Philadelphia Union Keep Finding Ways to Lose, this time to Sporting Kansas City in Stoppage Time Shocker

credit: phladelphiaunion.com

Leading 2-1 at the break, the Union were halfway to their first victory.

The team held the lead for nearly the entire second half and into stoppage time until they conceded a stoppage time goal to the home-standing Sporting Kansas City.  A road point would have been palatable considering Kansas City truly dominated the contest holding the ball for 70% of the game.  However, the home squad would strike again to steal victory at the death.

The Union got off to a dream start when after a corner, some sloppy defending by Sporting’s Jacob Peterson led to an own goal that got the Union off to a 1-0 lead in just the third minute.

Sporting got back on level terms when Dom Dwyer headed home Benny Feilhaber’s cross in the 16th minute.

However, the Union responded just 3 minutes later when Sebastian Le Toux crossed one off of a bad clearance of a set piece, and Fernando Aristeguieta headed home to give the Union a 2-1 advantage it would hold into the fateful end-game.

In second half stoppage time, KC finally found the equalizer after sustained pressure on the Union goal.

Jalil Anibaba of Sporting headed home a perfectly crossed ball from Roger Espinosa to knot things at 2.

The Union would have probably been satisfied with a road draw but disaster struck moments later.

In the 4th minute of stoppage time, Sporting earned a corner as Philadelphia was defending for its life.

The corner was played in well and US international Matt Besler headed to teammate Krisztian Németh who kicked it home from close range to send Sporting to dreamland and a shock three points for the home side.

The Union were left shell-shocked and with no points from the hard-fought contest.