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Despite a brace from Willy Agada and a fight-to-the-end finish, Sporting Kansas City lost 4-3 at home Wednesday evening to Real Salt Lake, continuing a troubling run of form that has seen the boys in blue drop to 13th in the MLS Western Conference, ten points out of the final playoff spot.
Kansas City played catch-up throughout the match, creating dangerous chances, but ceding costly goals just when it appeared the team was poised to break through.
It’s true, Dotte Sports mostly covers Wyandotte County high school sports (and we’ll keep doing it), but we’ve got MLS in town too (and who knows, maybe the Chiefs now).
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Sporting had an early opportunity with three consecutive corner kicks in the ninth minute, but came away without firing a shot.
In the 14th minute, Salt Lake got on the board with a counter that started with a steal at the center line and ended with Andres Gomez streaking up the right side past Andreu Fontas and finding the net.
Kansas City had the chance to equalize on a penalty kick in the 22nd minute, but Salt Lake goalkeeper Gavin Beavers stopped Johnny Russell's kick with a daring low dive to his left.
Seven minutes later, Steven Afrifa tied the match, taking Nemanja Radoja's centering pass just outside the 18-yard box, taking two touches toward goal, and firing past Beavers.
Just four minutes later, Salt Lake went back on top, getting the ball forward to Anderson Julio, who chipped charging Tim Melia, stranded by the defense, for the go-ahead.
Sporting nearly pulled equal again with five minutes left in the half when Willy Agada intercepted a poor distribution pass in the Salt Lake 6-yard box. Agada couldn't find a shot, but the ball fell to Erik Thommy, whose acrobatic bicycle kick from short range flew high.
Five minutes after the break, Salt Lake opened a two-goal lead -- Gomez outracing every KC defender and chipping Melia for his second score.
In the 70th minute, Willy Agada tightened the score and brought some hope to the despairing faithful when he got a cross from Zorhan Bassong near the penalty spot, chested it down and fired home.
Sporting gave back the goal in the 84th minute, winning the ball at midfield, firing ahead to Chicho Arango who crossed the ball to unmarked Matt Crooks at the far post.
Kansas City continued generate offensive chances up to the end. In the fifth minute of stoppage, Agada got on the end of Memo Rodriguez's corner kick and headed it in.
A minute later after the restart, Thommy banged a shot off the post, which then hit Beavers from behind and rolled toward the goal. The Salt Lake keeper's reflexes saved the points for his team when he alertly reach back to cover the ball and snuff out the opportunity.
Agada's brace puts him in the scoring lead for Kansas City, with five for the season. Rodriguez added his team-leading fifth assist.
Sporting heads to Columbus for a Saturday match-up with the Crew, sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 7-3-6 record.