Sporting Kansas City secured a 1-0 victory over Minnesota United FC on Saturday during the team's 2015 preseason at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona. Forward Bernardo Anor buried the game-winning goal on a volley in the eighth minute and goalkeeper Luis Marin earned the shutout for Sporting KC.
The game's lone goal came from a corner kick earned by Zusi after beating his mark on the right flank. The MLS All-Star delivered the ensuing set piece, which was won by Ike Opara inside the penalty area and directed toward Anor for the first-time finish from close range. The goal marked Anor's second of the preseason on the heels of his game-tying effort in a 2-2 draw against the Colorado Rapids earlier this month.
Sporting Kansas City continued to create scoring chances throughout the exhibition, highlighted in the first half by chipped efforts from Amadou Dia and Graham Zusi as well as a header from Krisztian Nemeth. The Hungarian international was active again in the 62nd minute, turning his defender and unleashing a shot that forced a save from Mitch Hildebrandt. The Minnesota United FC goalkeeper then made his best stop of the second half in the 81st minute when he raced off his line to deny Dom Dwyer in a one-on-one situation.
The NASL side -- led by head coach Manny Lagos and featuring U.S. Men's National Team midfielder Miguel Ibarra -- weren't without opportunities of their own, coming closest to equalizing with an effort from forward Pablo Campos in the 28th minute and later with a well-struck shot from Ibarra in the 62nd minute. Saturday's preseason friendly marked the second straight year in which the two teams met following their match-up in the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup fourth round at Sporting Park last summer.
Sporting Kansas City will conclude their preseason campaign with the team's finale in the 2015 Desert Diamond Cup tonight at 6 p.m. CT against the Seattle Sounders FC. The match will be streamed live on SportingKC.com, including color commentary throughout from midfielder Benny Feilhaber.
Kino Sports Complex (Tucson, Arizona)
February 28, 2015 | 2015 Preseason
SCORING SUMMARY:
SKC - Bernardo Anor (Ike Opara, Graham Zusi) 8
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY:
MUFC — Tiago Calvano (caution; reckless tackle) 23
SKC — Bernardo Anor (caution; unsporting behaior) 23
MUFC — Jonny Steele (caution; unsporting behavior) 63
SKC — Ike Opara (caution; tactical foul) 72
MUFC — Jamie Watson (caution; reckless tackle) 81
SPORTING KANSAS CITY: Luis Marin; Marcel De Jong (Mikey Lopez 57), Matt Besler, Ike Opara (Erik Palmer-Brown 73), Amadou Dia; Roger Espinoza, Benny Feilhaber, Krisztian Nemeth; Bernardo Anor, Dom Dwyer, Graham Zusi (Jacob Peterson 55)
