. He’s making three saves today, just one stop short of leveling with Jon Busch for fourth-most saves in MLS history (1,151). Frei has been an Ironman for Sounders FC since joining the club in 2014 and recently broke Osvaldo Alonso’s MLS-era club record for career starts in all competitions. Frei is still behind Alonso’s club record for appearances in all competitions (339). Frei is also the first in MLS in shutouts so far this season with six.

• Full-back Cody Baker, who joined the First Team from Tacoma Defiance through a last-minute deal, made his Major League Soccer debut on Sunday as a second-half substitute for Reed Baker-Whiting, who made his first start of the season at right-back.

Seattle Sounders FC 1 – Sporting Kansas City 2

Venue: Pitch at Emerald Queen Casino in Lumen Field

Fourth Official: Mike Rottersman, Jeremy Kieso

Weather: 62 degrees and clear

SKC – Erik Thommy (Gadi Kinda, Daniel Salloi) 4′

SKC – Alan Pulido (Erik Thommy) 31′

SEA – Nico Lodeiro (penalty) 66′

SEA – Alex Roldan (caution) 8′

SKC – Remi Walter (caution) 12′

SKC – Logan Ndenbe (caution) 65′

SEA – Albert Rusnák (caution) 81′

SKC – Johnny Russell (caution) 90’+5′

Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Reed Baker-Whiting (Cody Baker 57′), Yeimar, Jackson Ragen, Alex Roldan; Obed Vargas (Dylan Teves 84′), Albert Rusnák, Nico Lodeiro, Heber, Léo Chú (Fredy Montero 57′), Jordan Morris

Unused substitutes: Stefan Cleveland, Andrew Thomas, Xavier Arreaga, Ethan Dobbelaere, Sota Kitahara

Sporting Kansas City-Tim Melia; Andreu Fontas, Dany Rosero, Jake Davis, Logan Ndenbe; Gadi Kinda (Felipe Hernandez 46′), Erik Thommy (Roger Espinoza 76′), Remi Walter; Johnny Russell, Alan Pulido (85th minute by Graham Zusi), Daniel Salloi (79th minute by Khiry Shelton)

Unused substitutes: John Pulskamp, ​​Robert Voloder, Robert Castellanos, Stephen Afrifa, Marinos Tzionis