Team

Recap: Sporting KC suffers 1-0 loss to Philadelphia Union

Jacob Peterson - Sporting KC vs Philadelphia Union - September 27, 2013

Sporting Park | Kansas City, Kan.
Attendance: 
19,243 (sold out; 32nd consecutive)


Weather
: 85 degrees, partly cloudy

<strong>Score</strong>
<strong>1</strong>
<strong>2</strong>
<strong>F</strong>
Sporting Kansas City (14-10-6, 48 pts)
0
0
0
Philadelphia Union (11-10-9, 42 pts)
1
0
1

Sporting Kansas City
: Jimmy Nielsen (c); Seth Sinovic, Ike Opara, Aurelien Collin, Chance Myers; Oriol Rosell, Benny Feilhaber (Peterson Joseph 75), Graham Zusi; C.J. Sapong, Dom Dwyer ( Claudio Bieler 66), Jacob Peterson (Soony Saad 46)
Subs not used
: Lawrence Olum, Eric Kronberg, Josh Gardner, Matt Besler
Philadelphia Union: 
Zac MacMath; Amobi Okugo, Raymon Gaddis, Jeff Parke, Sheanon Williams (Jack McInerney 83); Michael Farfan, Danny Cruz (Sebastien Le Toux 58), Fabinho, Michael Lahoud, Brian Carroll; Conor Casey (Aaron Wheeler 67)
Subs not used
: Leonardo Fernandes, Antoine Hoppenot, Oka Nikolov, Roger Torres

<strong>Stats</strong>
<strong>KC</strong>
<strong>PHI</strong>
Shots
19
8
Shots on Goal
5
3
Saves
2
5
Fouls
11
17
Offside
0
2
Corner Kicks
7
1

Misconduct Summary:
KC -- Oriol Rosell (caution; tactical foul) 34
PHI -- Brian Carroll (caution; reckless tackle) 70
KC -- Benny Feilhaber (caution; reckless tackle) 74
PHI -- Sheanon Williams (caution; delaying a restart) 82
KC -- Ike Opara (caution; tactical foul) 89


Scoring Summary:
PHI -- Conor Casey 10 (unassisted) 36


Sporting Kansas City lost to the Philadelphia Union 1-0 on Friday night at Sporting Park. Conor Casey grabbed a first half goal and the Union defense held firm to snap Sporting KC's three-game winning streak.

Despite the loss, Sporting KC remains in second place in the Eastern Conference, three points behind the New York Red Bulls. New York travels to Seattle on Sunday to take on Western Conference leaders Seattle Sounders.

Sporting KC controlled the tempo of the match Friday night, controlling 62% of the possession and outshooting the visitors 19-8. Union goalkeeper Zac MacMath made five saves on the night including three in the first half.

MacMath's first save came on a Benny Feilhaber free kick in the 14th minute. The Sporting KC midfielder curled a ball that appeared destined for the upper corner. MacMath lunged to his right and knocked away the ball before crashing into the goalpost.

The Maryland University product followed up that save with a point-blank save on Feilhaber in the 25th minute and one on Graham Zusi in the 28th minute. 

The Philadelphia Union broke through against the run of play in the 36th minute. Midfielder Danny Cruz burst down the right flank and curled a ball to the backpost. Jimmy Nielsen stopped the first attempt from Michael Farfan, but Casey was in good position to finish the rebound.

Nielsen finished the match with two saves. His second came in the 63rd minute when Farfan one-timed a volley to the near post. The Danish goalkeeper reacted quickly to keep it a one-goal game.

Sporting KC continued to throw numbers forward in the final minutes but were unable to penetrate a Union squad that won for first time since August 10.

Sporting KC will have an extra day to prepare for their next MLS match. Peter Vermes' squad will hit the road for an Eastern Conference showdown Saturday night against the Columbus Crew at Crew Stadium.