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Controversial officiating holds Sporting KC to draw
▶ SHAUN GOODWIN
@ShaunGoodwinUDK
Sporting Kansas City forward Dom Dwyer fouls in the box leading to a penalty kick in the 75th minute against Dallas in 2015.
File Photo/KANSAN
When defender Ike Opara missed a wide-open header from six yards out on Saturday night against the Portland Timbers, it looked like it was just going to be one of those nights for Sporting Kansas City.
Despite missed chances, combined with a plethora of debatable calls made by referee Alan Kelly, Kansas City came from behind to claim a 1-1 tie. It was a game that few fans will look back on fondly, with the course of the evening producing sloppy passing and disruptive decisions from the referee.
With both teams losing key players to their respective nations for the Gold Cup this month, the game seemed to lack a spark for the first 25 minutes, with only three shots and zero of them on goal.
The game was also the first time this season in which Kansas City was pushed back into its own half at Children's Mercy Park. It eventually culminated into the opening goal for the Timbers in the 26th minute.
On a quick breakaway, Portland defensive midfielder Sebastian Blanco took the ball into Kansas City's final third before playing it sideways to Portland captain Diego Valeri. Valeri ran into open space before firing into the roof of Tim Melia's goal from 25 yards out.
Kansas City forward Gerso Fernandes was taken down from behind in the penalty box, prompting calls for a penalty around Children's Mercy Park.
Seven minutes later,
With Gerso staying down, referee Kelly let play continue until the ball was eventually kicked out of play. Gerso had to leave the field with what manager Peter Vermes described as a dislocated shoulder.
The game continued in similar vein, with Kelly producing three yellow cards before half time, resulting in Kansas City heading into the break with two yellow cards and zero shots on target.
Shortly after the break, it was the close-range miss from Opara in the 52nd minute that ended up springing Kansas City into life.
Sensing a goal coming, the home crowd began to rile up, until finally substitute Daniel Salloi clinched the tying goal in the 61st
minute.
"It's huge," midfielder Roger Espinoza, who provided the assist on Salloi's goal, said. "Good for him on his confidence. He's a guy who's been fighting, playing well in practice and it's great for him that he was able to do that for us."
"It didn't even look like Tim [Melia] had any effect on the play at all, he [Adi] just dove," Vermes said. "Just like there was quite a few other dives in the game from their guys."
Just when the momentum seemed to be swinging Kansas City's way, Kelly interfered again, awarding Portland a penalty in the 73rd minute after he judged goalkeeper Tim Melia took down Portland forward Fanendo Adi.
Fighting off any kind of disappointment, Melia went on to save the penalty, which Valeri shot down the middle of the goal.
Both sides continued to battle for the game-deciding goal for the remainder of the game,but neither could gain the advantage.
Children's Mercy Park. The match will start at 7:30
they take on the Philadelphia Union on July 6 at