Portland, Oregon (April 15, 2017)- Ever since Portland’s entry to MLS in 2011, Providence Park has been a fortress. Sporting KC came in tonight and did what most in the league haven’t been able too, and that was win. Dom Dwyer’s second half goal was just enough as Sporting KC picked up their first road win of the season.

Sporting KC Pick Up A Rare Win in Portland, Move to Second in West

Dom Dwyer took a little while to get going. Now he has two goals in as many matches, and Sporting KC are absolutely flying right now. Unbeaten now through six games, they have three wins and three draws and a goal differential of +4. The only goals they’ve allowed have been on a weird play that pinged around the box in the final seconds, and a PK.

Their defense has definitely been amazing. That was one thing that most would’ve expected through this point in the season. The big question was whether or not the offense was going to get it’s legs moving. It finally did against Colorado, and you saw a little more of the same tonight. Fast passing moves creating good chances within the 18 yard box.

Portland, for having the most points in the west at the time, looked to be sitting pretty. But Sporting’s physical, and pacy style gave them fits. They were frustrated throughout the match, and fouled almost non-stop. Amazingly, Portland ended up without a yellow card awarded to them even though they committed 22 fouls in the match.

Sporting’s goal came through another beautiful combination play which Benny Feilhaber played in Jimmy Medranda. Medranda hit a first time cross into Dwyer who headed home as Portland goalkeeper, Jake Gleeson, was well out of position to get to it.

What’s Next?

Sporting KC labeled this two game stretch as their two toughest road matches this season: away to Portland, and away to Dallas. They passed the first test, so now it’s on to the second. They will take on FC Dallas on Saturday April 22nd, at 7pm Central Time.