Sporting KC Draw Portland Timbers To Stay Winless

Sporting KC and the Portland Timbers played out a scoreless draw at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas on Saturday night. Both teams entered the math-up looking for their first win in the 2015 MLS regular season, but both teams left disappointed.

More from KC Kingdom

There were a couple new faces in the starting line-up for Sporting KC including Jalil Anibaba at right back replacing rookie Amadou Dia who started the first two games of the season, and Jimmy Medranda on the wing replacing Krisztian Nemeth who suffered a minor knee injury during training last week. Captain Matt Besler also made his return after sitting out last week due to a suspension from a red card.

The game appeared there for the taking for Sporting KC from the get go as they had their first chance in the ninth minute when Canadian international Marcel de Jong whipped in a corner kick that found the head of Ike Opara. Opara got a lot of power behind the ball but the ball sailed just wide of the post and out for a Portland goal kick.

Sporting KC continued to attack and in the 15th minute Medranda dribbled the ball between two defenders and then found Dwyer in the middle of the penalty box. Dwyer ripped off a shot that was deflected and just missed dipping into the net.

The two teams took the scoreless draw into halftime. Sporting KC came out a little sluggish in the second half, but had their first real opportunity in the 77th minute when Marcel de Jong curled in a cross from out wide that once again found the head of Opara. Opara got a lot of power behind the ball but once again couldn’t direct it on target as it sailed just over the bar.

Sporting KC had another opportunity just a couple minutes later in the 79th minute when Graham Zusi sent the corner kick into the box finding Anibaba used his head to flick the ball towards goal but once again the ball was off target as it sailed just wide of the post.