Field Level Media
26 Jul 2021, 09:25 GMT+10
Johnny Russell had a goal and an assist as visiting Sporting Kansas City, guided by assistant coach Kerry Zavagnin, defeated the league-leading Seattle Sounders 3-1 Sunday night at Lumen Field.
Daniel Salloi and Cameron Duke also scored for Kansas City (9-3-3, 30 points), which was without head coach Peter Vermes and two unnamed players because of positive coronavirus tests.
Fredy Montero scored the lone goal for the Sounders (9-2-5, 32 points), who lost for the first time at home this season.
The Sounders had allowed a league-low nine goals entering the match, but fell behind 2-0 by halftime.
Russell opened the scoring in the 31st minute on a free kick from just outside the top of the 18-yard box. His left-footed shot curled around the wall of Sounders defenders and just out of the reach of goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland before ricocheting high off the left post and into the net.
Kansas City doubled its advantage in the 42nd minute on a counterattack following a Seattle corner kick. Khiry Shelton and Gadi Kinda moved the ball down the field to the top of the 18-yard box before Kinda dropped a pass for Salloi, whose 20-yard shot soared into the upper right corner of the net.
The Sounders pulled within 2-1 on Montero's goal in the 51st minute. Kelyn Rowe's cross from the right wing found Reed Baker-Whiting in the penalty area, but the ball was knocked away by a sliding defender. The ball bounced to Montero, who put a left-footed shot from 7 yards out into the lower left corner.
Kansas City restored its two-goal lead in the 72nd minute. Duke, who came on as a substitute two minutes earlier, took a cross-field pass from Graham Zusi and put a sliding volley into the net from about 10 yards out. It was the first MLS goal for the 20-year-old from Overland Park, Kan.
SKC goalkeeper Tim Melia made five saves, including a diving stop on Montero's bicycle kick in the 26th minute. Melia also denied a close-range shot from Seattle's Raul Ruidiaz, the league's leading scorer, in second-half stoppage time.
--Field Level MediaGet a daily dose of Cleveland Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Cleveland Star.
More InformationFRANKLIN, Tennessee: Hundreds of thousands of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles are being recalled across the United States due to a potential...
REDMOND, Washington: Microsoft is the latest tech giant to announce significant job cuts, as the financial strain of building next-generation...
LONDON UK - U.S. stock markets were closed on Friday for Independence Day. Global Forex Markets Wrap Up Friday with Greeback Comeback...
SANTA CLARA, California: Nvidia came within a whisker of making financial history on July 3, briefly surpassing Apple's all-time market...
SACRAMENTO, California: California's multibillion-dollar farms are facing a growing crisis—not from drought or pests, but from a sudden...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump says the United States could soon reach a trade deal with India. He believes this deal would...
(Photo credit: Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK) FC Cincinnati announced the signing of French forward Kenji Mboma Dem to...
(Photo credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images) The Colorado Rockies have yet to win a home series this season, but they still have a chance...
(Photo credit: David Richard-Imagn Images) Riley Greene, Javier Baez and Gleyber Torres will start in the All-Star Game this month,...
(Photo credit: Mady Mertens-Imagn Images) The Cincinnati Reds are becoming known for their resilience. Fresh off an impressive...
(Photo credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images) Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is having a blast batting in his team's...
(Photo credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images) The Chicago Cubs set a franchise record by bashing eight home runs in a single game...