Kansas City, KS (Sports Network) - Sporting Kansas City capped a memorable
week by earning a 2-1 win over D.C. United at Livestrong Sporting Park on
Saturday.
Kansas City nabbed the first piece of silverware of the American soccer season
on Wednesday, edging Seattle Sounders FC on penalties to clinch the U.S. Open
Cup title.
Sporting followed up that memorable win with a league victory to lift the club
to the top of the Eastern Conference with 43 points on the season.
Graham Zusi was the star of the show against United, providing the assist on
Teal Bunbury's opening goal - which was canceled out by Nick DeLeon shortly
after - before notching the game-winner in the second half.
Kansas City (13-7-3) has won two in a row while D.C. (11-8-3) has lost three
of its last four to stay put on 36 points for the season.
Sporting jumped out to a lead in just the 13th minute when Zusi's corner kick
was headed home by Bunbury.
It took D.C. United only 10 minutes to equalize though, as Andy Najar's cross
fell fortuitously for DeLeon, who was able to slam the loose ball past Jimmy
Nielsen.
Sporting hit the woodwork twice as Pablo Nagamura struck the post in the 38th
minute and Zusi rattled the crossbar in the 53rd minute, but the home side
eventually grabbed the lead in the 63rd minute.
Kei Kamara found space on the left flank and picked out an unmarked Zusi at
the back post. The 25-year-old settled the delivery with one touch before
firing a low shot past Bill Hamid for what turned out to be the difference
between the two sides on the night.
Sporting will look to extend its lead at the top of the East on August 18 when
it heads to BMO Field to face Toronto FC. United will hope to get back on
track on August 19 when it hosts the Philadelphia Union in a massive clash at
RFK Stadium.
GAME NOTES:
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