Photo courtesy of Matthew Hicks
Sporting Kansas City: Jimmy Nielsen; Seth Sinovic, Matt Besler, Aurelien Collin, Chance Myers, Uri Rosell, Benny Feilhaber, Paulo Nagamura, Bobby Convey, Claudio Bieler, C.J. Sapong
Second/third 30 minute segments: Kyle Miller, Michael Thomas, Ike Opara, Mechack Jerome, Mikey Lopez, Lawrence Olum, Peterson Joseph, Trialist 1, Soony Saad, Kevin Ellis
University of Missouri - Kansas City: Kevin Corby; Michael Oakley, Pino Guerrero, Jeffrey Stezovsky (Franklin Washington), Zach Balthazar, Roberto Albuquerque, Stephen Koeller, Tom McCarthy (Sylvester Yiadom), Ashley Reece (Tom Gaus), Broc Cramer, Jordan Rideout
Please note: Remaining UMKC substitutions not listed.
Scoring Summary:
KC -- C.J. Sapong 30'
KC -- Soony Saad (Kevin Ellis) 75'
KC -- Soony Saad 88'
Sporting Kansas City defeated the University of Missouri - Kansas City 3-0 at the Sporting Club Training Center in Swope Park on Saturday. The home side, in the midst of a bye week during MLS competition, maintained the majority of the possession in each of the three 30-minute segments.
C.J. Sapong opened the scoring for Sporting Kansas City in the 30th minute of play. Bobby Convey stood over a corner kick, finding Uri Rosell at the top of the 18-yard box. UMKC central defender Jeffrey Stezovsky deflected the Barcelona youth product's shot, redirecting the ball into the path of Sapong, who converted a right-footed volley moments before the end of the first 30.
Sporting Kansas City made a full lineup swap at the start of the second 30, with UMKC making just three substitutions. Sporting KC continued to see a flury of chances despite the new personnel, but failed to add a second tally until the final 30-minute phase.
Halfway through the third segment, Kevin Ellis beat his defender on the left side of the field before finding Soony Saad on the back post. Saad finished a left-footed strike past UMKC goalkeeper Kevin Corby.
Shortly after, UMKC striker Broc Cramer got on the end of a ball behind the Sporting Kansas City defense for the ‘Roos best chance of the match. Cramer took several touches to advance the ball into UMKC’s attacking third only to be met by Ike Opara and Lawrence Olum, whose recovery runs enabled Sporting Kansas City to maintain the clean sheet.
Sporting Kansas City added a third goal in the waning moments of the match with a solo effort from Saad. The Michigan native beat three UMKC defenders before slotting the ball past Corby for his second goal of the contest.
Sporting Kansas City resumes League play on Wednesday facing the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena.
