Substitute Brad Davis scored the winning, but controversial goal for Sporting Kansas City on Sunday against Toronto FC at Children’s Mercy Park. Kansas City was able to escape the match with a narrow 1-0 victory over the Canadian club.
The Tainted Winning Goal
Dominic Dwyer delivered a pass that sent Davis into the right hand corner of the penalty box. However, it appeared that the Toronto defender Justin Morrow was able to get to the ball first. Davis then used his arm to shove Morrow away from the ball. It was a clear foul in Toronto’s favor but referee Baldomero Toledo did not think so.
The play carried on and Davis wasted no time, as he cut the ball towards the center of the box. He then pulled the trigger with his favorite left foot and gave Sporting KC the 1-0 lead at the 70th minute.
The frustration of the no call became worst for Toronto; Morrow was shown a yellow card for dissent. Kansas City went on to win the match 1-0, which left many of the Toronto players visually frustrated leaving the pitch.
Toronto Trying to Change History
The Reds entered a stadium on Sunday where they have never won. In fact, the last time they defeated Kansas City on the road was in 2009 at the Community America Ball Park. The club was still known as the Kansas City Wizards.
However, the new and improved Reds look motivated to rewrite history. They challenged Sporting from the start, and the game quickly turned into a competitive and physical match. There were a combined 22 tackles, 25 fouls, three yellow cards and one red card in the game.
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Everything in this match was close, even the battle of possession was decided by just two percent. Kansas City won that fight ending the game with 51 percent. However, the Canadians were able to produce more with their time on the ball.
Toronto's Costly Missed Chances
The Reds were able to create 12 shots in the match, outshooting Kansas by five. However, their accuracy with their chances came back to haunt them. Only four of Toronto's 12 chances were on target. Sporting goalkeeper Tim Melia was there to stop them all, he denied Toronto’s superstar Sebastian Giovinco twice in the second half.
The home club only created seven shots, but three of them were on target. In the end, Davis’ goal was enough to see them through. The World Cup veteran also opened up his goal scoring account for SKC in the process.
However, the Canadians did receive a break in the final minutes of the match. KC midfielder Roger Espinoza was shown a direct red card in the 84th minute for committing a reckless tackle on Marco Delgado.
Toronto now had a man advantage over Kansas City. However, it was clear that the Reds were exhausted, but they continued to push. The Canadian club managed to create four chances after the red card but none of them made Melia sweat. Two of their shots were off target and the other two were blocked by the defenders. In result, the game ended 1-0 in Sporting's favor.
Where They Stand and Who They Face Next
With this narrow victory Sporting KC is now the only club in Major League Soccer left undefeated with a perfect (W-D-L) 3-0-0 record thus far. They currently sit in first place of the Western Conference with nine points and positive three goal differential. The Reds in the other hand are in fourth place of the Eastern Conference with four points.
Both of these clubs will not be back in action until after the international break. Toronto will be traveling to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday, April 2nd to take on the Colorado Rapids. Sporting will be playing on the same day, but they will be hosting Real Salt Lake.
