Recap: Sporting KC falls 3-1 at first place LAFC 

Sporting Kansas City fell 3-1 at first place Los Angeles FC on Sunday at Banc of California stadium as the hosts moved atop the Supporters' Shield standings.

Sporting opened the scoring in the 38th minute as club captain Johnny Russell drove forward down the right flank and delivered a cross from the endline that was deflected into the back of the net by LAFC defender Diego Palacios. However, LAFC rallied to level the score on the brink of halftime before scoring two second-half goals to extend Sporting's road losing streak to seven matches dating back to 2021.

The Easter Sunday match-up produced more goals than shots on goal in the first half with the statistical anomaly made possible by the Palacios own goal. Russell, who led all players with three chances created on Sunday, picked up possession of the ball 10 yards inside his own half after Nicolas Isimat-Mirin did well to win the ball. Russell then embarked on a 70-yard run which culminated with a 1-0 lead for Sporting as Russell's final touch sent the ball off Palacios and across the goalline from the acutest of angles to stun the home crowd.

The advantage was ultimately shortlived as LAFC knotted the match at 1-1 six minutes later on a play that began with Cristian Arango hammering a free kick off the woodwork and ended with Arango heading home the equalizer in short succession. The set piece caromed off the post and was cleared out of danger, but only momentarily, as Palacios served the ball back into the box, where Mamadou Fall rose to direct his header back across the goalmouth and into the path of Arango to head the ball home from just three yards out.

Having capitalized on their only shot on goal of the first half, LAFC would do the same in the second half with two goals in as many attempts on target. The game-winner came in sublime fashion as second-half substitute Ismael Tajouri-Shradi ran onto a long ball from Palacios and let loose an audacious left-footed half volley from the corner of the penalty area that dipped over Tim Melia for his second goal of the season after scoring from a free kick in his club debut last month.

Eight minutes later, Jose Cifuentes - who entered the match alongside Tajouri-Shradi in the 66th minute - made his impact off the bench to secure all three points for LAFC with the team's third goal of the day. The 23-year-old Ecuadorian playmaker found a pocket of space in the final third and dribbled into the penalty area before burying a shot low into the corner.

Fielding the team's eighth different lineup in the team's first eight matches of the season due to injuries and international call-ups, Manager Peter Vermes gave a club debut to 20-year-old defender Robert Voloder in the game's final minutes on a day in which three Sporting players reached significant milestones. Graham Zusi made his 350th career appearance in MLS competition - becoming one of only seven active players in Major League Soccer to do so - while Roger Espinoza tied Matt Besler for second on the club's all-time regular season games played chart with his 294th appearance and Melia made his 203rd regular season start for Kansas City to equal Jimmy Conrad for seventh on Sporting's all-time regular season games started list.

Sporting Kansas City will now return home to host Columbus Crew SC at 7:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, April 23 for College Night at Children’s Mercy Park featuring packages that include a match ticket and co-branded scarf for fans of the following area schools: University of Kansas, University of Missouri, Kansas State University, University of Missouri - Kansas City and Johnson County Community College. In addition, match sponsor Price Chopper will give away 5,000 reusable bags to attendees after the match while supplies last.

2022 MLS Regular Season | Match 8
Banc of California Stadium | Los Angeles, Calif.
Attendance: 22,097
Weather: 65 degrees and sunny

Sporting Kansas City: Tim Melia; Graham Zusi, Nicolas Isimat-Mirin, Andreu Fontas (Robert Voloder 86'), Logan Ndenbe; Remi Walter, Roger Espinoza (Felipe Hernandez 66'), Marinos Tzionis (Cam Duke 77'); Johnny Russell (C), Khiry Shelton (Nikola Vujnovic 77'), Daniel Salloi

Subs Not Used: John Pulskamp, Kortne Ford, Ben Sweat

Los Angeles FC: Maxime Crepeau; Jesus Murillo, Mamadou Fall, Diego Palacios, Ryan Hollingshead; Ilie Sanchez, Latif Blessing (Jose Cifuentes 66'), Kwadmo Opoku (Ismael Tajouri-Shradi 66'), Kellyn Acosta (Francisco Ginella 81'); Cristian Arango (Danny Musovski 74'), Carlos Vela (C)

Subs Not Used: Franco Escobar, Sebastien Ibeagha, Doneil Henry, John McCarthy

Scoring Summary:
SKC - Own Goal (Diego Palacios) 38'
LAFC - Cristian Arango 2 (Mamadou Fall 1, Diego Palacios 1) 44'
LAFC -- Ismael Tajouri-Shradi 2 (Diego Palacios 2) 70'
LAFC -- Jose Cifuentes 1 (Jesus Murillo 2) 78'

Misconduct Summary:
SKC - Roger Espinoza (caution; unsporting behavior) 6'
LAFC - Jesus Murillo (caution; unsporting behavior) 8'
LAFC - Marinos Tzionis (caution; unsporting behavior) 25'
SKC - Johnny Russell (caution; unsporting behavior) 43'
LAFC - Steve Cherundolo (caution; dissent) 49'
LAFC - Diego Palacios (caution; unsporting behavior) 51'
SKC - Nicolas Isimat-Mirin (caution; unsporting behavior) 80'

Referee: Armando Villarreal
Assistant Referee: Frank Anderson
Assistant Referee: Jeffrey Greeson
Fourth Official: Victor Rivas
VAR: Kevin Stott
AVAR: Chantal Boudreau