Memo Rodriguez’s goal and assist, plus two first-half goals from Willy Agada, gave Sporting Kansas City a 3-2 home win over FC Dallas on Sunday night.
In the 82nd minute, off a defensive stop in the 18-yard box, Rodriguez shot the ball at full speed to break a 2-2 tie. The go-ahead goal gave SKC (5-13-5, 20 points) their third win in their past four home matches. For FC Dallas (6-11-5, 23 points), it makes their fight for a spot in the postseason more difficult, as they are now seven points off the playoff line.
The win didn’t come without late drama for SKC. In second-half stoppage time, Zorhan Bassong attempted to block a throw-in by Paul Arriola. The Dallas star threw the ball off the face of Bassong, who responded by knocking Arriola to the ground. Bassong received a red card for violent conduct.
Sporting Kansas City controlled the first half offensively, and in the 11th minute, Agada headed a corner kick from Rodriguez off the ground and into the net.
Twelve minutes later, Agada scored his second goal of the night, this time off a cross in the run of play by Alenis Vargas. The two goals gave Agada seven on the season. However, a mistake by Agada put FC Dallas in the match.
In SKC’s defensive half, Agada turned to send a pass to the backline. Instead, he sent it to the feet of Dallas’ Bernard Kamungo, who stood 5 yards outside of the 18-yard box. Kamungo’s shot deflected to teammate Logan Farrington, whose attempt ricocheted off the Kansas City defense and goalkeeper Tim Melia for an own goal.
Down 2-1 coming out of halftime, Dallas had its substitutions pay off. Regular starters Arriola and Petar Musa, who both began the night on the bench, entered the match in the 56th and 57th minute, respectively. Nine minutes after Arriola came in, Musa scored to knot the match at 2-2. It was Musa’s 11th goal of the season.
Arriola charged through the Dallas offensive half, finding Farrington on the wing, and Farrington sent a cross to Musa for an easy tap-in.
–Field Level Media
