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As expected, the Seattle Sounders fed of the huge crowd and opening day excitement to control the early part of the match. It wasn't until midway through the half when Sporting Kansas City started to fully take part in the game.
It was the 42nd minute when the game really changed. Oniel Fisher had been very effective on the Sounders right side and been a pest to Connor Hallisey. Fisher slid in on Hallisey with both feet and studs out. Even though there was little contact, Hallisey tripped over Fisher, a straight red was pulled by Alan Kelly to put the Sounders down man.
The Sounder pulled back and packed it in in the second half with occasional attempts to break out but possession was dominated by the visitors. Despite numerous attempts to crack the defense, Sporting KC could not put one in the net until newcomer Nuno Coelho struck from distance. Coelho's shot from outside skipped and bounced through the rain and slid off of a diving Stefan Frei's glove to go in the corner.
The Sounders had to go on offense at that point in an attempt to salvage a point but SKC held off the pressure to win the season opener.
The 30 passes that led to Nuno Coelho's goal for @SportingKC: pic.twitter.com/R6BkLEji3Y
— Paul Carr (@PCarrESPN) March 7, 2016