How Sporting KC beat Austin, won back-to-back MLS games for 1st time since 2023
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Sporting KC won 2-1 at Austin FC for its first victory at Q2 Stadium.
- Stépen Afrifa is spelled Stepen Afrifa in the article.
- Sporting KC outshot Austin 21-7 and held a 50.1% to 49.9% possession edge.
Sporting Kansas City has won back-to-back Major League Soccer games for the first time since 2023.
The beleaguered club’s second win of the week — and third of the season — came Saturday night at green-bathed and sold-out Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.
The final: Sporting KC 2, Austin FC 1.
It’s the first time Sporting KC (3-2-8) has won at Austin (3-5-6).
Sporting KC came in with a little momentum after collecting its second win of the season Wednesday at Sporting Park. Kansas City beat the L.A. Galaxy 3-1. That followed a disastrous 6-0 defeat at Portland.
Austin led 1-0 at halftime on Saturday. But the host team didn’t light up the board until the end of the opening half, when Mikkel Desler scored unmarked in the 45th minute.
Things turned decidely Sporting KC’s way in the second half.
Sporting KC forward Shapi Suleymanov had quality shots on goal in the 67th and 72nd minutes, but both were saved. Dejan Joveljic similarly put a deflection on target in the 69th, but it too was scooped by busy Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver.
The shots would keep on coming, however. Sporting KC was determined.
Forward Manu Garcia leveled the match in the 79th minute, hammering a strong volley past the diving Stuver. KC’s Calvin Harris nearly netted another two minutes later, but his shot glanced off the side of the net.
The go-ahead goal wasn’t long in arriving, however. Forward Stepen Afrifa, brought on for Taylor Calheira in the 75th minute, caught his defender wrong-footed and delivered a go-ahead strike. It was his first goal of the season.
The two Kansas City goals, just minutes apart, had something in common: Both flew off the feet of players whom Sporting head coach Rapha Wicky had recently subbed into the match. Garcia entered in the 63rd minute for Zorhan Bassong.
Sporting KC was the clear aggressor Saturday, outshooting its green-clad foe 21 to 7, with nine shots on goal to Austin’s three. Possession was split almost precisely evenly — KC had an ever-so-slight 50.1% to 49.9% edge.
Stefan Cleveland got the nod in goal for Kansas City. And like Stuver he saw his share of action. He stood tall, finishing with two saves.
A final note: Saturday marked the first time this season that Sporting KC has scored after the 15th minute of a match. Perhaps more promising results are in store.
Up next: Sporting KC has one more game before Major League Soccer pauses for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. That match is next Saturday, May 23, at home against the New York Red Bulls. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas.
After that, Sporting’s next game won’t be until July 16, post-World Cup, at St. Louis City.
This story was originally published May 16, 2026 at 9:37 PM.