In a tightly contested affair, Sporting Kansas City and Real Salt Lake ended their match in a 1-1 stalemate on Saturday at Children’s Mercy Park.
The home side fell behind just before the halftime break when Johnny Russell found the net in the 45th minute. However, Sporting KC responded in the second half, equalizing through Erik Thommy in the 59th minute.
Erik Thommy was undoubtedly the star of the match, taking five shots on goal and scoring the equalizer for Sporting Kansas City.
Defensively, Alexandros Katranis played a pivotal role for Real Salt Lake, clearing two dangerous balls that could have changed the game.
Sporting KC’s head coach, Kerry Zavagnin, employed a 4-3-3 formation with John Pulskamp guarding the net; a defensive line consisting of Khiry Shelton, Jansen Miller, Ian James, and Tim Leibold; a midfield featuring Jacob Bartlett, Manu García, and Memo Rodríguez; and an attacking trio of Erik Thommy, Santiago Muñoz, and Daniel Salloi.
On the opposing side, coach Pablo Mastroeni set up Real Salt Lake in a 4-5-1 formation, with Rafael Cabral as the goalkeeper; a backline of Noel Caliskan, Justen Glad, Samuel Junqua, and Alexandros Katranis; a midfield featuring Nelson Palacio, Pablo Enrique Ruíz, Johnny Russell, Zavier Gozo, and Diogo Gonçalves; and William Agada leading the line.
Referee Ismir Pekmic officiated the match. Looking ahead, Sporting KC will next face the Colorado Rapids, while Real Salt Lake is set to host St. Louis City at America First Field.
Substitutions for Sporting Kansas City
45’ 2T – Daniel Salloi out for Magomed Suleymanov, Tim Leibold out for Logan Ndenbe
57’ 2T – Memo Rodríguez out for Jake Davis
76’ 2T – Santiago Muñoz out for Mason Toye
88’ 2T – Erik Thommy out for Andrew Brody and Pablo Enrique Ruíz out for Jesús Barea
Cautions for Sporting Kansas City
23’ 1T – Daniel Salloi (holding an opponent); 34’ 1T – Tim Leibold (unsporting behavior); 42’ 1T – Jacob Bartlett (unsporting behavior); 4’ 2T – Memo Rodríguez (unsporting behavior); 24’ 2T – Jake Davis (unsporting behavior)
Dismissal for Sporting Kansas City
36’ 2T – Jake Davis (red card due to second yellow)
Substitutions for Real Salt Lake
63’ 2T – Johnny Russell out for Dominik Marczuk
64’ 2T – William Agada out for Ariath Piol
84’ 2T – Alexandros Katranis out for Philip Quinton
Cautions for Real Salt Lake
6’ 2T – Nelson Palacio (unsporting behavior); 23’ 2T – Zavier Gozo (unsporting behavior); 28’ 2T – Pablo Enrique Ruíz (insulting or disapproving the referee)