Sporting Kansas City loses to Seattle Sounders in MLS showdown at Children’s Mercy Park

In one of the biggest games for Sporting KC at Children’s Mercy Park since 2018’s Decision Day victory over LAFC, the hosts were unable to capitalize on home-field advantage against the Seattle Sounders Sunday night.

Captain Johnny Russell scored Sporting KC’s only goal in a 2-1 loss to the Sounders in Kansas City, Kan.

“They are a very good side, but I feel like we caused our own problems tonight and the goals are easily avoidable and mistakes by us,” Russell said.

Sporting KC (13-6-7) entered the game a point ahead of second-place Seattle (14-5-6) in the Western Conference race with one more game played. At stake was some cushion in the standings.

Cristian Roldan’s first-time shot from 12 yards squirmed past Tim Melia’s hands and into the net in the 31st minute. Seattle’s lead doubled in the 55th on a goal by Will Bruin.

Russell scored the consolation goal five minutes later.

Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes had been looking for a bright start for the past couple of weeks: a fast-paced, attacking offense that didn’t give the opposition a chance to settle.

But the opening goal never came for Sporting KC. The home team got a couple of good looks, but sloppy passes turned into defensive play that was sloppy overall.

Vermes has called the Sounders the “best in the league” on several occasions this year, and they certainly punished Kansas City’s defensive mistakes Sunday night.

“When you play a good team, if you make a mistake they capitalize and they’ve got some guys up front, that’s what they live off of and they’re excellent at it,” Vermes said.

Controlling the ball on his right side of the defense on the half-hour mark, Graham Zusi got shepherded out to the touchline by Seattle wingback Brad Smith.

Running out of space, Zusi aimlessly backheeled the ball behind him and right to a Sounders player.

“He shouldn’t be trying to do what he did, by any means,” Vermes said bluntly.

The turnover gave Smith the opportunity to attack the wide-open right side and put the ball on a plate for Roldan’s opener. Kansas City’s disjointed play continued throughout the half and the home side could consider itself lucky to enter the break down only a goal.

Sporting gifted Seattle its second goal in the second half, when center back Ilie Sanchez failed to control a ball sent into the KC box by Zusi. Chaos ensued following the turnover, which resulted in two failed tackles and a botched clearance that led to Bruin’s goal.

“We have to be honest with ourselves, we were poor in the loss (of possession) in the first one, and the second goal our defending was very poor,” Vermes said. “And we have to be honest with that.”

Zusi had a rough night; the veteran right back completed just 79% of his passes, second-fewest on the team, and picked up a late yellow card that suspends him for Wednesday’s game at FC Dallas.

Russell scored his seventh goal of the season just five minutes after Bruin’s goal, igniting a raucous Children’s Mercy Park. The Scottish winger picked up Luis Martins’ deep freekick on the backside of Seattle’s box, firing low and hard so that his shot deflected off Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei and in.

“There wasn’t much else on, to be honest, so I just thought to try and test the keeper,” Russell said. “He wasn’t really sighted, it was behind his defender, just try to get good contact on it and get it on target.”

KC continued to pepper Frei’s goal, taking 14 shots on the night but was unable to find the equalizer despite controlling much of the final 30 minutes.

Kansas City drops to two points behind the Sounders having played an extra game, but travels to Seattle on Oct. 23 for a rematch at Lumen Field. Kansas City previously defeated Seattle 3-1 at Lumen Field in July.

“We’re full of confidence,” Russell said. “We went there and won before and I feel like if we cut out the sloppy errors that were made tonight then we’re more than capable of winning there again and creating chances and scoring goals.”

This story was originally published September 26, 2021 at 8:21 PM with the headline "Sporting Kansas City loses to Seattle Sounders in MLS showdown at Children’s Mercy Park."