A 1-0 victory over FC Cincinnati gets Sporting back in the playoffs yet again. Espinoza provided the difference maker at 57' as Long Islander Tim Melia is now tops in team history for saves and Vermes brings his charges to the playoffs for the 9th time.
Espinoza, a sub in the second stanza, gave the team with their 36 points an away win. KC is now assured to be in the top 8 of their conference with a pair of games to play and now sit in first place of the West by a point. Espinoza's 1 goal and the 2 saves by Melia had them top last years win total in an abbreviated season and ran their record to an impressive 5-1 in Oct.
A tribute to his success and longevity, Vermes brought the team back after their playoff streak was halted at 8 successive years in 2019. He has brought the team to the MLS title in 2013 and a trio of Lamar Hunt US Open Cup titles, now he is the sole coach to get the same team to the playoffs 9X.
Only 4 days from beating the Rapids 4-0 at home, Coach made a pair of alterations to his team with Espinoza out in favor of Hernandez and the youngster Busio spelled by ex-NYCFC player Khiry Shelton. Each team had but a shot each in the first 45' with FCC forward Claude-Gyau played a ball into the box, the partially blocked shot of De Jong went high. Pulio off a goal v the Rapids had the first good chance for Sporting just before the half hour mark, getting forward dishing to Hernandez, he held off Bailey but his shot was errant. Just prior to the half. Melia made his record setting save Locadia was passed to by Medunjanin his left footed shot was stopped at the near post and Tony Meola fell to #2 .
The second half had the victors come out strong as Espinoza was taken off & forward Gerson Fernandes was inserted. Gerson was high off the restart by Dia that was redirected by Russell. Espinoza reward coach with a goal at 57' as Kinda threaded the needle springing Pulido, his crossing ball then found the left foot of Espinoza, getting the better of Richey in goal for FCC. On the play Pulido had his 5th assit, tops for the team.
Amaya was fouled in the box by Puncec at 60', VAR had the ref look at a handball on Amaya just prior, but the goal stood. The pk was struck off the left post as de Jong missed a great chance to get FCC even, an amazing stat, Melia has only given up a goal 53.8% of the time on a pk, among those in MLS with at least ten taken on them, the best.
That 60' mark had the flood gates open as Russell just missed a long distance try at 65'. Espinoza sent a blistering shot goal ward shortly thereafter, saved by Richey, no first brace there. A Pulido free kick was also turned away at 72' by Richey. the 87' mark had another shot by Russell go just wide. Vazquez a sub for FCC all but drew them even as he beat his mark, and let one go, Melia was just able to get enough on it to put it off the post and out of play.