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Sporting KC Defeats FC Tucson 4-2 in Desert Friendlies Finale

By Rudy Salazar

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Sporting KC finished off its Desert Friendlies preseason tournament with a come from behind win to knock off USL Premiere Development Team FC Tucson 4-2 behind a second half hat trick from Krisztian Nemeth who replaced Dom Dwyer at half.

Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes wasn’t surprised with his new forwards offensive success but did think that he brought more to the table then was originally expected.

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"“He’s done a lot more defensive work than I thought that he would,” Vermes said. “He made some very good decisions on where he should go and where he should be defensively. I think it really helped us out winning some balls back.”-Courtesy of Tate Steinlage of SBISoccer.com"

In the 36th minute Sporting finally got two chances to take a lead in the first half, but couldn’t connect on either opportunity after Dwyer sent a ball just over the crossbar and two minutes later Paulo Nagamura who had his shot saved with an acrobatic play by Tucson goalkeeper Pat Wall.

Scoring finally got started in the second half with Tucson striking first in the 48th minute with a goal from Marquis Brook’s after a low cross in the penalty box from Michele Pataia.

Nemeth connected on his first of two equalizers in the game with a penalty kick after Mikey Lopez was fouled in the box. The 26-year-old from Hungary signed with Sporting KC last December after spending 2014 with Dutch club Roda JC Kerkrade. 

Starting in the 74th minute a barrage of goals came with three being scored in four minutes. Tucson briefly retook the lead when Derek Boggs headed a free kick in from Vincent Mediate.

Immediately following that, recent third round draft pick James Rogers logged an assist with a cross to Nemeth who made an impressive side volley to even the score again at two.

In the 77th minute Nemeth was involved in the scoring again but this time recording an assist to young Columbian Midfielder Jimmy Medranda who stands at five-foot-five and gave Sporting KC their first lead of the game. That goal was also the first in Medranda’s career with Sporting KC.

Nemeth sealed the game for Sporting with his third and final goal in the 90th minute after beating his defender and shooting the ball into the corner to finish off the play.

Sporting KC will return to Kansas City on Tuesday to prepare for the 2015 Desert Diamond Cup back in Tucson beginning February 15.

Star of the Game

Krisztian Nemeth: The newly acquired forward was involved in all aspects of the scoring finishing with three goals and one assist all in the second half. Offense wasn’t the only thing he did well though. Nemeth played good defense throughout the half and was able to make good plays on the balls and help disrupt offenses from getting out and taking advantage of numbers.

Next: Andy Gruenebaum Joins Sporting KC Broadcast Team

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