Willy Agada Scores Twice in Sporting’s 4-1 Win over Minnesota

September 18, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Sporting Kansas City News Release

Sporting Kansas City (10-15-7, 37 points) extended the club’s unbeaten run to six matches with a fifth straight home win on Saturday as Willy Agada scored twice on his 23rd birthday in the club’s 4-1 victory over Minnesota United FC (13-13-6, 45 points) at Children’s Mercy Park. Erik Thommy added the game-winning goal to go along with an assist as the pair of summer signings have now combined for 10 goals and three assists in the team’s past 10 MLS matches since the duo debuted on July 23.

Sporting, who improved to 7-0-0 at home against the Loons in MLS regular season play, started the game on the front foot and could’ve taken the lead inside the opening six minutes. A free kick squirmed its way out to Roger Espinoza near the byline and his cross found Agada, whose powerful header was clawed out of the goalmouth by Dayne St. Clair with Daniel Salloi unable to force home the rebound.

Roger Espinoza fired a speculative effort over the bar from 20 yards in the 19th minute before Minnesota created their first chance of the night, as Luis Amarilla cut inside on his right foot inside the area but saw his low strike well held by John Pulskamp.

The breakthrough arrived in the 31st minute, with the ball finding the back of the net in a fortuitous manner after a lovely attacking move from Sporting KC. Agada found Espinoza in midfield who immediately fed the ball wide to Johnny Russell, who exploded beyond Kemar Lawrence before firing an effort on goal that St. Clair could only beat away right into center back Michael Boxall who redirected the ball into the back of the net for Minnesota’s league-leading fourth own goal of the year.

Sporting doubled the lead 10 minutes later as Thommy thrashed home his third goal of the campaign following a frantic sequence. Espinoza again was heavily involved as he prodded the ball wide to Russell on the edge of the area who saw his curling effort cannon off the inside of the post and out, but the Scotsman picked up his own rebound and found Thommy who skillfully evaded a challenge before thundering home beyond St. Clair to make it 2-0.

On the stroke of halftime, Sporting added a third goal as Agada scored his first of the night to cap another fine Sporting move. After Remi Walter had picked up a loose Minnesota clearance, Espinoza played it wide to Ben Sweat whose pin-point delivery found Agada crashing in to send a bullet header into the back of…