October 2, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Sporting Kansas City News Release
Willy Agada’s first-half strike propelled Sporting Kansas City (11-15-7, 40 points) to the club’s sixth straight home win in a 1-0 result against Seattle Sounders FC (12-17-4, 40 points) on Sunday afternoon at sunny Children’s Mercy Park.
Agada, a mid-summer acquisition who has spearheaded Sporting’s seven-match unbeaten run dating back to August, moved into a tie atop Sporting’s 2022 scoring charts with his eighth goal of the campaign in the 41st minute. The Sounders, who mustered a single shot on target compared to Sporting’s 11, needed to win on the penultimate weekend of the regular season in order to preserve their playoff hopes, but the defeat means they will miss the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in club history after a run of 13 consecutive appearances.
Sporting are also assured of missing the postseason ahead of next Sunday’s regular season finale at FC Dallas, but Manager Peter Vermes’ men have hit their stride over the last two months with a 6-1-2 record since the start of August, the second best mark in MLS during that time. Goalkeeper John Pulskamp picked up the shutout on Sunday-the club’s fourth in the last six games and the most in MLS since Aug. 27-to help Sporting post its first six-game home winning streak since 2017.
A boisterous sellout crowd created a palpable buzz fitting for the occasion as Sporting were first to threaten inside six minutes. Forward Daniel Salloi galloped down the left wing before pinging a square pass to the top of the box, and although the ball was cut out by a Seattle defender, Salloi pounced by continuing his run and striking low to the near post and forcing Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei into his first of 10 saves. Frei produced another stop seven minutes later, diving left to cast aside Erik Thommy’s audacious long-range piledriver from 30 yards.
Thommy was at the heart of Sporting’s attack once more in the 16th minute, barreling goalward from a central position before losing possession in a tangle with Seattle center back Xavier Arreaga. Sporting striker Willy Agada snapped up the loose ball and uncorked a seething effort that Frei palmed away before Johnny Russell’s rebound attempt was blocked through traffic.
Having weathered an early storm, the Sounders replied with a well-orchestrated chance of their own in the 25th minute. Midfield talisman Nicolas Lodeiro made a clever run in behind the Sporting defense and cut…
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