Sensational second-half strikes from Graham Zusi and Felipe Gutierrez propelled Sporting Kansas City to a 3-2 win over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night at Children’s Mercy Park, lifting Manager Peter Vermes’ men into a tie for first place in the Western Conference.
Ilie opened the scoring with his first career MLS goal in the 25th minute, but San Jose (1-1-0, 3 points) pulled level through Vako Qazaishvili nine minutes later. The hosts seized control after halftime as Zusi and Gutierrez ignited wild celebrations at Children’s Mercy Park with a pair of long-range efforts, and though the Earthquakes cut into their deficit with a late goal from Chris Wondolowski, Sporting KC (2-1-0, 6 points) held on to secure all three points on St. Patrick's Day and post their second successive victory.
The result extended Sporting KC’s unbeaten run against San Jose to six games across all competitions, giving the Earthquakes an 11th regular season defeat in their last 12 trips to Kansas City dating back to 2004. It was also the first time since August 2015 that Sporting KC has bagged seven goals over a two-game span.
Vermes fielded an unchanged lineup from last weekend’s thrilling 4-3 defeat of the Chicago Fire as his side carried its attacking momentum into Saturday, which marked the 700th regular season match in club history and the 350th at home. Sporting KC threatened as early as the seventh minute when a teasing cross from Seth Sinovic swerved just beyond the reach of Johnny Russell on the edge of the six-yard box.
A delicately poised start saw San Jose ask questions of Tim Melia in the 19th minute. A stinging drive from Florian Jungwirth forced the Sporting KC goalkeeper to sprawl right and parry the ball away to keep the game scoreless.
Referee Allen Chapman awarded Sporting KC a penalty kick halfway through the first period when Daniel Salloi slipped a delightful through ball into the path of Russell, who was then chopped down by San Jose goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell. Ilie buried the ensuing spot kick to open his MLS scoring account and give Sporting KC their first goal at home since Sept. 24, 2017, snapping a drought of 349 minutes.
The visitors responded brightly and restored parity in the 34th minute. Vako’s header off a cross from Nick Lima was blocked by Zusi, but the Georgian international hammered the rebound into the net for his second goal in as many games.
Vako’s equalizer allowed San Jose to enter the break on level terms, but not before Zusi and Roger Espinoza created danger on the stroke of halftime. Zusi’s bending free kick sailed inches over the crossbar before Espinoza surged into the box and unleashed a left-footed attempt that was blocked amidst traffic.
The Earthquakes nearly took the lead eight minutes after the restart, but Wondolowski fired high from close range following a cutback pass from Magnus Eriksson. Sporting KC made San Jose pay for the miss three minutes later on a breathtaking goal from Zusi.
On the night he became the seventh player in Sporting KC history to reach 20,000 minutes played for the club in all competitions, Zusi cut centrally from the right wing in the 56th minute and sent a left-footed piledriver into the top left corner from 20 yards. The jaw-dropping goal was Zusi’s first for Sporting KC since Oct. 23, 2016, in a 2-0 home win over San Jose.
Not to be outdone by Zusi, Gutierrez doubled Sporting KC’s advantage in the 68th minute with a left-footed missile that nestled low into the far right corner of the net. Gutierrez now has three goals in his last two appearances, having scored twice against Chicago a week earlier. Russell and Salloi were credited with assists on the play, recording their second and third assists of the season, respectively.
Russell was unlucky not to extend Sporting KC’s lead in the 78th minute after skipping along the endline and forcing a one-handed save from Tarbell. Just seconds later, a low cross from Gutierrez deflected off Yefferson Quintana and caromed off the post, requiring San Jose to scramble clear.
Just when Sporting KC appeared to be in cruise control, San Jose grabbed a goal back in the first minute of second-half stoppage time. Wondolowski ran onto a lovely ball over the top from Eriksson and sent a shot in off the far left post to tally his 135th career regular season goal, good for second-most all-time. Shortly thereafter, Chapman’s full-time whistle drew an end to the contest.
Sporting KC is back on the road next Saturday to face the Colorado Rapids in an 8 p.m. CT kickoff on FOX Sports Kansas City and FOX Sports Midwest Plus. The official watch party for the match will take place at No Other Pub in the Kansas City Power & Light District, featuring $4 Bud Light drafts and an all-inclusive buffet with endless draft beers.
2018 MLS Regular Season
Game 3 of 34
Children's Mercy Park | Kansas City, Kansas
Attendance: 18,868
Weather: 46 degrees and partly cloudy
<strong>Score</strong> |
<strong>1</strong> |
<strong>2</strong> |
<strong>F</strong> |
Sporting Kansas City (2-1-0, 6 points) |
1 |
2 |
3 |
San Jose Earthquakes (1-1-0, 3 points) |
1 |
1 |
2 |
Sporting Kansas City: Tim Melia; Graham Zusi, Ike Opara, Matt Besler (C), Seth Sinovic; Felipe Gutierrez, Ilie, Roger Espinoza (Jimmy Medranda 93+); Johnny Russell, Khiry Shelton (Yohan Croizet 82), Daniel Salloi (Gerso Fernandes 87)
Subs Not Used: Eric Dick, Emiliano Amor, Jaylin Lindsey, Cristian Lobato
San Jose Earthquakes: Andrew Tarbell; Nick Lima, Yefferson Quintana, Harold Cummings, Shea Salinas (Fatai Alashe 82); Magnus Eriksson, Anibal Godoy, Florian Jungwirth (Jackson Yueill 74), Vako Qazaishvili; Danny Hoesen (Quincy Amarikwa 82), Chris Wondolowski (C)
Subs Not Used: Matt Bersano, Francois Affolter, Jimmy Ockford, Tommy Thompson
Scoring Summary:
SKC -- Ilie 1 (penalty kick) 25
SJ -- Vako Qazaishvili 1 (unassisted) 34
SKC -- Graham Zusi 1 (Roger Espinoza 2) 56
SKC -- Felipe Gutierrez 3 (Daniel Salloi 3, Johnny Russel 2) 68
SJ -- Chris Wondolowski 1 (Magnus Eriksson 1) 91+
Misconduct Summary:
SKC -- Daniel Salloi (yellow card; unsporting behavior) 21
SJ -- Yefferson Quintana (yellow card; dissent) 39
<strong>Stats</strong> |
<strong>SKC</strong> |
<strong>SJ</strong> |
Shots |
13 |
11 |
Shots on Goal |
4 |
4 |
Saves |
2 |
1 |
Fouls |
9 |
8 |
Offsides |
0 |
4 |
Corner Kicks |
12 |
3 |
Referee: Allen Chapman
Assistant Referee: Adam Wienckowski
Assistant Referee: Kevin Klinger
Fourth Official: Hilario Grajeda
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
