KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Toni Dovale? More like Two-ni. And just like that, Sporting Kansas City have a share of their CONCACAF Champions League group lead – with a match in hand on their co-leaders.
Sporting Kansas City's Spanish winger scored a second-half brace, giving him three goals in two CCL matches, as Sporting pulled away after the break for a 3-1 victory over Costa Rican side Deportivo Saprissa.
The two clubs, who meet in Costa Rica next month for the group-stage finale, are both on four points after Thursday's result. But Saprissa have only that match left, while Sporting can take the group lead outright with at least a point on Tuesday at home against Nicaragua's Real Esteli.
Sporting pressed hard early and caught their first big break in the 12th minute, when Dom Dwyer's pass sprung Benny Feilhaber for a 1-on-1 against 'keeper Danny Carvajal. The two collided in front of the goal, and Mexican refereee Fernando Guerrero pointed to the spot and showed Carvajal a yellow card.
Dwyer stepped to the spot and placed a low effort into the just inside the right post, past the sprawling Carvajal, for his 20th goal of the season – and his fourth in as many matches – across all competitions.
He had several chances to make it 2-0 shortly after that, but they went begging – and Saprissa made Sporting pay for it with Juan Bustos' equalizer in the 28th minute.
Daniel Colindres laid the ball back toward Bustos near the top of the penalty area, and he fired a left-footed strike past Andy Gruenebaum into the upper left corner – the first of five Saprissa goals in the tournament to be scored by someone other than forward Ariel Rodriguez.
Dwyer came within inches of putting the home side up 2-1 in the 40th, with a header toward the left post, but Carvajal dived to his right to make the deflection and Toni's putback attempt from a tight angle hit the post and was cleared away.
Toni didn't miss on his next two chances, though, delivering all three points with his brace after the half.
He put Sporting up 2-1 in spectacular fashion in the 69th minute, when he settled under right back Igor Juliao's floated cross and drove home a left-footed volley for the game-winner. Then, seven minutes later, he iced it with a bit of positioning and opportunism.
Dwyer sent in a pass from the left side, but it was just out of reach of a sliding Feilhaber in the center of the box. Dovale was unmarked on the far side of the goal, though, and he calmly cleaned up to complete his big night.
Saprissa defender Jordan Smith will miss the group finale, after drawing a yellow card for hauling Sporting's Graham Zusi down by his collar in the second half.
Steve Brisendine covers Sporting Kansas City for MLSsoccer.com.
