Sporting KC: Graham Zusi Shines In Return From Injury

Sporting KC defeated the Seattle Sounders in their second game of the preseason Desert Diamond Cup on Saturday and moved to 1-0-1, which puts them in second place in the standings two points behind Real Salt Lake.

Forward Graham Zusi made his return to live action play after missing more than three months with a stress reaction in his foot. Zusi played 34 minutes, and scored Sporting KC’s first goal of the game in his final minute of action.

Midfielder Benny Feilhaber was on the ball around midfield and picked up his head and found Zusi make a run down the right flank. Feilhaber sent a long ball over the top that Zusi caught up with and let the ball bounce into the penalty box before playing a calm ball around the keeper to the far post.

Head Coach Peter Vermes saw what he wanted to see from Zusi and subbed him out for James Rogers immediately after the goal.

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Only five minutes later Sporting KC added to their lead when newly signed Midfielder Roger Espinoza split a pair of defenders to find the run of Forward Dom Dwyer in the penalty area. Dwyer fired a low shot near post but the keeper saved the initial attempt but the ball rolled out into the path of Midfielder Bernardo Anor who alertly played a back heel to Forward Krisztian Nemeth. Nemeth hammered a ball into the net to put Sporting KC up 2-0 in the 39th minute.

The goal for Nemeth was his fifth goal in only three games. He had three goals and an assist in the 4-1 defeat of FC Tucson, a penalty goal which opened the scoring in a 2-2 draw with the Colorado Rapids, and finally the second goal in the 3-2 defeat of the Seattle Sounders.

Sporting KC signed Nemeth in December, and the 26 year old Hungarian is on pace to be the breakout player of the year for the team.

Forward James Rogers was able to increase Sporting KC’s lead to 3-0 in the 73rd minute when he dribbled the ball past two defenders and blasted the ball into the far corner of the goal.

Sporting KC looked to be well on their way to victory, but Seattle immediately responded with a goal of their own in the 74th minute.

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Victor Mansaray nodded in a powerful header off of a corner kick to make things 3-1, and brought Seattle back into the game.

Kenny Cooper then beat Sporting KC Goalkeeper Jon Kempin with a shot that was too fast for him to react to. Seattle was back in the game and it was 3-2 in the 81st minute.

Sporting KC was able to bunker down and hold on to the 3-2 score where the game would finish.

Sporting KC will wrap up the group stage of the Desert Diamond Cup on Wednesday night against Real Salt Lake. If Sporting KC can defeat Real Salt Lake they will move on to the Championship game.

Next: Is Krisztian Nemeth A Rising Star