Sporting KC Playoff Update

Sporting Kansas City defeated Real Salt Lake in a 4-2 thriller on Sunday, November 11, at Children’s Mercy Park to claim a 5-3 victory in the Western Conference Semifinals of the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Sporting KC tied a club postseason record with four goals and sealed their way to the conference finals for the first time since 2013. The team also improved its all-time home playoff record to 15-2-4.

“Within the first seven minutes, Daniel Salloi volleyed marginally wide off a Felipe Gutierrez cross and RSL midfielder Kyle Beckerman was forced into a goal line clearance to deny Ilie Sanchez. The near misses show what would come soon thereafter,” wrote Sporting KC communication director Sam Kovzan.

Sporting scored their first goal in the 14th minute. Five minutes later, Salloi kicked the ball high past RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando for his team-best 14th goal in all competitions and the 20th of his Sporting KC career.

With a penalty in the box, Ilie kicked a daring shot down the middle and scored to make it 3-1 on the 67^th minute.

In the final minute, Salloi got his second unassisted goal of the game.

The crucial victory pushed top-seeded Sporting KC into the two-legged Western Conference Championship. They faced the No. 5 seed Portland Timbers in Portland on Sunday, Nov. 25. The game ended tied, 0-0. They will return home to host the decisive return leg on Thursday, Nov. 29, at Children’s Mercy Park.