Musovski hat trick, youth lifts Sounders past Sporting KC

Seattle Sounders FC 5-2 Sporting Kansas City

SEATTLE, WA–Squad rotation didn’t matter as a Danny Musovski hat trick helped the Sounders route Sporting Kansas City, 5-2, at Lumen Field on Sunday night. The Sounders move back to the top four in the West with the win. Sporting KC remain 13th in the West, eleven points out of the playoff places.

It was Kalani Kossa-Rienzi who opened the scoring for the Sounders in the 11th minute scoring off the rebound after an initial shot was blocked. Sporting Kansas City actually got an equalizer in the 35th minute as Tim Leibold sent a low cross to Mason Toye who scored from close range. Just before halftime, though, Reed Baker-Whiting would send a dime of a diagonal to Musovski who headed the ball in to put the Sounders back ahead.

Photo: Nate Koppelman

Five minutes into the second half, Musovski would get his second goal of the evening when he headed in off a corner kick from Daniel Leyva. Sporting weren’t about to go down without a fight, though. They pulled one back three minutes later as Leibold sent a diagonal to Daniel Salloi whose shot deflected off Cody Baker for an own goal.

The two-goal lead was restored eight minutes later when Georgi Minoungou fed Snider Brunell for an easy finish. Musovski would complete his hat trick from the penalty spot in the 75th minute after Leyva was toppled in the penalty area by Jacob Bartlett.

The Sounders will travel to LA Galaxy in the Leagues Cup semifinals on Wednesday (7:45pm PT, Apple TV/FS1). Sporting Kansas City will host Colorado next Saturday (7:30pm CT, Apple TV).

Photos by Paul Kahl and Nate Koppelman