By FRANCO PANIZO
Sporting Kansas City extended its unbeaten streak to nine games with a draw at home on Wednesday night, and it can thank Graham Zusi for that.
Zusi earned Sporting Kansas City a 1-1 tie with the Colorado Rapids at Livestrong Sporting Park with a goal in the 62nd minute. Zusi netted his third goal of the season when he pounced on a rebound and buried his shot into an open net.
The goal pulled the hosts level after Conor Casey opened the scoring in the first half, but they couldn't find a winner despite creating several good opportunities in a game that saw 22 total shots taken.
Sporting Kansas City nearly earned three points but two different shots hit off the post and one smacked off the crossbar after a save by Matt Pickens.
The Rapids took advantage of their opponent's lack of finishing and silenced the crowd in the 32nd minute when Casey brought down a Tyrone Marshall pass and hit a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner. The goal was Casey's fifth of the season.
Sporting Kansas City pushed for an equalizer, and found one through Zusi, the league's reigning Player of the Month. Having entered the match a minute earlier, rookie C.J. Sapong received a pass from Zusi and hit a shot on frame. Pickens could only parry Sapong's effort and the rebound fell in the path of Zusi, who knocked the ball in unchallenged.
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What do you think of Sporting Kansas City's 1-1 draw with the Colorado Rapids? Who impressed you? Think SKC will make the playoffs?
Share your thoughts below.
Attendance?
No, Zusi is playing well, but the midfield still doesn’t link with the forwards. They need to bring in some help.
I hope Vermes’ reason for not starting Sapong was because he was resting him for the weekend game. I can think of no other reason why C.J. shouldn’t be starting.
I know, just think it’s funny to bring up as u always respond 🙂
(SBI-I respond because when I don’t respond these myths tend to snowball out of control (me saying Sapong was a reach at the pick he was taken turns into me having said he was awful and would never make it in MLS), so if I’m around I just nip it in the bud.)
Probably questioned it because certain bloggers did… Ha
(SBI-Settle down, I’ve said it a million times, and will say it again. Sapong could have been had later in the draft, something Peter Vermes himself acknowledged to me. Never said he actually couldn’t play. Credit to Vermes for taking him early after being unable to trade down. Clearly a great pick.)
Sporting continue to look good. Their back line and midfield are very solid right now. Collin, Besler are beasts. Sapong is such a handful. I wouldn’t want to play them.
Ugh, another draw…the Rapids are freakin infatuated with their sister.
I questioned our pick of CJ and thought it may be because Sporting thought that Teal would be gone with the National team. Now I see why they took CJ, he is a difference maker. He does not go down, has a good touch and puts shots on goal. The other player that had a great game (and season) was Besler. Sporting is looking really strong right now.
Probably deserved 3 pts but I credit Pickens, he made a great save on the deflection that he pushed into the crossbar late in the game.
The difference Sapong makes is huge, completely changed the game with his inclusion, kid is the real deal