Given the limelight on Sunday afternoon to show viewers why they'd gone winless through the opening 10 matches of the MLS season, Sporting Kansas City disappointed everyone who was looking for more of the same by beating the Seattle Sounders 2-1 at Lumen Field.
I'll be honest, I tuned in for more of the Johnny Russell "I don't know how you fix it"/"Ain't nobody gonna stop us now"/supporter meltdown vibes, but Sporting silenced a large crowd in Seattle with two first-half goals.
It only took German midfielder Erik Thommy four minutes to put SKC up 1-0.
A dream start for #SportingKC in the first 5 minutes.
Erik Thommy starts and finishes the attack to put the visitors in front. pic.twitter.com/CJL46HVS5I— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 7, 2023
Then Alan Pulido got his first of the season (and first since 2021) in the 31st as Brian Schmetzer looked on in disbelief.
Alan Pulido doubles the lead for #SportingKC. ✌️ pic.twitter.com/R2CBmxiWtM
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 7, 2023
But that two-goal lead tottered when the Sounders earned a penalty that Nicolás Lodeiro converted in the 66th-minute.
#Sounders get one back.
Nico Lodeiro finishes calmly from the penalty spot. pic.twitter.com/lPF36tF0GC— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 7, 2023
The crowd came alive and Seattle threatened an equalizer, but it was game over when Graham Zusi came off the bench for his 350th regular season appearance for SKC — he's one of four players to accomplish that feat.
It took 11 games to get a win but Kansas City is now only six points behind Portland for ninth-place and a spot in the playoffs. Peter Vermes is good to continue until 2028.
