Sporting KC scores 2 late, earns 3 points at Galaxy, takes solitary lead in West race

With the sky above Kansas City bathed in a rainbow of color Sunday night, Sporting Kansas City provided some soccer fireworks halfway across the country at L.A.’s Dignity Health Sports Park.

Despite sitting on the back foot for much of the game, Sporting got a pair of late goals from Johnny Russell and Khiry Shelton to grab a 2-0 victory on the Fourth of July.

“Bit of a smash-and-grab victory in the end,” Russell said.

Both goals were the first of the year for those players, and it was the first in 21 games for Russell.

Sporting KC won its eighth game against three losses and two ties, and now owns the lead atop Major League Soccer’s Western Conference.

“It was one of those games where you had to dig deep,” Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes said. “L.A. was good; they found good moments to really press the ball. It was a really difficult game for us. It was one of the more difficult games we’ve had to play.”

Just two points behind Kansas City with two games in hand, L.A. produced everything but a goal for its home crowd of 23,000-plus.

The Galaxy outshot Sporting KC 18 to 12, but a majority of KC’s shots came late in the second half as the game opened up. L.A. also slightly out-possessed Kansas City, though Sporting’s 46% possession seemed generous — much of that possession was spent in SKC’s own half.

The opening 45 minutes saw KC pinned back. As soon as KC approached the middle third of the field, L.A. was quick to smother and force backward passes, sloppy play or low-percentage long balls up the field.

“They’re a good team, they find great little pockets of space in behind our midfield, between them and the back four,” Russell said. “They were playing a bit of possession football and it was difficult to get to them at times.”

All four players on L.A.’s attacking line threatened the KC goal throughout, especially Galaxy winger Samuel Grandsir, whose speed enabled him to get behind KC fullback Luis Martins on countless occasions.

Attacking midfielder Victor Vazquez missed an opportunity from point-blank range in the seventh minute, while Ethan Zubak and Kevin Cabral both missed good opportunities from dangerous positions.

Zubak replaced league-leading goalscorer Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez during warmups. Chicharito pulled from the starting lineup due to an injury precaution.

Sporting KC goalkeeper Tim Melia’s five saves in the first half — including one that squirmed through his legs and off the outside of his post — were the most he’s made in a game all season.

“Even though I’m making saves,” Melia said, “our players were throwing their bodies around and it was making those shots a little bit more predictable and a lot more difficult for the Galaxy to get completely clean chances.”

Midway through the second half, Graham Zusi cleared a Galaxy shot on the goal line. Soon after, Ilie Sanchez blocked a rocket Melia may have seen late as it came through a crowd. Melia made seven saves in all.

By the halftime whistle, Kansas City had taken just one shot, the final kick of the half a Russell free kick that sailed wide.

Sporting finally scored as midnight approached back home in Kansas City, and the goal was a nice one. Midfielder Felipe Hernandez won the ball off an L.A. defender deep in the Galaxy half, knocking it into Russell’s path.

“Felipe’s done so well to win the ball back,” Russell said unprompted when recounting his goal.

The Scotsman’s initial shot was saved by Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Bond. But as the ball rebounded back to Russell, he sent a delicate, looping header over L.A.’s keeper. It dipped just under the bar and settled into the back of the net.

“It feels good,” Russell said. “It’s been quite a while since I’ve scored, and my job is to score goals and create goals. It’s been a bit disappointing on that front, but I’m not someone to let it get to me or ruin my confidence. I knew it was only a matter of time before it came.”

Russell was replaced by defender Nicolas Isimat-Mirin in the final minutes as KC looked for defensive stability, but Shelton’s breakaway goal in the 95th minute made it final.

Sporting KC now tops the Supporters Shield standings heading into the international break.

This story was originally published July 4, 2021 at 11:59 PM with the headline "Sporting KC scores 2 late, earns 3 points at Galaxy, takes solitary lead in West race."