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Sporting Kansas City and Columbus Crew SC battled to 1-1 draw in the early Sunday match. Sporting KC’s mid-season signing Cristian Lobato gave the visitors the lead when Matt Besler played a quick restart almost perfectly.
More looks at Lobato's first goal! Thanks Jonathan Mensah for terrible defense. @SportingKC #CLBvSKC pic.twitter.com/QHUgN4yeGM
— Chad Smith (@PlayFor90) September 10, 2017
Lobato was aided by Crew defender Jonathan Mensah’s misguided attempt to bicycle the ball out of danger. When Mensah missed his attempt the Spanish winger slid the ball past an onrushing Zach Steffen to give SKC the lead in the 19th minute.
Sporting KC maintained the lead until just before half. In stoppage time Columbus’ midfielder Pedro Santos took the corner kick. Crew forward Ola Kamara got a good push off on Ilie Sanchez and headed the ball point blank past Tim Melia to level it at half.
A closer look at Kamara pushing off Ilie. Also, Roger abandons the near post creating room for the ball to get in. #CLBvSKC pic.twitter.com/iYPFPmkwmU
— Chad Smith (@PlayFor90) September 10, 2017
Neither team was willing to settle for a point and came out trying to seize control in the second half.
“We played well enough to get three points. I don’t think we managed the first half as well we should have. We gave them three corner kick where easily we should have done so much better with them,” Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes told reporters after the match.
Both teams came into the match needing points to maintain or improve their spots in their respective conferences but had to settle for a single point.