KC Reporter

Sporting Kansas City lost 5-2 to the Seattle Sounders on Sunday, August 24, at Lumen Field. Mason Toye scored for Sporting, and the team also benefited from an own goal by Seattle. The Sounders were led by Danny Musovski, who recorded a hat-trick, with additional goals from Snyder Burnell and Kalanu Kossa-Rienzi.

Sporting Kansas City used a 4-4-2 formation, starting Mason Toye in the lineup. The starting eleven included John Pulskamp, Khiry Shelton, Robert Voloder, Jansen Miller (substituted by Ian James in the 66th minute), Tim Leibold (replaced by Logan Ndenbe after 75 minutes), Daniel Salloi (substituted by Shapi Suleymanov in the 66th minute), Zorhan Bassong, Jake Davis (substituted by Jacob Bartlett in the 66th minute), Santi Muñoz, Dejan Joveljić, and Mason Toye. The substitutes were Andrew Brody, Logan Ndenbe, Nemanja Radoja, Stephen Afrifa (who came on for Mason Toye after the penalty), Ryan Schewe.

The match started with both teams seeking rhythm. Sporting's goalkeeper John Pulskamp made an early save in the eighth minute. Seattle pressed and opened scoring in the eleventh minute when Kalani Kossa-Rienzi found space after a clearance attempt from Zorhan Bassong.

Despite conceding first, Sporting continued to push forward. Dejan Joveljić had chances to score but was denied by Seattle’s defense. Khiry Shelton played a key role defensively to stop further attempts from Seattle.

In the 36th minute, Tim Leibold delivered a cross that Mason Toye converted into an equalizer for Sporting Kansas City. "Ese gol le dio un impulse a los chicos de Kansas City y el equipo tuvo varios intentos," said team sources. However, just before halftime in stoppage time (45+1'), Seattle regained the lead.

Early in the second half, Musovski scored twice for Seattle—including one at the fiftieth minute—giving them a two-goal advantage. In response at minute 53', another dangerous play initiated by Leibold led to an own goal by Seattle after connecting with Daniel Salloi and Cody Baker.

Seattle increased their lead again in the sixty-first minute through Snyder Burnell’s goal. At this point Sporting made three substitutions: Jacob Bartlett replaced Jake Davis; Ian James came on for Jansen Miller; Shapi Suleymanov entered for Daniel Salloi.

Seattle maintained control as Musovski completed his hat-trick via penalty kick at seventy-five minutes—his fifteenth goal of the season—after a foul inside Sporting’s box. Following this goal Stephen Afrifa substituted Mason Toye while Logan Ndenbe replaced Tim Leibold.

Sporting created late chances with Afrifa shooting wide at eighty minutes and Bassong attempting another shot four minutes later but could not change the outcome.

The final score was 5-2 in favor of Seattle Sounders. Sporting Kansas City will next face Colorado Rapids on August 30 at Children’s Mercy Park.