05/16/26 09:52:00
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05/16 21:47 CDT Late goals by Manu Garca and Stephen Afrifa rally Sporting KC
to 2-1 victory over Austin
Late goals by Manu Garca and Stephen Afrifa rally Sporting KC to 2-1 victory
over Austin
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) --- Manu Garca and Stephen Afrifa both scored late in the
second half to rally Sporting Kansas City to a 2-1 victory over Austin FC on
Saturday night.
Sporting KC had lost all five of its previous matches at Q2 Stadium.
Neither team found the net in the first half until defender Mikkel Desler
scored one minute into stoppage time to give Austin a 1-0 lead at halftime.
It was the second career goal in 35 appearances for Desler after scoring once
last season in 20 matches. Defender Guilherme Biro notched his second assist
this season and Owen Wolff picked up his first after posting a career-high
eight last season.
Sporting KC didn't come up with the equalizer until Garca took a pass from
Shapi Suleymanov in the 79th minute and scored for the first time this season.
It was his third goal in 40 career appearances. Suleymanov's assist was his
first after collecting four last season --- his first in the league.
Sporting KC grabbed the lead three minutes later on an unassisted goal by
Afrifa --- his first. Afrifa's first four goals all came in 24 appearances in
2024.
Former Austin goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland saved two shots for Sporting KC
(3-8-2) in posting back-to-back victories after finishing off a season sweep of
the visiting Los Angeles Galaxy last time out.
Brad Stuver totaled seven saves for Austin (3-6-5), which was coming off the
most lopsided loss in club history --- 5-0 to San Diego FC on the road.
Sporting KC improves to 2-5-0 on the road after being outscored 14-0 in its
previous three matches away from home
Austin drops to 3-2-2 at home.
Up next
Kansas City: Hosts the New York Red Bulls on Saturday.
Austin: Visits St. Louis City on Saturday.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer
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