Sporting Kansas City 2, Seattle Sounders 2 | 2018 MLS Match Recap

Charles Boehm

Sporting Kansas City and the Seattle Sounders swapped haymakers in an entertaining 2-2 draw at an unseasonably cold Children's Mercy Park on Sunday afternoon, with Cristian Roldan and Graham Zusi netting second-half goals in a match that ebbed and flowed in both directions repeatedly.

After Seattle's bright start, the home side clambered into a dominant position in the second half as Nouhou Tolo fouled Johnny Russell to set up a penalty kick that was dispatched emphatically from the spot by Ilie.

But the slumping, shorthanded Sounders rallied admirably, stunning SKC with a leveler on the stroke of halftime via Will Bruin, who later set up Roldan for a grasscutter into the bottom corner to push the Rave Green in front with 17 minutes left in regulation.

Minutes later Zusi made a long run to exploit some ragged work by Tolo, who suffered through a rough day at Seattle's left back spot, snatching a point for Sporting with a fine solo effort calmly finished from close range.

Goals

34' – SKC – Ilie Sanchez (PK) | WATCH
45+3' – SEA – Will Bruin | WATCH
73' – SEA – Cristian Roldan | WATCH
78' – SKC – Graham Zusi | WATCH

Three Things

THE BIG PICTURE: Both sides walk away from this one with reasons for satisfaction as well as frustration, each having let victory out of their grasp. But given Seattle's 2018 struggles to date, the point earned is much more precious for them.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Bruin's point-blank equalizer (off a long throw, of all things) was key not only for the Sounders' comeback, but for the fact that it was their first league goal of the year, breaking nearly 320 minutes of woe.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Cristian Roldan stepped up when Seattle needed him badly, covering miles of ground in central midfield and making the most of a slightly more advanced role with greater license to range forward.