Sporting KC Thrills Fans on Decision Day and Locks Up No. 1 Seed in Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs
2018 MLS regular season came to a dramatic end as Sporting KC hosts and beats LAFC in a dramatic 2-1 match in a sold-out stadium.
Soccer News: Sporting Kansas City (18-8-8, 62 points) waged a hard-fought battle to win a 2-1 victory over LAFC (16-9-9, 57 points) on Sunday at Children’s Mercy Park and proudly finished first in the Western Conference. This was LAFC’s inaugural regular season.
The match, which had more back-and-forth action than most games, was more heated than many in the regular season. It was intense and physical with fouls and cards flying, as well as goalkeepers working double time.
As Peter Vermes, Manager of Sporting Kansas City said after the game, “This game tonight was not a league match, it was a final.”
“And, I think we played it like a final. We left everything out there on the field and we were victorious,” said Vermes during the press conference.
It was Roger Espinoza who earned the goal that cracked the battle, firing a stunning goal for Sporting KC in the 37th minute. Stunning himself, Esponiza was quickly surrounded by his teammates congratulating him but the battle was far from over.
Sporting KC’s Seth Sinovic was given a red card for a handball infraction inside the box in the 62nd minute.
There was nothing Sporting KC’s goalkeeper Tim Melia could do to stop LAFC’s Carlos Vela from converting the penalty kick which equalized the game until the 22-year-old homegrown player, Daniel Salloi, scored in the 79th minute, earning the win. Khiry Shelton earned the assist.
Sporting KC was down a man but their strong offensive and defensive action was non-stop.
Fan favorite Johnny Russell received a yellow card for unsporting behavior early in the game (14th minute) and after several magnificent attempts to gain control of the ball and earn his team a goal, he was replaced by Yohan Croizet in the 64th minute.
Fun Fact: Salloi has scored the winning goal in each of Sporting KC’s three straight victories. He is Sporting KC’s 2018 golden boot winner with 11 MLS goals.
Sporting KC’s defense was unrelenting, with Captain Matt Besler leading the charge.
GOALS:
- 37′ SKC – Roger Espinoza | WATCH
- 63′ LAFC – Carlos Vela (pk) | WATCH
- 72′ SKC – Daniel Salloi | WATCH
The Match Was Goalkeeper to Goalkeeper:
It is unusual for a goalkeeper to kick the ball nearly all the way to the opposing goalie, but that is what happened last night.
In many ways, last night’s match was a battle of the goalkeepers.
LAFC goalkeeper Tyler Miller blocked several solid shots on goal, only to stray too far from his post in the middle of the first half — and, while he was able to hurry back in time to stop an assault, the feeling of a mistake was felt throughout the stadium.
Seizing the opportunity minutes later, Espinoza found the back of the net, passing an unprepared Miller.
Sporting KC’s goalkeeper Tim Melia made numerous spectacular saves and owned the front of the goal in style.
The contentious match endured till the final whistle was blown with Melia earning a yellow card for time wasting in the 91st minute.
Sporting KC Goalkeeper Tim Melia
One of 11 games kicking of on Decision Day, this was a pivotal final match of the 2018 MLS regular season.
What does this win mean?
Earning the top, No. 1 seed, Sporting KC benefits with a Knockout Round bye and will begin their postseason campaign in the two-legged Western Conference semifinals, playing away in the first leg on Sunday, Nov. 4, before hosting the decisive second leg on Sunday, Nov. 11.
LAFC will host Real Salt Lake at Banc of California Stadium on Thursday.
