Cristian Lobato scored his first career MLS goal early and Sporting Kansas City held on for their first away point since July with a 1-1 draw against Columbus Crew SC on Sunday afternoon.
Ola Kamara equalized moments before halftime with his 15th goal of the season, but Crew SC couldn't find a winner as their home win streak ended at four matches.
SKC's Tim Melia made four stops, including impressive denials of Kamara and Federico Higuain in the second half, as Sporting pulled into a virtual tie with Vancouver for third in the Western Conference.
Goals
Three Things
- SANTOS, THE HELPER: Pedro Santos recorded his second assist in three MLS starts with his corner kick service to pick out Kamara on the equalizer in first-half stoppage time. The Portuguese Designated Player was denied the chance to set up a winner however, giving way for Cristian Martinez in the 65th minute. Just one minute earlier, Columbus coach Gregg Berhalter lifted Kamara – who had practiced just once in the week leading up to the game – for Adam Jahn.
- A FIRST. AGAIN: With a goal in his fourth MLS start, Lobato became just the latest in a string of five Sporting Kansas City players to hit their first career goals in the league this season. He follows Gerso Fernandes, Latif Blessing, Daniel Salloi and Saad Abdul-Salaam. Jimmy Medranda and Diego Rubio also hit their second career MLS goals for their first tallies of the 2017 season.
- MORE MENSAH MISCUES: After appearing to gain his footing and play to the potential Berhalter had envisioned, Jonathan Mensah reverted to his shakier form of earlier this season. His mistimed – and perhaps needless – bicycle kick clearance attempt gifted Lobato an open look on the goal. And by that point he had already earned a caution to activate a card accumulation suspension for next weekend's game in Vancouver.
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