Sporting Grab a Point in DC

Sporting KC walked in to RFK Stadium, and while they couldn't come away with all three points, did manage to take one as the two teams played to a 1-1 draw. KC made a couple changes from the team that beat Chicago last week, inserting Jacob Peterson and Erik Palmer-Brown for Krisztian Nemeth and Kevin Ellis. On the other side of the ball, DC United was without one of their main threats, with Fabian Espindola missing out due to injury.

KC actually came out as the better team in the first half, looking the better side and taking the game to DC. KC almost grabbed the lead in the 19th minute as Benny Feilhaber played a free kick wide to Seth Sinovic who found Roger Espinoza a little further back on the field. Espinoza played a cross into the far post where Jacob Peterson met it, but his sliding shot went into the cross bar and bounced clear of goal. KC forced Bill Hamid into a number of saves in the first half, Benny Feilhaber tested him on one occasion, forcing a good save from the US international. Against the run of play in the first half, DC grabbed the lead in the 42nd. A long ball over the top found Chris Rolfe in the KC box, he cut back on Jalil Anibaba and picked out Jairo Arrieta in the box and he fried a shot as Matt Besler slid in beating both Besler and Tim Melia to give DC the 1-0 lead. KC though responded immediately and tied the game with Espinoza receiving the ball in DC's attacking thrid, dribbling into the box before laying it off for Dom Dwyer who beat Hamid and tied the game at 1-1.

The second half saw DC with the better of the chances, in the 51st there were a couple scrambles in front of net as a Role cross made it entirely through the box without touching anyone. Sean Franklin collected the rebound and crossed it to the back post where it was headed into the middle and pinged around by a couple players before it was eventually sent out of bounds. KC thought they'd grabbed the lead 10 minutes later in the 62nd as a great cross into the box found Dwyer who beat Hamid, but Dwyer was just in front of the last defender and offside as the score remained level at 1-1. A very close call as Dwyer just stepped offside on the play. The second half saw DC with the better of play but they couldn't capitalize on all the possession. In second half stoppage time, DC had a great opportunity to win it. A corner by United wasn't cleared well and fell to substitute Amadou Dia. Dia attempted to clear the ball, but only did on the ground right to Michael Farfan who fired a shot from just outside the box that went just wide of KC's net, keeping the score at 1-1.

Wizards Man of the Match - Roger Espinoza - The KC midfield looked quite good tonight breaking up DC's attack and getting forward, Espinoza provided the assist on Dwyer's equalizer and overall was a pest all night for DC.

Player Ratings - Melia 6, Anibaba 5, Besler 6, Palmer-Brown 5, Sinovic 5, Mustivar 5, Espinoza 7, Feilhaber 6, Zusi 5, Dwyer 6, Peterson 5. Subs Nemeth 4, Hallisey NR, Dia NR.