Photo by Peter G. Aiken/USA TODAY Sports

By SKYLAR ROLSTAD

Late heroics from Dom Dwyer were enough to salvage a point for Sporting Kansas City in Sunday’s Western Conference clash with the Seattle Sounders.

Kansas City saved the point with an 80th minute goal from Dwyer, who entered the match as a substitute in the 74th minute before providing the leveler in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Sporting Park. Dwyer scored from within inches of the goal line as he slid to turn in a cross played by Amadou Dia.

Obafemi Martins put the Sounders ahead in the 32nd minute. Gonzalo Pineda put Martins in on goal, for Martins to knock a shot off of Sporting KC goalkeeper Jon Kempin and in the goal.

Sporting KC rested a number of players for the U.S. Open Cup final on Wednesday, while also missing midfielder Benny Feilhaber and defender Matt Besler due to yellow card accumulation. Forward Krisztian Nemeth was not named to the gameday roster, while Dwyer and midfielder Soni Mustivar were second half subs. Goalkeeper Tim Melia, who has battled injury in recent weeks, was rested for Kempin to start in goal.

In the 52nd minute, Kempin saved a point blank effort from Clint Dempsey, whose took a sliding shot at the back post. Dempsey missed a similar chance in the 85th minute.

In the final minutes of the game, Sporting neearly scored through a couple chances from Dwyer. The last shot of the game nearly rolled in off the foot of Sporting KC midfielder Mikey Lopez, but was cleared off the goal line by Sounders defender Oneil Fisher.

The draw means each team will stay in its current place in the standings, with the Sounders one point behind the LA Galaxy with 46. Sporting, with 45, are one point behind the Sounders in fifth.

Following Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup finale, Sporting KC returns to action Saturday with a visit to Providence Park to take on the Portland Timbers. The Sounders take the field one day later, hosting the LA Galaxy at CenturyLink Field.