Sporting Kansas City continued their 2021 preseason with a 1-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona on Saturday afternoon. Sporting KC trotted out two separate lineups in each half, with Rapids’ veteran defender Drew Moor heading home the only goal of the game in the 75th minute.
Sporting started the game on the front foot and almost took the lead in the fifth minute when Jaylin Lindsey’s cutback from the byline was turned onto the post and out by Daniel Salloi.
In the 16th minute, Salloi turned in the area and saw both his effort and follow-up blocked, before Remi Walter pounced on the loose ball and also saw his attempt blocked out for a corner.
Johnny Russell was next in line to threaten the deadlock as his well-taken volley from Alan Pulido’s cross flew narrowly over the crossbar in the 22nd minute.
With an almost entirely different lineup to start the second half, Sporting almost found the breakthrough in the 49th minute as Gadi Kinda intercepted a short goal kick and freed Grayson Barber on the right side of the area, but his effort was smothered by Clint Irwin.
The Rapids took the lead in the 75th minute when Sporting goalkeeper John Pulskamp had expertly saved a one-on-one, only for the ensuing corner to be headed home by Drew Moor.
Sporting KC Homegrown player Tyler Freeman almost equalized for his side with a curling effort from the edge of the area in the 81st minute, but it flashed just wide.
Sporting KC is back in preseason action on Wednesday when the side returns to Tucson to take on the Portland Timbers. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. CT with live updates available via @SKCmatchday on Twitter.
Sporting Kansas City vs. Colorado Rapids
March 20, 2021 – Kino Sports Complex (Tucson, Ariz.)
Sporting Kansas City 0, Colorado Rapids 1
Scoring Summary:
COL – Drew Moor (Nicolas Mezquida) 75’
Sporting Kansas City Lineups
First Half: Tim Melia; Jaylin Lindsey, Kaveh Rad, Andreu Fontas, Luis Martins; Ilie Sanchez, Gianluca Busio, Remi Walter (Gadi Kinda 31’); Johnny Russell, Alan Pulido, Daniel Salloi
Second Half: John Pulskamp; Kayden Pierre, Matt Constant (Graham Smith 74’), Roberto Puncec; Felipe Hernandez, Cam Duke, Gadi Kinda (Tyler Freeman 52’); Grayson Barber, Wilson Harris, Khiry Shelton
