Sporting KC 2-1 DC United – Match Recap – MLS – 11 August 2012
Sporting KC defeated DC United in 2-1 in Major League Soccer (MLS) on August 11, 2012. It’s the first home win for Sporting in their last home matches.
The match started out with Sporting dominating play and taking the lead in the 13th minute. Teal Bunbury would head in a Graham Zusi corner kick to make it 1-0. Unfortunately for Sporting, a defensive lapse about ten minutes later allowed DC to level the match.
Andy Najar was able to dribble past several defenders before sending a cross to Nick DeLeon. The midfielder was quickest to react to the ball deflecting off his shoulder as he knocked it past the goalkeeper.
Sporting responded with several great chances but struggled to find the match winner. Pablo Nagamura was denied by the right post in the 38th minute and Zusi volleyed a cross that bounced off the crossbar in the 53rd minute.
Despite hitting the woodwork on several occasions, Sporting would get another goal in the 62nd minute. Kei Kamara sent a cross into the box to which Zusi thrashed into the back of the net.
DC tried to rally for a comeback in the final 30 or so minutes but failed to create any clear cut chances. Their away record is now 3-7-1 (W-L-T) with a -8 goal differential.
The win puts Sporting KC on top of the Eastern Conference standings with 43 points, two ahead of New York and three above Houston. DC United are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 36 points, only one above fifth place Chicago.
Goals
Bunbury 13′ (Zusi)
DeLeon 23′ (Najar)
Zusi 63′ (Kamara, Besler)
Match Stats
Shots (on goal)
SKC – 18 (5), DC – 7 (2)
Fouls
SKC – 13, DC – 14
Corners
SKC – 9, DC – 1
Offsides
SKC – 3, DC – 2
Saves
SKC – 1, DC – 3
Possession
SKC – 62.8%, DC – 37.2%
Teams
Sporting KC – Nielsen, Markovic, Besler, Collin, Harrington, Espinoza (Rosell 90+3′), Thomas (Sapong 84′), Nagamura (Cesar 88′), Kamara, Bunbury, Zusi
DC United – Hamid, Chabala (Cruz 80′), Dudar, McDonald, Korb, Najar, Kitchen, Boskovic (Saragosa 45′), DeLeon, Tan (Wolff 71′), Pontius
