Sporting falls in stoppage time 1-0 to Montreal

One week, it's stoppage time jubilation. The next, heart-wrenching defeat. Sporting KC was feeling the latter on Saturday night as they fell to the Montreal Impact 1-0 in a stoppage time defeat.

The match started off in a physical way after Seth Sinovic was booked in the first minute after a hard tackle on Justin Mapp. This card was significant because it means that the next one Seth receives will result in a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation.

The first half would continue with approximately equal possession for both squads but neither were able to find the net. Montreal's best chance would come when Justin Mapp, in the 20th minute, quickly progressed down the sideline after winning the ball in the midfield. He would pass a through ball across the pitch to a wide-open Nyassi who's strong shot attempt was knocked away from Jimmy Nielsen, keeping the match level.

Halftime would arrive without any scores from either team, but the attacking nature of the sides gave the impression that the match wouldn't stay scoreless. The second half, however, seemed to rebuke that theory. Neither side was able to find a window to score for most of the half.

The best chance for Sporting Kansas City came late in the half. A free kick was set up just outside the box in the 88th minute. Soony Saad sent a curling strike towards the corner on the right, but the shot went just a bit too high.

One minute later, Uri Rosell would earn a yellow card for "persistent infringement." As with Sinovic, this card moved Rosell one closer to suspension due to caution accumulation. Rosell has already missed one game this season for this reason.

After seven minutes of stoppage time were added, Montreal would get their chance. Marco Di Vaio found an opening past a frozen Chance Myers right to an open Blake Smith inside the box. Jimmy Nielsen made a valiant save effort but Smith's shot was past him and into the net for the late winner in the 96th minute. It was Smith's third goal of the year and Di Vaio's third assist.

The match would soon end and Montreal would celebrate a late winner and a step closer to Sporting KC in the standings. With the win, they pulled to one point down to Sporting KC in the Eastern Conference with two games in hand. Since this was the final match of the season, Sporting will have no direct opportunities to try and put some distance between them and the Impact.

Sporting also missed an opportunity to pull level with Real Salt Lake in the Supporters Shield race due to their loss to New York in a thrilling match. Instead, Sporting still sits one point back on the Western Conference titan.

Sporting returns home next week to take on the New York Red Bulls next Saturday at a special 5:30 start time. With the Red Bulls down one point to Sporting in the standings, this match should be one of the best this season.