Sporting Take Care of Business vs Columbus

Sporting Kansas city, at least for the day was back in sole possession of first place in the MLS Eastern Conference after a dominating 3-0 win over an undermanned Columbus Crew side. Sporting was also undermanned, but KC was much more capable with overcoming their absences as the Crew just looked completely out of sorts last night.

KC pressured the game early and in just the 6th minute, won a penalty kick. Benny Feilhaber played a short corner to Oriol Rosell. Feilhaber received the ball back and cut into the middle towards goal. He got into the box and made another cut where he was brought down. No hesitation from the referee as he pointed to the spot. Claudio Bieler sent Matt Lampson the wrong way to score his first goal in almost two months as KC went on top. KC continued to pressure and control the game against the Crew and in the 19th minute almost doubled the lead. After a good string of possession where KC switched the field around the back, the ball ended up on the right with Soony Saad. The ball was squared into the middle for Josh Gardner. Gardner fired a shot at the near post but was just wide. With about 5 minutes left in the half, KC doubled the lead. A poor first touch by the Crew defense allowed Paulo Nagamura to come in and break up the play knocking the ball to Bieler. Bieler led a 3v3 break with Saad and Nagamura, playing the ball wide to Saad. Saad received the ball and cut back against his defender before curling a shot into the far corner making it 2-0.

KC continued to pressure at the start of the second half and in the 55th minute made it 3-0. After working the ball down the left, the ball was brought back to Rosell. The Spaniard lofted a ball into the box towards CJ Sapong. Sapong was marked by Tyson Wahl and goalkeeper Lampson also came for the ball, but Sapong beat both of them to the ball getting his head to the ball and past Lampson into the unguarded net making it 3-0. KC took their foot off the gas a bit. The Crew got into the game a bit and should have pulled a goal back in the 64th. A long throw into the area was flicked on and deflected off a Crew player into the path of Ryan Finley. From just outside the 6 yard box though Finley fired his shot well over the goal. The Crew continued to push but didn't get much pressure on the KC goal. Their only shot on goal came in the 78th minute when Jairo Arrieta's shot almost snuck past Jimmy Nielsen, but the Dane made the save and covered the rebound. Late on KC almost added a fourth through substitute Jimmy Medranda. The 19 year old Colombian fired a shot from long range. Lampson made the save but it was a very good effort from the player on his debut.

Wizards Man of the Match - Claudio Bieler - Broke his goal drought from the penalty spot and set up Saad's goal was well. Bieler has now scored 7 goals in 11 games when Kamara's not been with the team, he only scored 3 goals in the 17 games between Kamara's return from Norwich and departure for Middlesbrough.

Honorable Mention - Soony Saad, Paulo Nagamura

Player Ratings - Nielsen 6, Gardner 5, Collin 7, Opara 7, Sionvic 6, Rosell 6, Nagamura 7, Feilhaber 7, Saad 8, Bieler 8, Sapong 7. Subs Peterson 5, Bunbury 5, Medranda NR