Recap: Sporting KC falls 3-1 in Minnesota

Sporting Kansas City (6-22-4, 22 pts.) fell to a 3-1 loss against Minnesota United (9-12-11, 38 pts.) at Allianz Field on Wednesday night. Taylor Calheira gave Sporting a halftime lead with a well-taken first-half goal before Minnesota roared back in the second half with three unanswered goals to claim all three points.

Head coach Raphael Wicky made a solitary change to the lineup after Saturday’s defeat to Austin FC, with Jacob Bartlett returning to central midfield in place of the injured Zorhan Bassong (hamstring).

Sporting started on the front foot and had the first opening of the night when Jacob Bartlett strode onto a cutback from Jake Davis on the edge of the Minnesota area but curled his powerful effort over the bar.

Stefan Cleveland was called into action for the first time in the 19^th minute when Anthony Markanich got in behind the Sporting backline but the 32-year-oild goalkeeper was quick off his line to smother the attempt from a tight angle.

Minnesota continued to pile on the pressure as the first half wore on with Aziel Jackson first firing over from 12 yards in the 24^th minute before Markanich headed inches wide at the far post in the 30^th minute.

Sporting jumped ahead in the 31^st minute when Jake Davis’ pass was deflected into the path of Calheira, sending the striker through on goal and he made no mistake, firing into the bottom corner for his fifth goal of the season to give Sporting a 1-0 lead at the half.

Minnesota thought they had an equalizer in the opening exchanges of the second half when Mauricio Gonzalez headed home from close range, but following a Video Review, the goal was disallowed for a foul on Emir Karic in the build-up.

After absorbing significant pressure at the start of the second half, Sporting almost doubled the lead in the 64^th minute when Andre Luiz burst away from the Minnesota defense and cut inside on his favored left foot but his strike caromed off the crossbar. Moments later, Kwaku Agyabeng took aim from 20 yards but his powerful effort was well saved by Drake Callender.

Minnesota finally broke Sporting’s resistance in the 72^nd minute when Markanich headed home from Joaquin Pereyra’s corner kick.

Sporting responded well to the goal and twice went close in quick succession as first Andre fired just wide after sprinting away down the right wing before Calvin Harris dragged a shot inches off target.

Instead, it was Minnesota who grabbed the go-ahead goal in the 76^th minute when Gonzalez fired home following a giveaway deep in Sporting’s half.

Sporting was inches from equalizing in the 80^th minute when Jansen Miller’s header off Owen Wolff’s corner ricocheted off the inside of the post and into the grateful arms of Callender. At the other end, Yeboah almost added a third for Minnesota but his header on the doorstep also came off the post.

Eventually, Minnesota sealed the points when Yeboah slotted home his 18^th goal of the season after being found inside the area by Tomas Chancalay to make the final score 3-1.

Sporting returns home this weekend host FC Dallas in the team’s final home match of the 2026 season at Sporting Park on Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. CT and will be available to stream on Apple TV, while the game will be air on the radio on Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Grande 1340 AM. Tickets for the Halloween showdown are available on SeatGeek.

2026 MLS Regular Season | Game 32
Allianz Field | St. Paul, MN
Attendance: 18,354
Weather: 62 degrees and rainy

Sporting Kansas City: Stefan Cleveland; Jake Davis (C) (Ian James 58’), Jansen Miller, Wyatt Meyer, Emir Karic (Jayden Reid 89’); Andre Luiz, Jacob Bartlett (Ruben Ramos Jr. 84’), Kwaku Agyabeng, Capita Capemba (Calvin Harris 58’); Stephen Afrifa (Owen Wolff 58’), Taylor Calheira

Subs Not Used: John Pulskamp, Ethan Bartlow, Shapi Suleymanov

Minnesota United: Drake Callender; Cherrion Valerius, Morris Duggan (C), Jefferson Diaz, Anthony Markanich (Michael Boxall 94+); Bongokuhle Hlongwane (Joaquin Pereyra 59’), Nectarios Triantis, Owen Gene, Mauricio Gonzalez; Aziel Jackson (Tomas Chancalay 59’), Kelvin Yeboah (Marcus Caldeira 89’)

Subs Not Used: Alec Smir, Kyle Duncan, Nicolas Romero, Carlos Harvey, Maurice Malone

Scoring Summary:
SKC – Taylor Calheira 5 (Unassisted) 31’
MIN – Anthony Markanich 9 (Joaquin Pereyra 14) 72’
MIN – Mauricio Gonzazlez 3 (Nectarios Triantis 2) 76’
MIN – Kelvin Yeboah 18 (Tomas Chancalay 5) 88’

Misconduct Summary:
MIN – Kelvin Yeboah (Yellow Card; Dissent) Halftime
MIN – Mauricio Gonzalez (Yellow Card; Simulation) 59’
MIN – Anthony Markanich (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 61’
MIN – Cherrion Valerius (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 71’

Referee: Sergii Boiko
Assistant Referee: Eric Weisbrod
Assistant Referee: Matthew Nelson
Fourth Official: Filip Dujic
VAR: Brad Jensen
AVAR: Robert Schaap