Sporting KC clinch spot in Major League Soccer playoffs with thrilling final-match win
With their club fighting for life in the final match of the regular season, Johnny Russell and Remi Walter came through for Sporting Kansas City.
The KC pair scored in a span of three minutes in the first half of Saturday night’s home showdown against Minnesota United FC, paving the way to a 3-1 victory at Children’s Mercy Park.
The win — coupled with a home loss by Portland and a draw by the San Jose Earthquakes — clinched a spot for Sporting KC in the Major League Soccer playoffs. They’ll play host to San Jose in a wild-card match at Children’s Mercy Park on Wednesday, Oct. 25.
It’s been a long road for Sporting KC this season. They started a horrific 0-7-3 and scored a mere three goals in their first 10 matches.
Once the Portland and San Jose matches had gone final (shortly after KC’s game had concluded), Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes addressed the home crowd from midfield
”Obviously, things didn’t start off very well,” Vermes said. “But for those who stuck with us, this is what you get.”
During a 2-0 home loss in April, there were audible chants of “Vermes out” at Children’s Mercy Park. But from that night on, Sporting KC went 12-7-3 against MLS competition.
Vermes took a few more swipes at “the doubters” in his post-game news conference. Then he spoke about his team’s performance with the stakes so high.
Like Sporting KC, Portland and San Jose both played at home Saturday. Those teams shared a simple scenario requiring no outside help: Win and you’re in. But Portland lost 3-1 and San Jose tied Austin.
Vermes said the pure stress of such games can weigh on a player.
“A lot of guys get so nervous that they use up half of their energy not even playing the game,” Vermes said. “But our guys have been through such ups and downs over the course of the season in all these different ways that they have learned to scratch, bite, claw and fight back and get themselves into all these positions, and get us into this position.
“I knew we were ready for this game.”
The first 20 minutes of Saturday’s match were cagey, as one might expect, with both teams playing for postseason assurance. But Sporting created the better chances and eventually made good on one.
Russell opened with a 28th-minute goal that fans have seen him score countless times since 2018. The Scotsman picked up the ball on the right side from Salloi, cut to his left, and curled a shot perfectly into the far corner.
Three minutes later, Kansas City’s Remi Walter doubled the lead, making a late run from the midfield to get onto Salloi’s cross.
Over the next hour-plus, Sporting KC closed things out in dominant fashion. While Russell banged home a second goal in the 78th minute, the Loons didn’t threaten much, eventually scoring their only goal off a set piece.
“I thought that defensively it was probably our best game we have played as a back four,” Vermes said. “All four guys, it was the best game.”
Russell’s performance was especially critical. Listed as questionable and a game-time decision ahead of the match, he didn’t practice with the team all week until Friday.
“I think anyone knows I’ll do anything I can to be out there,” Russell said. “Yes, I’m struggling, but it was never really something that would stop me.”
Vermes said when he first scouted Russell, he was struck by Russell’s knack for the big moment — showing up in big games.
“He had the ‘it’ factor,” Vermes said. “And that is for the big games, because he’s got big balls. He’s gonna step up.”
Kickoff for Wednesday’s wild-card match is set for 8:30 p.m. if Sporting were to defeat San Jose, they’d advance to the knockout round for a best-of-three series with none other than St. Louis CITY SC.
This story was originally published October 21, 2023 at 10:12 PM.