Seattle Sounders vs. Sporting Kansas City - 06/08/11 - [WEEK 21 - Highlights]

Seattle Sounders vs. Sporting Kansas City - 06/08/11 - [WEEK 21 - Highlights]

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A little more than two months after it began, Sporting Kansas City's 14-game unbeaten streak is finally over after yet another thrilling game at Livestrong Sporting Park.

Left for dead through 90 minutes, the Seattle Sounders scored two goals in stoppage time courtesy of Mauro Rosales and Lamar Neagle as Kansas City failed to hold onto a 1-0 lead and lost 2-1 in front of 17,493 fans at LSP on Saturday night.

Omar Bravo was shown straight red card in the 59th minute, but Kansas City still appeared to be in line for three points in the final minutes before Seattle struck twice to end what had tied for the longest unbeaten streak in Major League Soccer this season.

Rosales played the hero, first dancing through the Sporting defense before cutting his shot inside the far post, to tie the game 1-1. Moments later the Argentine maestro played creator, carving up SKC's back line and squaring for Neagle. The young forward's shot cut against the grain, pinged off the post and in for a spectacular road win.

As they did against Real Salt Lake, Sporting took the game to the visitors from the very start in their home digs. C.J. Sapong had the first chance in the seventh minute when he rose in a crowd to get a head on the ball, but Kasey Keller was equal to the effort and pushed it over the bar.

Kansas City continued to stream forward, using the wide areas to break down a Seattle side that appeared worn out from their recent travels and packed schedule.

Sporting punished them, getting the opener from another long throw by Matt Besler in the 20th minute. Just four days after a Besler throw led to Teal Bunbury's goal against RSL, the central defender found Kamara unmarked at the top of the box, where the he beat Keller to the ball and flicked it into the empty net.

Seattle had their best chance of the half eight minutes later when James Riley found space at the edge of the penalty area to send a cross to the back post. Álvaro Fernández was there with time and space to put his effort on frame, but the Uruguayan scuffed the header badly and sent the ball wide of the post.

Five minutes later it was Sapong again who put a scare into the Sounders defense. The rookie forward used some fancy footwork to cut two players in the penalty area and looked to be in alone on Keller, but center back Zach Scott came flying in to deliver a timely sliding tackle to put the ball out of play. Besler had an open header from the ensuing corner kick but put his effort just wide.

Seattle started the second half in the same vein as their first half performance, forcing coach Sigi Schmid to look to the bench. On the 55-minute mark he removed the ineffective Fernández and Fredy Montero for Pat Noonan and Mike Fucito.

And although Seattle still couldn't find space going forward, the game changed completely in the 59th minute when Bravo was sent off for a vicious two-footed tackle on Noonan. Referee Jair Marrufo correctly judged it a dismissible offense, showing Bravo a red card and sending the crowd into hysterics.

Down a man and holding onto a one-goal lead, Kansas City manager Peter Vermes went to his bench, replacing the dangerous Sapong with Bunbury in the 65th minute. Quiet for the better part of 70 minutes, Seattle then began to threaten, forcing some spectacular goalkeeping out of Jimmy Nielsen.

Fucito created space at the top of the penalty box in the 69th minute and struck a shot with his left foot that the Dane parried away only as far as Neagle. The substitute immediately uncorked a drive that appeared destined for net, but Nielsen came out of nowhere to pull off a stunning kick save and keep the score 1-0 for the home team.

It was a lead that would last until Rosales took the game into his own hands with the late goal and set-up.

With the win, Seattle (11-5-8, 41 points) stay solidly in the Supporters' Shield race. Sporting (7-7-9, 30 points), meanwhile, stay in the thick of the playoff race in the Eastern Conference.

Scoring Summary
SKC -- Kei Kamara 6 (Matt Besler 2) 20
SEA -- Mauro Rosales 3 (unassisted) 90
SEA -- Lamar Neagle 2 (Mike Fucito 1) 92

Discipline Summary
SKC-- Birahim Diop (caution; Reckless Foul) 37
SKC-- Omar Bravo (ejection; Serious Foul Play) 59

• Category

  Sports

[William Guynes]

Yes. How dare we call a citizen of Mexico a "Mexican." It's unconscionable I tell you!

[moccasins23]

@ripcitiboi The only racism at all in this situation is created by the viewer who wants it to be there. Calling him a Mexican, no matter how he said it, in what context, is not racist. It's the guy's nationality, which he uses all the time. Period.

[cocobobogo1]

"Get the Mexican off the field" What kind of announcer says that?

[haze555ful]

How on earth is calling someone by their nationality racist? Ridiculous American over-sensitivity!

[TVSPOTHUNTER]

nice come back once again lol.

[Noah Rich]

Best commentary in the MLS. I wish this guy could do every match.

[puDDykaa]

i know your happy with racism being discussed on this video, but im not. i came here to watch football. not get offended or be upset. racism will only end when we choose to not acknowledge it. im doing my part, just do yours :)

[puDDykaa]

maybe he should of said, trying to get the mexican "PLAYER" off the field. that way maybe it wont be racist?? idk it doesnt sound racist to me. im italian. i call myself italian. and i have no problem with it. if he would of said chino or the N word. then ya we would have a serious problem. but i think it wasn't racist and maybe next time he could use a better play on words??

[iTi Darkenedk]

That's cool. I just like giving people shit.

[ripcitiboi]

Can you be anymore dense? if you are seriously interested in debating this topic then add something of substance that has not already been covered. Read ALL the past comments I have covered and get back at me. I don't have time re-irritating myself to a wall. Not trying to be rude to you but people read one thing and think they are intelligent enough to cover a topic that is complex with a simple non clever comment.

[iTi Darkenedk]

Uh would you get pissed if somebody called you an American? No.

[DrFugue]

Hey, sorry about that. I was pretty upset that day and was already fuming over some other issues. Part of the reason that I was outraged by your comment is that I personally know Arlo White (the commentator), and I am half-mexican. So you calling my friend a racist is something I won't stand for, and is completely incorrect, as he has been nothing but open to all races and has friends from all creeds and backgrounds (such as myself)