Sporting Kansas City And DC United Share Points in 1-1 Draw
Sporting Kansas City will be the least satisfied of the two squads Sunday night in the capital following a 1-1 draw with DC United.
Sporting Kansas City started the match strongly, and found their first chance in the 2nd minute. United States national team member Graham Zusi made a run down the right side with the ball before sending a low cross in front of the goal but it was just out of Jacob Peterson’s reach.
DC United nearly grabbed their first goal in the 10th minute when Nick DeLeon took a shot from long range but goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen was able to punch the ball out for a corner to maintain a 0-0 scoreline.
In the 24th minute, Jacob Peterson, who has looked a real attacking threat the last few matches, was released down the center of the pitch before taking a shot. DC United defender Ethan White got in the way and deflected the shot out for a corner though.
May 19, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Sporting KC forward Claudio Bieler (16) heads the ball away from DC United players Ethan White (15) and Lionard Pajoy (26) and Daniel Woolard (21) during the second half at RFK Stadium. DC United and Sporting KC played to a 1 – 1 tie. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Just two minutes later, MLS rookie, Tayler Kemp, made a good run down the left and took a driving shot toward the near post from a sharp angle but Nielsen was able to get down and block it.
The major talking point from the match occurred in the 30th minute, after some nifty passing work through the box from Sporting Kansas City, Ike Opara tapped the ball in from the back post to make it 1-0 to Sporting Kansas City but Opara was ruled to have been offside in a very harsh call from the assistant referee.
In the 36th minute, Dwayne De Rosario sent in a dangerous pass into the box, but Matt Besler was able to get in the way and knock the ball out for a corner. There were appeals for a hand-ball by DC United, but replays showed that there was none.
Three minutes later, Graham Zusi took a touch and got a shot on goal following a DC United giveaway but goalkeeper Bill Hamid made the save with his foot.
The final chance of the first half came to DC United as De Rosario got a powerful header but sent it over the bar. Each team entered the locker room feeling confident their side could break the 0-0 deadlock in the next half.
It was Sporting Kansas City that struck first and in the 60th minute, a Zusi corner kick found Ike Opara in the box. Opara flicked the ball with his head before it deflected off DC United defender Ethan White and into the goal for an own-goal and handing Sporting Kansas City a 1-0 lead.
It didn’t take long for DC United to equalize and just five minutes later substitute Chris Pontius put in a good cross toward the back post where Kyle Porter made a great, sliding finish to make it 1-1.
Sporting Kansas City nearly had the lead again in the 77th minute when the ball bounced all over in front of DC United’s goal following a cross but DC United were able to get enough bodies blocking the way and eventually clear the ball from danger.
A minute later Kyle Porter nearly grabbed a brace when he broke forward quickly and took a shot from just inside the box. Nielsen was able to save the shot using a kick save.
In the 81st minute, Graham Zusi made a run down the right and slid the ball back to an open Claudio Bieler in the center of the box but Hamid got his fingertips on the low shot to send it around the post and keep the score tied.
Sporting Kansas City nearly grabbed a last-gasp winner when Kei Kamara, making his third appearance since returning from England, cut inside from the right and sent a curling, left-footed shot toward the near post but Hamid was able to get down in time to save it and secure the point for DC United.
Sporting Kansas City’s next match is at home against Houston Dynamo at 2:30 pm CT on Sunday, May 26th in Kansas City.