CARSON, Calif. – An Omar Bravo brace was the difference as Sporting Kansas City defeated Chivas USA 3-2 in front of a crowd of 18,122 at the Home Depot Center on Saturday night.
The visitors did not take long to strike. A failed clearance from Ben Zemanski ended up on the foot of C.J. Sapong, who smashed home his first career MLS goal in the second minute of play in his first career start. Sapong’s goal was the fastest ever for a rookie.
Sporting added to their advantage just moments before the halftime whistle, when Omar Bravo capitalized on a failed Rojiblancos cross that caught goalkeeper Zach Thornton out of position. The former Chivas de Guadalajara man chipped the ball past Thornton from 15 yards out to add to the lead. Bravo’s goal was met mostly by cheers of the many fans in attendance eager to see the former Guadalajara star.
Chivas USA pulled one back in the 55th minute when former Kansas City captain Jimmy Conrad smashed home a header off a corner kick. The ball appeared to ricochet off the back of Sapong and fall to the head of Conrad, who beat Nielsen.
Bravo thought he put the nail in the coffin in the 75th minute, when the Chivas USA defense failed to communicate on a Kei Kamara header. The ball then landed at the boot of Bravo, who was able to beat Thornton for his second goal of the night.
The Goats were able to add some intrigue in the 84th minute, when Zemanski made amends. A failed clearance by Davy Arnaud fell to Chivas USA midfielder Nick LaBrocca, who volleyed it back to the second-year midfielder for the goal.
But it proved too little, too late for Chivas USA, who were unable to start the era of new head coach Robin Fraser with a victory.
The Rojiblancos will now host the defending MLS Cup champion Colorado Rapids on March 26, while Sporting continue their nine-game road trip on the same day at Toyota Park, when they take on the Chicago Fire.
Scoring Summary:
KC -- C.J. Sapong 1 (unassisted) 2
KC -- Omar Bravo 1 (Kei Kamara 1) 48+
CHV -- Jimmy Conrad 1 (unassisted) 56
KC -- Omar Bravo 2 (Kei Kamara 2) 74
CHV -- Ben Zemanski 1 (Nick LaBrocca 1) 84
Misconduct Summary:
KC -- Davy Arnaud (caution; Tactical Foul) 23
CHV -- Jimmy Conrad (caution; Reckless Foul) 27
CHV -- Zarek Valentin (caution; Tactical Foul) 52
KC -- Omar Bravo (caution; Reckless Foul) 71
Lineups:
Sporting KC -- Jimmy Nielsen, Luke Sassano (Chance Myers 72), Julio Cesar, Matt Besler, Roger Espinoza, Kei Kamara, Davy Arnaud, Milos Stojcev (Graham Zusi 89), Craig Rocastle (Stephane Auvray 20), Omar Bravo, C.J. Sapong.
Substitutes Not Used: Teal Bunbury, Scott Lorenz, Shavar Thomas, Eric Kronberg.
Chivas USA -- Zach Thornton, Heath Pearce, Jimmy Conrad, Zarek Valentin, Ante Jazic (Victor Estupinan 86), Ben Zemanski, Nick LaBrocca, Francisco Mendoza (Blair Gavin 62), Justin Braun, Marcos Mondaini (Tristan Bowen 70), Alejandro Moreno.
Substitutes Not Used: Michael Lahoud, Mariano Trujillo, Michael Umana, Dan Kennedy.
Referee: Edvin Jurisevic
Referee's Assistants: Greg Barkey; James Conlee
4th Official: Niko Bratsis
Attendance: 18,122
Time of Game: 1:47
Weather: Cloudy and 59 degrees
