SEATTLE — Jacob Peterson and Patrick Ianni traded first-half goals as Sporting Kansas City and the Seattle Sounders played to a 1-1 tie in a chippy match at CenturyLink Field on Wednesday.
The Sounders have now gone a franchise-record six matches without a win, while Sporting KC extended their unbeaten streak to four games.
The game was wide open at times, but also extremely physical, with the two teams combining for 30 fouls. There were also five yellow cards and Seattle midfielder Álvaro Fernández was shown a straight red card for a tackle from behind on Sporting's Roger Espinoza in stoppage time.
Either team could have come away with all three points and made a decent argument they deserved them.
Full Highlights: SEA 1, SKC 1
The Sounders’ best chance to pull out the win came in the 88th minute, when Fredy Montero was able to round the defense and squeeze off a shot from about six yards out to the left of Jimmy Nielsen. The SKC 'keeper, however, managed to put a hand on the ball, forcing it to ricochet off the far post to keep it out of his goal.
On the other side, it was Andrew Weber who came up big for the Sounders. Making his first start of the season, his big moment came in the 71st minute, when he made a diving stop on a Chance Myers header.
The first half was full of chances as well.
Sporting KC jumped out to the early advantage when the Sounders failed to clear a throw-in into the penalty area in the eighth minute. Aurélien Collin controlled the ball and passed it back to Peterson, who fired a shot from about 16 yards out. His effort deflected off Sounders midfielder Osvaldo Alonso and into the far upper corner, giving Weber no real chance to make the save.
OPTA CHALKBOARD: Seattle, Sporting evenly matched
That seemed to spark the Sounders, who up until then had failed to generate many chances. Right winger Brad Evans twice came close to connecting on crosses, both in the 12th minute, and Montero narrowly missed Zach Scott with a pass from a 14th minute free kick.
Seattle broke through in the 15th minute when Mauro Rosales sent in a free kick from the right side about 25 yards out. Ianni was able to hit a spectacular side-footed volley from about eight yards that easily beat Nielsen. It was the center back's first goal since May 28, 2011, when he scored against Real Salt Lake. It was also Ianni’s first appearance since May 5, as he’s been out with a back injury ever since.
Each team had at least one very good chance of grabbing the lead. SKC's Soony Saad hit the crossbar after slipping around Scott on the right wing in the 19th minute. For Seattle, Eddie Johnson had a good opportunity in the 38th minute when he was able to collect a rebound off an Alex Caskey shot, but his attempt from about eight yards went wide.
Both teams will return to action this weekend. Sporting KC will take to the field on Saturday, when they travel to face the Philadelphia Union. The Sounders, meanwhile, will face Cascadia rivals Portland Timbers in an ESPN-televised match on Sunday.
MLSsoccer.com Men of the Match
Rank |
Player |
What We Saw |
1 |
<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/mauro-rosales"><span style="font-size:12px;">Mauro Rosales</span></a> |
Playing as a the point in a diamond midfield, the Argentine veteran pulled the strings of Seattle's attack. Served the assist on Patrick Ianni's stunning strike. |
2 |
<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/roger-espinoza"><span style="font-size:12px;">Roger Espinoza</span></a> |
Sporting KC midfielder was active all match, recovering the ball as well as distributing it in an attempt to help his team earn three points. |
3 |
<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/patrick-ianni"><span style="font-size:12px;">Patrick Ianni</span></a> |
The Sounders defender didn't have an extremely busy night in the back, but his most important contribution came in the form of a ridiculous equalizer. |
