Sunday, August 11, 2013

Sporting KC back in first place after 3-0 victory

SportingKC.com

Sporting Kansas City regained first place in the Eastern Conference with a 3-0 win over the New England Revolution on Saturday night at Sporting Park.

Kei Kamara scored once in each half and Benny Feilhaber scored in stoppage time as Sporting KC remains two points behind Real Salt Lake in the Supporters' Shield race.

In front of the 29th consecutive sell-out at Sporting Park, Sporting Kansas City continued their dominance over New England and extended their shutout streak against the Revolution for the fifth consecutive match.

Kamara tallied his sixth career multi-goal game and fifth as a member of Sporting KC. His first goal came off a Soony Saad cross in the 27th minute. Saad curled in a cross from the left flank to the penalty spot and Kamara elevated over Revolution defender Kevin Alston to head the ball into the far corner of the net.

Sporting KC goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen made four saves for his ninth shutout of the season, tied for most in MLS this season.

The Danish goalkeeper made point-blank saves on Dimitry Imbongo in the 40th minute and Chad Barrett in the 80th minute to preserve the shutout.

Kamara doubled Sporting KC's lead minutes after halftime.

Saad picked up the ball on the left flank, cut to the middle and curled in a ball between the six-yard box and penalty spot. Kamara darted past Alston and headed to the near post past goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth.

The Revolution ended the match with only nine men as both Imbongo and Andy Dorman were issued red cards. Imbongo's ejection came in the 64th minute after referee Baldomero Toledo issued a second yellow card to the Revs forward for an elbow to the throat of Oriol Rosell.

Dorman picked up a straight red card in the 86th minute for a dangerous tackle on Kamara. The Sierra Leone international was taken to the locker room and Sporting KC was forced to play the remaining few minutes with 10 men after having used all three substitutions.

Feilhaber, who Sporting KC acquired from the Revolution in the offseason, sealed the match with a free kick goal in the second minute of stoppage-time. The U.S. international curled the set piece over the wall and inside the near post for his second goal of the season.

Sporting KC hits the road next weekend for their first of three consecutive road matches. Peter Vermes' squad will take on the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday night at Buck Shaw Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. on KSMO-TV and Univision Deportes Network.