Sporting KC defender Kevin Ellis receives one-match suspension for elbow to opponent’s face

Major League Soccer handed Sporting Kansas City defender Kevin Ellis a one-match suspension Wednesday, a punishment levied for an elbow that connected with the face of Vancouver midfielder Giles Barnes during Saturday's match.

The league also issued Vancouver forward Christian Bolanos a one-game suspension stemming from a foul in the 53rd minute of the same match Saturday evening at Children's Mercy Park, which Sporting KC won 2-0.

The play involving Ellis occurred in the ninth minute, when he ran to cut off Barnes, who was streaking down the left flank. Ellis inadvertently elbowed him in the face and was shown a yellow card. MLS characterized the play as "violent conduct that endangered the safety of an opponent."

Ellis will be unavailable for Sporting Kansas City's match Saturday in Philadelphia.

He played 90 minutes in Tuesday's CONCACAF Champions League loss after playing 90 minutes there days earlier.

The Bolanos suspension was also for “violent conduct that endangered the safety of an opponent” for contact to the head of Sporting KC winger Graham Zusi.

This story was originally published August 24, 2016 at 6:24 PM with the headline "Sporting KC defender Kevin Ellis receives one-match suspension for elbow to opponent’s face."