Kei Kamara and Omar Bravo each scored two goals and helped Sporting Kansas City match the club's record for longest unbeaten streak with a 4-2 victory against Toronto FC Saturday night at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park.
It was Sporting Kansas City's 12th straight MLS match without a loss.
Kamara scored two goals five minutes apart in the first half and Bravo tacked on two of his own, including the match-winner, to power Sporting Kansas City to the their second four-goal game of the year and keep the team unblemished in MLS matches at the brand new stadium.
Kamara opened the scoring in the 28th minute on a spectacular scissor kick inside the penalty area. Toronto FC captain Maicon Santos re-directed a corner kick from Sporting Kansas City Designated Player Jeferson, who made his MLS debut on Saturday, and Kamara pulled off the acrobatic attempt to perfection.
Five minutes later, Kamara used a header to redirect a cross from midfielder Roger Espinoza into the net.
Kamara’s two-goal performance, the fourth multi-goal game of his six-year MLS career, gives him five on the season and 30 in his career.
The scoring spree continued four minutes later as Sporting Kansas City’s two Designated Players connected in the 37th minute for the team’s third goal in a nine-minute stretch, the fastest span for three consecutive goals by an MLS team this season. Bravo was on the receiving end of a well-weighted through ball from Jeferson and took a touch past the Toronto keeper before placing his shot into the empty net from a tight angle on the right side.
That gave Sporting KC a 3-0 lead that stood through halftime.
Toronto FC turned up the pressure from the start of the second half, as Sporting KC goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen was immediately called into action to stop Ryan Johnson on a one-on-one opportunity within the first 15 seconds of the second stanza.
Danny Koevermans put Toronto on the board in the 50th minute, but Sporting KC answered 14 minutes later when Bravo tacked on his second goal of the night for a 4-1 lead.
Toronto scored again in the 72nd minute on a goal by Ryan Johnson, but it was too little too late.
Sporting Kansas City is now 6-6-8 this season and has moved into fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
Sporting KC continues its homestand at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 30, when it plays host to the New England Revolution.
It was Sporting Kansas City's 12th straight MLS match without a loss.
Kamara scored two goals five minutes apart in the first half and Bravo tacked on two of his own, including the match-winner, to power Sporting Kansas City to the their second four-goal game of the year and keep the team unblemished in MLS matches at the brand new stadium.
Kamara opened the scoring in the 28th minute on a spectacular scissor kick inside the penalty area. Toronto FC captain Maicon Santos re-directed a corner kick from Sporting Kansas City Designated Player Jeferson, who made his MLS debut on Saturday, and Kamara pulled off the acrobatic attempt to perfection.
Five minutes later, Kamara used a header to redirect a cross from midfielder Roger Espinoza into the net.
Kamara’s two-goal performance, the fourth multi-goal game of his six-year MLS career, gives him five on the season and 30 in his career.
That gave Sporting KC a 3-0 lead that stood through halftime.
Toronto FC turned up the pressure from the start of the second half, as Sporting KC goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen was immediately called into action to stop Ryan Johnson on a one-on-one opportunity within the first 15 seconds of the second stanza.
Danny Koevermans put Toronto on the board in the 50th minute, but Sporting KC answered 14 minutes later when Bravo tacked on his second goal of the night for a 4-1 lead.
Toronto scored again in the 72nd minute on a goal by Ryan Johnson, but it was too little too late.
Sporting Kansas City is now 6-6-8 this season and has moved into fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
Sporting KC continues its homestand at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 30, when it plays host to the New England Revolution.
