Cristian Roldan delivered the decisive late intervention as Seattle Sounders FC came from behind to beat Sporting Kansas City 2–1 at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 1. His 90th-minute winner completed a second-half turnaround in an MLS Western Conference fixture that looked destined to finish level.
Sporting strike before the break
Sporting Kansas City took the lead through André Luiz in the 44th minute, giving the visitors a 1–0 advantage at half-time and leaving Seattle with work to do after the interval.
The Sounders ultimately enjoyed more of the ball, finishing with 58.6 percent possession, but Sporting were far from passive visitors. Kansas City registered 22 attempts to Seattle’s 21 and put 11 on target compared with the hosts’ seven, underlining the attacking threat Seattle had to contend with.
Gomez levels, Roldan settles it
Seattle’s response came early in the second half. Sebastian Gomez equalised in the 51st minute, wiping out Sporting’s advantage just six minutes after the restart and setting up a contest that remained unresolved until the final minute of regulation.
Nouhou Tolo received a yellow card in the 61st minute as the sides remained locked at 1–1. Seattle’s 11 corners, against Sporting’s six, added to the hosts’ attacking opportunities, although neither side found the breakthrough immediately.
A draw was still on the cards when Roldan struck in the 90th minute to put Seattle ahead for the first time. Sporting’s Jacob Bartlett was booked in the first minute of stoppage time, and the Sounders preserved their newly won advantage through the remaining minutes to claim all three points.
A comeback earned the hard way
The result rewarded Seattle’s recovery rather than an evening of one-sided dominance. Sporting generated more attempts and more shots on target, but the Sounders made their second-half goals count: Gomez restored parity in the 51st minute, and Roldan supplied the winner in the 90th.
For Kansas City, a half-time lead became a narrow defeat. For Seattle, the late breakthrough turned a potential point into three.
Next fixtures
Seattle next face New England Revolution on Saturday, October 10, at 4:30 p.m. PDT. Sporting Kansas City return to action against Portland Timbers the same day at 5:30 p.m. PDT.
