KANSAS CITY- Daniel Salloi’s fifth and sixth goals of the season paced Sporting KC to a comfortable 3-1 win over the Colorado Rapids. Felipe Hernandez scored his first career goal to round out the scoresheet. Keegan Rosenberry added a consolation prize.
Daniel Salloi leads Sporting KC over Rapids
Sporting KC was coming off a 2-1 road loss to Portland in which they dominated the flow of the match but could not connect with a second to find a tie or a win. Colorado on the other hand had picked up a nice three points over Cincinnati and was looking to “test their mettle” against a team that was a bonafide contender.
At first, the match was cagey, with a lot of possession being won and lost in the midfield. Sporting KC came out though and grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, driving at Colorado. Johnny Russel and Khiry Shelton each had golden chances before Salloi opened his account on the night.
15' A cutting forward pass and Russell finds Salloi for the finish to take the lead! #SKCvCOL | 1-0 | #MLS pic.twitter.com/Zjpm70WNDD
— Last Word on Soccer (@LastWordSC) June 24, 2021
Jaylin Lindsey found Russell in space who drove to the endline and cut-back to the penalty spot, where Khiry Shelton’s run opened up acres of space for Salloi to hit a low shot first-time that William Yarbrough could not stop.
Salloi added a second when he dribbled into the box and ripped a hard shot to Yarbrough’s near post when he least expected it. He nearly added a third seconds later but Yarbrough made an excellent save 1v1.
Daniel Salloi has his brace! #SportingKC #SKCvCOL #MLS pic.twitter.com/Blvgy35Rbg
— Last Word on Soccer (@LastWordSC) June 24, 2021
In the second half, Felipe Hernandez bagged his first career goal after a brilliant combination play with Salloi, and a cool finish from the young home-grown into the far post.
Felipe Hernandez! Our first player to progress from:
An #AcademyAffiliate 👉 @SKCAcademy 👉 @SportingKCII 👉 First Team #PathwayToPros 👏 pic.twitter.com/9griW2MXLV
— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) June 24, 2021
Colorado added their single goal on a late set-piece that slammed off the cross-bar and then back off an unsuspecting Keegan Rosenberry into the empty net.
Three Takeaways
- Sporting KC shredded the Colorado Rapids 5-3-2, like they usually do to teams who employ 3/5 at the back. Salloi and Russell drove that backline mad, finding the pockets of space behind the outside center-backs, and in between the wing-back and center back. It was a master class tactical work from Vermes, who didn’t have to change a whole lot to beat Colorado as they did.
- Daniel Salloi is burning hot. Even a little angry. He’s sick of talking about last year, and he’s scoring and assisting nearly every game out at this point. He’s one off of Ruidiaz and Chicharito for the Golden Boot, and has three assists through 11 matches.
- The Rapids employed some higher pressure, but ultimately just couldn’t do much to get Sporting KC off the ball. When Colorado did win the ball, KC pressed the life out of Kellyn Acosta, Jack Price and Cole Bassett, who either lost the ball or were forced to play faster than they wanted, resulting in a misplay or a non-fluid break that Sporting KC could defend.
What’s next?
Sporting KC hosts LAFC on Saturday, a 4pm local kickoff time that will be televised on ESPN. The Colorado Rapids do not play again until July 4th, when they host the Seattle Sounders.
Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken, Last Word on Soccer.
