Union Still Seeks 1st Win Following Loss to Sporting KC

Report From Philadelphia Union

Kansas City, Kansas – Philadelphia Union lost to Sporting Kansas City, 3-2, Sunday night at Sporting Park in front of 19,545 fans. Jalil Anibaba and Krisztian Nemeth scored stoppage time goals to lift Sporting, while Fernando Aristeguieta scored his third goal of the season – tied for second best in MLS – for the Union.

“We talked a lot about restarts being a big part of this game,” head coach Jim Curtin said. “I thought we did well on them, attacking, but we weren’t good enough defending them. The guys are disappointed, I thought they put in a ton of hard work, but again it comes up short and we leave here with nothing.”

The Union were off and flying in the third minute when Sebastien Le Toux’s corner kick deflected off Jacob Peterson for an own goal. Andrew Wenger was in on the play, forcing Peterson into a difficult position, which ultimately led to the goal.

Sporting equalized 13 minutes later on a corner of their own. Through a scramble in the box, Dom Dwyer was able to pop free and get on the end of Benny Feilhaber’s kick and headed it home.

But the Union came storming back and earned a free kick along the right sideline. Sebastien Le Toux sent in a perfect ball for Aristeguieta, who acrobatically latched onto the ball and was able to head it with enough pace past Luis Marin.

The Union thought they scored a third in the 53rd minute off a free kick that fell perfectly to Ariseguieta, who beat Marin for what appeared to be a goal. But Maurice Edu, who was the first in to touch it, was ruled to be offside.

A mad scramble in the 91st minute tied the game for Sporting. Anibaba finally latched onto a ball inside the 6-yard box and slotted it past a diving Mbolhi. Three minutes later, Nemeth scored the gamewinner after Matt Besler headed on a corner kick from Feilhaber.

For the Union, Eric Ayuk Mbu made his first MLS start. The 18-year-old Cameroonian midfielder had made two appearances as a substitute this year. Also, Raymond Lee made his MLS debut when he subbed on for Fabinho in the 78th minute. Born in Saint Louis, Mo., Lee was the No. 71 overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft.

The Union next play NYCFC, Saturday, April 11 at PPL Park. Kick-off is at 4 p.m.

BOX SCORE

Sporting Kansas City 3, Philadelphia Union 2

Sporting Park

Kansas City, Kansas

SCORING SUMMARY

PHI – Jacob Peterson (own goal) 3’

SKC – Dom Dwyer (Feilhaber) 16’

PHI – Fernando Aristeguieta (Le Toux) 19’

SKC – Jalil Anibaba (Roger Espinoza) 90+1’

SKC – Krisztian Nemeth (Matt Besler, Benny Feilhaber) 90+4’

DISCIPLINE SUMMARY

SKC – Marcel de Jong (yellow) 18’

PHI – Maurice Edu (yellow) 62’

PHI – Brian Carroll (yellow) 68’

UNION STARTING XI

Rais Mbolhi, Fabinho (Raymond Lee 78’), Steven Vitoria, Maurice Edu, Raymon Gaddis, Andrew Wenger, Michael Lahoud, Brian Carroll, Eric Ayuk Mbu (C.J. Sapong 71’), Sebastien Le Toux, Fernando Aristeguieta.

SPORTING KANSAS CITY STARTING XI

Luis Marin, Marcel de Jong (Seth Sinovic 46’), Matt Besler, Ike Opara, Jalil Anibaba, Roger Espinoza, Servando Carrasco (Soni Mustivar 77’), Benny Feilhaber, Jacob Peterson, Dom Dwyer, Jimmy Medranda (Krisztian Nemeth 65’).

OFFICIALS

Ismail Elfath (referee), Adam Garner (assistant), Kevin Klinger (assistant), Younes Marrakchi (fourth).

ATTENDANCE

19,545