A free kick goal from Johnny Russell just outside the box in the 41st minute tied Saturday night’s game for Sporting Kansas City at 1, and despite multiple chances for both sides in the second half, Sporting and the visiting Colorado Rapids ended in a 1-1 tie at Children’s Mercy Park.
Colorado opened the scoring with a touch of good luck in the 17th minute, as a blocked shot by a Kansas City defender deflected to Jonathan Lewis, who deposited it into the back of the net for the early Rapids advantage.
Sporting’s Russell nearly gave the home team the lead in the 88th minute, but his twisting diving tip of the ball toward the goal was blasted off the goal line by Colorado defender Austin Trusty. Just before the end of stoppage time, a crossing pass was struck by Cole Bassett off the cross bar, keeping the final tally at 1-1, giving both Sporting and Colorado just one point in the duel.
The lack of an outright victory keeps Kansas City in second place in the Western Conference MLS standings (11-4-7), with 40 points trailing Seattle by two points. Colorado’s tie moves the Rapids point total to 38, with 11 wins, 4 ties, and 5 draws, good for third place in the conference standings. A win would have leapfrogged Colorado over KC in the standings.
