A slow start put the Seattle Sounders in a hole but a strong start to the second half allowed them to equalize and put them in position to take the lead several times. Alas, Sporting KC managed to convert the one second-half shot they had and the Sounders were forced to take another home loss.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 1 – Sporting Kansas City 2
Saturday, October 23, 2021
Venue: Lumen Field
Referee: Ismail Elfath
Assistants: Corey Parker, Mike Rottersman
Fourth Official: Ramy Touchan
VAR: Rubiel Vazquez
Attendance: 32,139
Weather: 54 degrees and rain
SCORING SUMMARY
SKC – Remi Walter (Luis Martins) 4’
SEA – Nicolas Benezet (Cristian Roldan, João Paulo) 58’
SKC – Johnny Russell (Roger Espinoza) 79’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – João Paulo (caution) 35’
SEA – Kelyn Rowe (caution) 51’
SEA – Alex Roldan (caution) 55’
SKC – Tim Melia (caution) 56’
SKC – Gadi Kinda (caution) 63’
SKC – Roger Espinoza (caution) 74’
SEA – Yeimar (caution) 76’
SEA – Fredy Montero (caution) 89’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan, Yeimar, Xavier Arreaga (Léo Chú 82’), Shane O’Neill (Fredy Montero 82’), Jimmy Medranda (Nouhou 66’); João Paulo, Kelyn Rowe, Cristian Roldan, Nico Benezet (Josh Atencio 72’); Will Bruin
Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Spencer Richey, Ethan Dobbelaere, Abdoulaye Cissoko, Danny Leyva
Total shots: 15
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 17
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 3
Saves: 1
Sporting Kansas City – Tim Melia; Andreu Fontas, Nicolas Isimat, Graham Zusi, Luis Martins; Ilie Sanchez, Roger Espinoza, Gadi Kinda, Remi Walter; Johnny Russell, Khiry Shelton
Substitutes not used: Robert Puncec, Amadou Dia, Grayson Barber, Kendall McIntosh, Cameron Duke, Jake Davis, Kaveh Rad, Wilson Harris
Total shots: 8
Shots on goal: 3
Fouls: 18
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 3
Saves: 4
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POST-MATCH QUOTES & SOUNDBYTES: SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC 1 – SPORTING KC 2
SOUNDERS FC HEAD COACH BRIAN SCHMETZER
On getting any explanation on Melia’s yellow:
“Normally players can’t throw a player of the opposition team down, they can’t do that. But that’s one singular play, that’s not the reason why everybody in that locker room is down. You know, referees have a tough job, whatever they saw on the replay, whatever you guys saw on the replay, you guys can talk about that. I thought Cristian [Roldan] had position, he didn’t really jump for it. Referee made the decision, we live by the decision. I can’t control that, none of the players can control that, actually none of the fans can control that either. You guys in the media can’t control what [Ismail Elfath] saw. So I don’t know, I don’t think it’s a big issue. It’s not why we lost the game.”
SOUNDERS FC MIDFIELDER CRISTIAN ROLDAN
On whether the match was played with a lack of aggression:
“Maybe there was a little bit of that, we started slow in the first few minutes and Kansas City came with a motivation and energy. We certainly felt the goal but at the same time it lifted us. The point is that we started playing with more motivation, but the point is that we shouldn’t have to be scored against to start gaining motivation. And after the goal we couldn’t let the match slip like that. But this is all part of soccer, and we need to give credit to Kansas City.”
SOUNDERS FC MIDFIELDER KELYN ROWE
On why the Sounders couldn’t convert on more of their chances:
“I thought we were better in the middle of the field, winning balls off their midfield and with them playing a false forward we were able to step in to get it cleaned up and win the ball a little bit more. We did do that and win second balls. We had more space to spring guys like Cristian [Roldan], Alex Roldan, Nico Benezet, even Will [Bruin] coming to hold the ball up. I think we were better in the middle and in the back line to create ball-winning opportunities to then go forward.”