Sporting Kansas City stuns Colorado in second half to snap six-game winless skid

For the first time in seven games, Sporting KC scored the first goal. But Saturday’s match was just getting started.

SKC also fell behind again in the first half of its matchup with the Colorado Rapids at Children’s Mercy Park. But a stellar second-half performance, including goals from Dejan Joveljic (his second of the match), Daniel Salloi and Mason Toye, gave Sporting a 4-2 win over the Rapids, snapping a six-game winless skid.

Despite things not going their way in recent weeks, it was clear the SKC players have remained focused and together. The camaraderie was evident in the locker room after the game.

“It starts with leadership,” said Jacob Bartlett, who got his first MLS assist on the last goal of the game.

“Daniel and Erik (Thommy) come in every day and keep us going and keep us on our goal and on the right path,” Bartlett added. “I think it shows again tonight. Everyone’s bought into the ideas, and we’re still pushing.”

Salloi’s take?

“You just gotta stay positive,” Salloi said. “Just gotta keep grinding. I understand this was not the year we wanted to have once again, but we’re still in it. We’re still fighting, and that’s what this club is about.”

Sporting now has a record of 7-15-6 and is eight points off the playoff line with six games remaining. Resilient performances like Saturday’s will be needed moving forward.

Sporting took the lead early thanks to Joveljic’s 15th goal of the 2025 season, a header flicked in at the near post. He scored off a cross from Khiry Shelton just four minutes into the game.

It was the first time in seven games that Sporting KC scored the first goal. The last game? A July 4 win over the Colorado Rapids.

“That’s been something that we’ve been working on,” interim coach Kerry Zavagnin said. “It’s not a tactical thing. It’s just how we emotionally come out of the locker room, and I think we were ready to play.”

But it didn’t last long.

The Rapids then scored twice, and probably could’ve added on. SKC’s Ian James made a vital block in front of an empty net after Paxten Aaronson dribbled past the SKC defense and goalkeeper John Pulskamp.

Colorado earned a penalty minutes later after Zorhan Bassong brought down Aaronson inside the box, but Pulskamp stopped Rafael Navarro’s penalty kick and the rebound shot, too.

The home side was not out of danger.

Navarro would score five minutes later, getting behind the SKC defense and putting a shot past Pulskamp. Then, nine minutes later, Keegan Rosenberry found himself on the end of a cross at the back post to give the Rapids the lead.

That is, until Sporting’s post-60th-minute magic kicked in yet again. The team has scored 43 goals in 2025; 21 of them have come after the 60th minute.

First, Salloi dribbled through a couple of Rapids defenders on the right side and ripped a shot past goalkeeper Zack Steffen to tie it at 2-2.

“Johnny Russell 2018 flashbacks,” Salloi joked. “I just chopped two guys up and glad I could finish it. I’m glad that right after that we could score again and get the win.”

That they did. Salloi’s goal didn’t exactly come from nothing. But it sure gave a lifeline to a struggling team, and the momentum continued.

Two minutes later, Sporting’s Santiago Muñoz threaded a perfect pass to Toye, who hit a low shot with his left foot past Steffen for a 3-2 lead. It was Toye’s third straight game with a goal contribution.

“I just want to make a difference and come up for us when they need me, whether that’s starting or coming off the bench,” Toye said. “I was able to get a chance and put it away.”

Finally, Joveljic got his second off a corner kick, a diving header at the near post to make it 4-2 in the 81st minute.

Up next: Sporting KC hosts Austin FC next Sunday in the MLS match of the week. Kickoff from Children’s Mercy Park is set for 6 p.m. Central.

Daniel Sperry covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at sperry.danielkc@gmail.com.

This story was originally published August 30, 2025 at 10:41 PM.