Sporting Kansas City collect first MLS victory of season ... in this unlikely setting

For the first time in more than 600 days, all three of Sporting Kansas City’s designated players started a match together.

And all three made their way onto the scoresheet during the first 45 minutes of Sunday’s game at Seattle as Sporting beat the first-place Sounders 2-1 for KC’s first Major League Soccer victory of the 2023 season.

“I thought we were focused, concentrated, and this was a very good performance for us,” Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes said. “The team played well, scored two great goals, (and) maybe could’ve had a third.”

Sporting’s Erik Thommy opened the scoring in the fourth minute thanks to an assist from Gadi Kinda. In the 31st minute, Thommy played provider to teammate Alan Pulido, who doubled the lead with his first MLS goal since the 2021 season.

In beating the powerhouse Sounders on their home turf Sunday, Sporting KC (1-7-3) won its first game of the season in game 11, avoiding the ignominy of an all-time league-worst start. The 2019 Colorado Rapids failed to win until their 12th match.

And a 2-0 advantage in Sunday’s game at Lumen Field was exactly what the doctor ordered for Sporting KC. The visitors rode a wave of confidence through the rest of the match.

On the first goal, Sporting had multiple players in the box as Daniel Salloi brought the ball up the right-hand side of the field. The first wave of runners pushed Seattle’s backline deeper into the area, allowing Salloi a cut-back to Kinda, who laid it off to Thommy for a low, hard shot into the net.

“I was happy for sure because in the last couple of months, weeks, I had a lot of opportunities to score,” Thommy said. “And today, finally, finally.”

When it was Thommy’s turn to play provider, he found the run of Pulido into the box, which allowed the Mexican striker to take a quick one-timed shot at the back post.

After scoring, Pulido ran to hug Sporting KC’s director of sports medicine, Kurt Andrews. Pulido said he wanted to thank him for all the work Andrews has done to aid in Pulido’s recovery from injury.

“I said to him if, I score my first goal of the season, I go to you,” Pulido explained. “I say thank you for all the time because this injury is not easy.”

Seattle made things interesting in the second half. Sporting’s Logan Ndenbe fouled Sounders forward Freddy Montero inside the box for a penalty kick in the 66th minute. Nicolas Lodeiro put away the opportunity to make it 2-1.

For the next 20-plus minutes, things were a bit dicey. But Sporting KC fought for every ball and ensured no Sounders player went unchallenged.

As referee Victor Rivas whistled for full-time, those on or near the Sporting KC bench embraced in a giant group hug.

The long winless drought was finally done. And while it’s indeed over, Vermes made it clear that he wants this to be a starting point.

“I do believe that we’re building toward who we can be, and I think tonight was a very good representation of that,” Vermes said. “Is that it? No, not even close. There’s so much more that we can do better, and we’ll keep working toward that.”

Sporting KC has a quick turnaround now ahead of a Wednesday evening U.S. Open Cup match at Houston (7:30 p.m. start time). Sporting’s next MLS game is Saturday, May 13 (also 7:30 p.m.) at home against Minnesota.

This story was originally published May 7, 2023 at 5:54 PM.