Sporting Kansas City Vs Seattle Sounders: 3 takeaways from dreadful defeat

A 3-1 loss to the Seattle Sounders ended Sporting Kansas City’s four-match win streak on Saturday. Here are three takeaways from Sporting KC’s disastrous defeat.

It was not the best match by any means for Sporting Kansas City on Saturday. Their trip to face the Seattle Sounders was a much-anticipated one, with two of the hottest and best team in MLS facing off against one another. Unfortunately for Sporting KC, it was they came off the worst.

Defensive gaffes and the inability to create quality goal-scoring chances paved the way for their seventh loss of the season. They are still right in the hunt for the West title, but as the playoffs loom, Seattle, right now, is the more dangerous team.

SKC got off to a dream start when Diego Rubio scored on a thunderbolt of a strike in the second minute to put the away side up early.

Raul Ruidiaz quickly leveled the match 10 minutes later for the Sounders and the home side would never trail again in the match.

Ike Opara had a golden opportunity to put SKC ahead late in the first half but Stefan Frei just got enough of the ball to redirect it wide of the net.

A Graham Zusi own-goal and an Opara handball resulted in SKC going down 3-1 in less than five minutes. It was truly one of the more forgettable moments for SKC this season.

https://twitter.com/soundersfc_es/status/1036006482976755712

The match offered an opportunity for SKC to get back two goals when Chad Marshall was sent off in the 81st minute after further review.

However, the away side was unable to take advantage of the reduced Sounders side and it finished 3-1.

Here are three takeaways from SKC’s loss.

3. Mistakes cost SKC points

Two of the three goals scored by the Sounders were the result of two unfortunate mistakes by SKC. Graham Zusi’s own goal redirection and Ike Opara’s handball showed how quickly things can change.

Zusi’s deflection was harsh on the KC player, but he did not charge down the cross enough and allowed too much space in front of him. For that, he was punished. Similarly, Opara was unfortunate to see the ball strike his hand. But given the position it was in, — high, above his head — he only got what he deserved.

This was a match that was going as planned, until the two mistakes. SKC will have to look at this match as a lesson to learn and a wake-up call to ward off any complacency as we approach the playoffs.