Sporting KC continued their free fall in the standings last night, falling for the fifth time in six games and for the third straight time at home, 3-2 to the New England Revolution. KC has now allowed nine goals in the last three league games played at Sporting Park and haven't recorded a shutout at home in league play since May.
Kansas City had a chance early on as Dom Dwyer curled a fourth minute free kick just wide of Bobby Shuttleworth's far post. That was really the only chance early on for either side, but in the 22nd minute, the Revolution were the ones that got on the board first. Kevin Alston and Teal Bunbury combined down the Revolution's right before Alston played a ball across the box that made it through to an unmarked Kelyn Rowe at the back post who just one timed the ball back across goal and into the net to make it 1-0 for New England. Things got worse for the home side in the 35th minute. New England center back, Jose Goncalves won the ball off Paulo Nagamura in the Revolution half of the field. The center back dribbled half the field with next to no pressure from any KC player. Finally near the top of the box Goncalves took a low shot that beat Eric Kronberg inside the far post to double New England's lead. In the 40th the Revolution had another opportunity to add to their lead as Chris Tierney curled a free kick towards goal that Kronberg had to punch clear. KC really struggled to create chances in the first half never really testing Shuttleworth outside of Dwyer's early free kick.
The second half saw KC come out quickly, looking to find a way back into the game. In the 54th minute it paid off. Kevin Ellis played a nice through ball from the back onto Nagamura who had floated off the shoulder of Goncalves. Nagamura dribbled into the box and fired a shot into the roof of the net to pull Kansas City within one goal. Two minutes later, Sporting KC were level. Toni Dovale received the ball out wide on the left. With a chance to get his head up, Dovale curled a cross to the back post where Nagamura won the ball, heading it back across goal. Dwyer had made a run towards the opposite post and was able to head the ball into the open net for his 20th of the season. With the game level, KC looked the better side, pressuring the Revolution and looking for a goal to take the lead. In the 69th Kevin Ellis had a header saved from point blank range by Shuttleworth after an Igor Juliao shot was deflected into his path after a corner. Ellis though was offside on the play and the goal wouldn't have counted. In the 85th though KC gave the game away. Lee Nguyen played a short pass to Jermaine Jones in the middle of KC's half of the field. Jones, with no mark on him dribbled up and fired a low shot that beat Kronberg who was well out of position, leaving the lower corner open for Jones to fire the shot in. A number of mistakes and break downs defensively cost KC on that goal. KC was unable to find a way back and fell for the third time this season to the Revolution.
Wizards Man of the Match - Paulo Nagamura - Tried to carry KC to a win with his play last night, especially in the two goals.
Player Ratings - Kronberg 3, Juliao 4, Besler 3, Ellis 4, Sinovic 4, Claros 4, Nagamura 6, Feilhaber 4, Zusi 3, Dwyer 5, Dovale 4. Subs Saad 4, Sapong NR.
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