Sporting KC Beats Sounders 2-1

 Seattle Sounders FC (17-7-7, 58 points) fell 2-1 at home to Sporting Kansas City (16-7-7, 55 points) Saturday afternoon at Lumen Field. Nico Benezet scored the lone goal for Seattle, as the Rave Green sit three points clear of SKC for the top spot in the Western Conference following today’s result.

POST GAME ON THE PITCH

GAME NOTES

MATCH NOTES

• Seattle remains in first place in the Western Conference with 58 points (17-7-7), with Sporting just three points behind with 55 points (16-7-7). With Saturdays win Sporting clinched a berth in the 2021 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.

• Sounders FC is now 10-9-4 all-time against SKC in regular-season play, including a 5-5-2 mark at Lumen Field.

• Sporting and Seattle have now faced off three times in 2021, with the Rave Green going 1-2-0 in those contests.

• Nico Benezet’s goal marked his fourth for Seattle across all competitions since joining the club in July.

• Midfielder João Paulo tallied his 11^th assist of the season on Benezet’s goal. He was also cautioned in the first half and is now suspended for Tuesday’s game at LAFC due to yellow card accumulation.

• Cristian Roldan tallied his sixth assist of the season, three shy of his career high. He already matched his career high with six goals in 2021.

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 1 – Sporting Kansas City 2

Saturday, October 23, 2021

Venue: Lumen Field

Referee: Ismail Elfath

Assistants: Corey Parker, Mike Rottersman

Fourth Official: Ramy Touchan

VAR: Rubiel Vazquez

Attendance: 32,139

Weather: 54 degrees and rain

SCORING SUMMARY

SKC – Remi Walter (Luis Martins) 4’

SEA – Nicolas Benezet (Cristian Roldan, João Paulo) 58’

SKC – Johnny Russell (Roger Espinoza) 79’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SEA – João Paulo (caution) 35’

SEA – Kelyn Rowe (caution) 51’

SEA – Alex Roldan (caution) 55’

SKC – Tim Melia (caution) 56’

SKC – Gadi Kinda (caution) 63’

SKC – Roger Espinoza (caution) 74’

SEA – Yeimar (caution) 76’

SEA – Fredy Montero (caution) 89’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan, Yeimar, Xavier Arreaga (Léo Chú 82’), Shane O’Neill (Fredy Montero 82’), Jimmy Medranda (Nouhou 66’); João Paulo, Kelyn Rowe, Cristian Roldan, Nico Benezet (Josh Atencio 72’); Will Bruin

Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Spencer Richey, Ethan Dobbelaere, Abdoulaye Cissoko, Danny Leyva

Total shots: 15

Shots on goal: 5

Fouls: 17

Offside: 2

Corner-kicks: 3

Saves: 1

Sporting Kansas City – Tim Melia; Andreu Fontas, Nicolas Isimat, Graham Zusi, Luis Martins; Ilie Sanchez, Roger Espinoza, Gadi Kinda, Remi Walter; Johnny Russell, Khiry Shelton

Substitutes not used: Robert Puncec, Amadou Dia, Grayson Barber, Kendall McIntosh, Cameron Duke, Jake Davis, Kaveh Rad, Wilson Harris

Total shots: 8

Shots on goal: 3

Fouls: 18

Offside: 0

Corner-kicks: 3

Saves: 4