Sporting Kansas City and FC Dallas drew 1-1 at Children's Mercy Park on Wednesday night in a match that saw star striker Alan Pulido get a rest for Sporting, while Franco Jara finally opened his account for FCD.
Jara got his first goal for Dallas in the ninth minute thanks to some poor play out of the back from Sporting, as Luis Martins played a ball that was intercepted by FC Dallas midfielder Bryan Acosta. Jara finished with a cheeky chip over onrushing goalkeeper Tim Melia.
Just before halftime, Sporting found their equalizer. After Gianluca Busio won a 50/50 header in the midfield, Felipe Hernandez, Gerso Fernandes and Khiry Shelton combined for a beauty of a goal that culminated in a clinical finish from Shelton.
The second half saw Sporting pour on plenty of pressure, but they were unable to find a winner as Kyle Zobeck made a couple big saves in relief of an injured Jimmy Maurer.
Pulido got a rest for Sporting, who started three Homegrown Players in the midfield, while FCD saw Acosta and Maurer leave the match through injury.
Goals
Three Things
- BIG PICTURE: Sporting are winless in their last three but still sit at or near the top of the Western Conference, depending on how other games turn out Wednesday night. FCD played once again without Reggie Cannon and Paxton Pomykal and have now turned to their third-string 'keeper after the injury to Maurer. Despite all that, Luchi Gonzalez's team still have a respectable 10 points from their first seven matches.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Sporting's team goal was one of the nicest goals of a busy night.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: Gerso got the assist on Shelton's goal and was consistently the most dangerous attacking player on the field.
Next Up
- SKC: Saturday, September 5 at Houston Dynamo (8 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada)
- DAL: Wednesday, September 9 at Minnesota United FC (8 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada)
