Sporting KC Escapes Seattle with 1-1 Draw

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SEATTLE – After some chippy play late, both Sporting Kansas City and Seattle Sounders FC had to settle for a 1-1 draw on Wednesday night at Qwest Field.

With the draw and two games in hand, Sporting KC (9-3-1) pulled within one point of DC United (9-4-1) for first place in the Eastern Conference.

Both goals came early in the first half. Forward Jacob Peterson put Sporting KC up 1-0 with a right footed kick in the 8th minute. Defender Aurelien Collin helped make it happen with a crafty headed assist.

Seattle (7-5-3) answered in the 15th minute with a high flying right footed shot from defender Patrick Ianni, tying it up at 1-1.

It was all defense after that, and Sporting KC defender Lawrence Olum was ultra clutch late, clearing out what could’ve easily been the game winning goal from Sounders FC in the 88th minute.

Tempers flared on both sides throughout the match, but came to a boiling point in stoppage time when Seattle midfielder Alvaro Fernandez drew a red card for diving at midfielder Roger Espinoza.

Sporting KC travels to Philadelphia to take on the Philadelphia Union (2-8-2) on Saturday night at PPL Park.