Swope Park Rangers Earn Draw

Sporting KC pulled out a big draw at home today against the Seattle Sounders. While the result still leaves Sporting KC in fifth place in the Western Conference, the 1-1 draw against the Sounders was still a positive result for SKC considering Sporting send out a decidedly B team lineup with the start lineup today. The only two regular starters to start the game were center back Kevin Ellis and midfielder Paulo Nagamura. It took the insertion of Dom Dwyer, but Sporting KC was able to get the 1-1 draw against a Sounders team playing their predominately first team.

The first half though belonged mainly to the Sounders who took advantage of the predominately reserve lineup from Kansas City. A through ball in the 25th found Obafemi Martings behind the defense, but his shot was easily collect by Jon Kempin in the KC goal. In the 31st minute though the Sounders were able to find a way past the KC defense. A long ball over the top by Gonzalo Pineda found Martins who had found space behind Sporting's Ellis. Martins shrugged off a challenge by the home grown player before fire a shot that Kempin got a hand to, but had enough power on it that it carried past him and into the far corner of the net to make it 1-0 Seattle. KC had plenty of possession in the first half but the chances they created were right at Stefan Frei. Their best of the first half came in first half stoppage time when a Connor Hallisey cross pinged around in the box for a minute before falling to Jordi Quintilla, but his shot was also deflected and collect by Frei.

The second half though Sporting KC came out and looked like a much better side. Peter Vermes inserted Soni Mustivar for Paulo Nagamura, but Seattle still had the best early chance. In the 52nd minute a nice cross into the box found Clint Dempsey, but his shot was well saved by Kempin who made a good reaction save to keep it 1-0 Seattle. As the half wore on though KC continued to get more of the ball and more chances. They were just missing that final touch as the front line of Bernardo Anor, Connor Hallisey, and Jacob Peterson couldn't create enough clear chances for KC. In the 74th minute Dom Dwyer entered the game for KC giving them more offense centrally than they had. It took Dwyer only five minutes to make a difference In the 79th minute the ball got played off to Peterson who laid the ball off to Amadou Dia who was making an overlapping run. Dia played a cross into the box and Dwyer was there at the back post to tap the cross home to tie the game at 1-1. With the goal, KC really pushed the game against the Sounders and looked to be the aggressor as the rest of the half continued. KC kept Seattle pinned in but couldn't find a second goal. On the counter the Sounders almost pulled another Seattle on KC as Dempsey put a cross by Martins just wide of the post in the 85th minute. KC's best chances after that came after that chance as Mikey Lopez started to find more space in the midfield. He was able to get forward and create chances but KC couldn't capitalize. The best chance though came in stoppage time at Lopez received the ball and was able to dribble at Seattle's back lin before dishing the ball out wide to Dwyer. Dwyer's shot was saved by Frei but he gave up a rebound. Lopez followed the effort and was able to knock the ball towards goal but the effort was cleared off the line as it trickled towards goal. The two teams had to settle for a draw, but considering the lineup you have to feel that the Swope Park Rangers getting the draw had to feel a lot more like a win even though the game was at home.

Wizards Man of the Match - Dom Dwyer - Completely changed the game when he came in. KC had possession before he came in but were totally lacking in the final third, Dwyer gave KC that last little bit and it paid off with the goal by Dwyer.

Honorable Mention: Jon Kempin, Mikey Lopez

Honorable Mention - Kempin 7, Dia 6, Ellis 6, Palmer-Brown 6, Anibaba 6, Nagamura 6, Lopez 7, Quintilla 6, Anor 5, Peterson 5, Hallisey 5. Subs Mustivar 6, Abdul-Salaam 6, Dwyer 7.