Sporting KC Outclassed By FC Dallas
Sporting KC took the show on the road for the first time in the 2015 season as they faced FC Dallas in a Western Conference showdown on Saturday.
Sporting KC was without captain Matt Besler due to him receiving two yellow cards resulting in an automatic red card last week against the New York Red Bulls. A red card carries an ejection from the game and a one game suspension.
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There were several changes to the lineup for Sporting KC. Homegrown defender Kevin Ellis stood in for Besler, Sporting’s most recent signing Marcel de Jong started at left back in place of veteran Seth Sinovic, Krisztian Nemeth moved up to the left wing replacing Bernardo Anor, and Paulo Nagamura started in central midfield with Benny Feilhaber and Roger Espinoza.
Sporting KC rookie defender Amadou Dia nearly opened the scoring when he dribbled down the right flank and beat two defenders giving himself a one on one against the goalkeeper from a tight angle but the goalkeeper was able to stand tall and deflect the ball out of play.
The absence of Besler and his command of the back line was apparent early and often. Dallas opened the scoring in the 17th minute when the back line was caught out of shape and Blas Perez was found making a run down the right side of the penalty box. Perez fired a shot by Sporting goalkeeper Luis Marin to give Dallas the 1-0 advantage.
Sporting KC would find the equalizer just before halftime in the 44th minute when a Graham Zusi Corner kick was cleared but Feilhaber collected the ball and passed it up to Espinoza. Espinoza dribbled towards goal and fired a shot from about 20 yards out and just beat the goalkeeper inside the near post to even the scoring at 1-1.
Sporting KC would feel hard done by the line judge after Dallas found the eventual winner in the 52nd minute. Michel whipped in a free kick to Perez at the far post, and the wide open Perez easily beat Marin to put Dallas up 2-1. The controversy came when the Sporting KC players argued that Perez was offside and photo evidence supports their claim.
Perez is the player standing at the very back and he is clearly about two yards offside.
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Sporting KC was caught out by the Dallas counter attack and Fabian Castillo made them pay when he received the ball with a wide open run toward Marin. Castillo dribble past Marin and calmly put the ball into a wide open net to give Dallas their insurance goal and go up 3-1.
Sporting KC would have the opportunity to get back in the game after Zusi chipped in a free kick and Bernardo Anor (Subbed on 76th minute) went up for a bicycle kick but was dragged down and the referee called for a penalty. Dom Dwyer stood over the penalty with a chance to open his 2015 goal scoring account. Dwyer took a stutter step and fired a shot to the goalkeeper’s right side, the keeper guessed correctly and punched the ball away.
It was really just that kind of day for Sporting KC as they were outplayed by Dallas for the majority of the evening.
Sporting KC will look to get their first win of the season when they return home and face the Portland Timbers at Sporting Park next Saturday, March 21st at 7:30 PM.