Both Sporting Kansas City’s run of home success and San Jose’s rough patch to begin the new campaign continued on Saturday as the hosts came out on top of a 2-1 decision in Kansas City, Kan.
All of the scoring came in first half as Kansas City’s Daniel Rosero Valencia answered the Earthquakes’ Vitor Costa’s 11th-minute marker with a header in the 18th minute. Alan Pulido’s goal 11 minutes later put the home team up for good.
Four minutes after Cristian Espinoza’s boot went wide, he assisted on Costa’s score via a corner-kick crosser. Costa’s left-footed prod from close to the net found the back left corner, providing a momentary advantage for San Jose (0-4-0).
Rosero Valencia answered in a similar manner in the 18th minute, swooping in to head a Memo Rodriguez corner kick into the bottom right of the goalmouth.
After his shot on target brought on the corner kick that helped Sporting Kansas City (1-0-3) dent the scoreboard, Pulido was set up by Johnny Russell in the 29th minute. The chip pass by the latter allowed the former to laser it past Earthquake goalkeeper Daniel and tilt the count in the hosts’ favor.
Tim Melia kept the score the same by slapping away Bruno Wilson’s shot in the 37th minute. Melia made five saves in total. He and his side have allowed just three goals through their initial four fixtures.
Rodrigues found the back of the net in the 82nd minute, but what would have been the leveler was wiped away after a VAR review because of a handball.
Kansas City improves to 17-1-4 against San Jose at home during all competitions since 2004. Sporting Kansas City is now 5-0-1 at Children’s Mercy Park since last September.
San Jose out-shot Kansas City 13-5, including a 6-3 advantage in shots on goal. The Earthquakes also had a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks.
–Field Level Media
