Sporting KC Dominates Against New England
Sporting KC returned to MLS play after their win in Nicaragua, and put on a great display. Kansas City came out of the match against New England Revolution with a dominating 3-0 win.
Aug 10, 2013; Kansas City, KS, USA; Sporting KC mid-fielder Benny Feilhaber (10) makes a play on the ball against the New England Revolution during the first half at Sporting Park. Mandatory Credit: Sporting KC won 3-0. Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Sporting controlled the game from the kick off, and never looked back. They were able to possess the ball 60% of the match, and while possession doesn’t always equal goals, in this match it did.
It took Kansas City 27 minutes to open the scoring. Soony Saad was able to play a perfect ball into Kei Kamara, who powered a header past New England goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth to put Sporting KC ahead 1-0.
New England had a great chance to equalize in the 40th minute. Dimitry Imbogno beat the Sporting KC offside trap and found himself in a 1-on-1 situation with Sporting KC’s goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen. But Nielsen made a brilliant save to keep the ball out of the goal. The first half came to a close shortly after with the scoreline 1-0 to the home side.
It only took five minutes after the beginning of the second half for Sporting to score another goal. Once again, Saad played in a great ball to Kamara, who headed in Kansas City’s second goal of the match. It was Kamara’s seventh goal of the season after returning from loan with Norwich City of the English Premier League. From the 50th minute on, Sporting never looked back.
The main talking point from the match will be the two red cards that were accumulated by the Revolution. The first red card for New England came in the 65th minute as Imbogno elbowed Sporting’s Oriol Rosell in the jaw. Imbogno was already on a yellow card for a similar foul he committed against Aurélien Collin earlier in the match, and the foul against Rosell was also deemed a yellow card, meaning he would have to leave the pitch. This left New England with 10 men to finish out the match.
Sporting continued to dominate the game, looking for the third goal that would propel them into first place in the Eastern Conference. They got some help in the 86th minute when substitute Andy Dorman received a red card for a harsh challenge on Kamara. Kamara would leave the match after this challenge due to an injury.
Aug 10, 2013; Kansas City, KS, USA; Sporting KC forward Kei Kamara (23) makes a play on the ball against the New England Revolution during the first half at Sporting Park. Mandatory Credit: Sporting KC won 3-0. Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
With New England down to nine players, Sporting continued their dominance. Former Revolution player Benny Feilhaber would put in the third goal for Sporting KC, securing the win for Kansas City.
After getting fouled on the edge of the penalty area, Feilhaber was able to beat Shuttleworth with a gorgeous free kick. He was able to put the ball up and over the wall out of Shuttleworth’s reach. It was Feilhaber’s second goal of the season.
With the win, Sporting KC is once again at the top of the Eastern Conference with 39 points, and only two points behind Real Salt Lake for the Supporter’s Shield. Kansas City will travel to San Jose for their next game on August 18.