It had been a very long time coming but after five matches where Sporting was unable to tack on a W and three points it happened as home coming for KC ended in a 3-1 victory over FC Dallas Friday thanks to a Benny Feilhaber brace.
Oddly for Sporting KC FC Dallas has been at the very top in the Western Conference for most of the year, KC falling down the standings during their five game slide, and yet for the third time in the league and cup it was Peter Vermes who was smiling in the post game press conference.
While the first half didn’t provide any fireworks to speak of it was a little after the 2/3 mark that the match broke away from zeros on the scoreboard.
After receiving a free kick at the top of the box Feilhaber placed his right footed show around the other side of the wall causing FC Dallas net minder Jesse Gonzalez to not choose the correct way and break the dead lock.
A mere 10 minutes later the goal that ended up the winner once again came by way of Benny. Kevin Ellis found himself in space and with enough time to knit a hat played a long ball up to Dom Dwyer in full stride who was brought down in the box resulting in everyone’s favorite spot kick. Up against the young keeper and a stutter step later Feilhaber scored his second of the night.
While that would be enough to win FC Dallas was not going down without a fight.
Victor Ulloa, in the 80th minute, fired a shot at Sporting keeper Jon Kempin that he deflected but the ball carried past the white stripe and suddenly an excited Sporting Park went quiet as it was shown that the match was not yet over. Coincidentally the 67th straight sellout.
In the 83rd minute the match was sealed. Paulo Nagamura found Dwyer at the top of the box to launch home a left footed shot past Gonzalez to place the game out of reach.
After three matches at Sporting Park in league and cup between these two Western Conference rivals and original 1996 teams the tally stands at 13-3.
FC Dallas can only hope that they will not be facing Sporting in a two legged playoff tie.
