Forward Diego Rubio crossed the ball to Daniel Salloi for a goal in the 20th minute of Thursday night’s Western Conference final in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
Two second-half defensive lapses by Sporting KC allowed the Portland Timbers to overcome an early Sporting Kansas City goal and win the Western Conference finals Thursday evening at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. The final score was 3-2 in Portland’s favor.
Forward Daniel Salloi opened the scoring in the 20th minute. Diego Rubio earned the assist, crossing the ball from the right side to the far post where Salloi collected it. Salloi’s goal capped a flurry of early activity that saw Kansas City put four shots on goal in the first 15 minutes.
Salloi put the ball in the net again in the 24th minute, but it was disallowed for obstruction of the goalkeeper. Another Salloi shot in first-half stoppage time went just over the crossbar.
Portland erased Sporting Kansas City’s advantage in the 52nd minute. Forward Sebastian Blanco launched a shot from 30 yards that found the upper corner of the goal. Portland scored again in the 61st minute on a rebound header by Diego Valeri.
The 2-1 Portland lead meant Sporting KC needed twp goals to advance in the playoff. Sporting KC picked up one of those goals in the 81st minute when Graham Zusi crossed the ball to Gerso Fernandes near the penalty spot, but Sporting KC was not able to score again. Portland’s third goal came in stoppage time as Sporting Kansas City took increasingly risky offensive positions in an attempt to win the game, which allowed midfielder Diego Valeri to score on a counterattack.
Portland will advance to the MLS Cup final against Atlanta United FC. The match will be played in Atlanta on Dec. 8.
Sporting Kansas City will start its 2019 season in February. In addition to the usual MLS and U.S. Open Cup competitions, Sporting KC will participate in the CONCACAF Champions’ League, a competition among top club teams from across North America. Sporting KC qualified for the Champions’ League based on its 2017 Open Cup championship.
Portland defender Bill Tuiloma foiled an attacking run by Diego Rubio. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel) Gerso Fernandes scored in the 81st minute to make the score 2-2. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel) Sporting KC fans celebrated Fernandes’s game-tying goal in the second half. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel) Gerso Fernandes took a shot after coming in as a substitute for Salloi. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel) Fernandes was taken down on a foul just outside the penalty area. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel) Portland goalkeeper Jeff Attinella knocked away a Sporting Kansas City corner kick. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel) Attinella grabbed a save in the second half. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel) Diego Rubio collided with Portland goalkeeper in the second half. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel) Graham Zusi made an attacking run from the right side. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)
A 3-year-old child was shot in the left arm in a drive-by shooting from a vehicle around 10:15 p.m. Thursday near 72nd and Kansas Avenue.
According to a police spokesman, an unknown vehicle drove past the victims and began shooting into their vehicle.
The driver of the victim’s vehicle then took the victim to the hospital, where the victim was in stable condition, the spokesman stated.
Kansas City, Kansas, police detectives are investigating the shooting, according to the spokesman.
Rainfall is in the forecast for Wyandotte County. (National Weather Service graphic)
Rain will return to the forecast on Friday evening and continue through Sunday evening, according to the National Weather Service.
Some thunder also may be possible late Friday night, the weather service said. Total rainfall amounts will range from one-half to one inch, according to the weather service.
Light snow will be possible late Saturday into Sunday across northern Missouri and far northeastern Kansas, the weather service said.
Total snow accumulation through Sunday night will remain less than 1 inch across the area, according to the weather service.
Today, there is a 20 percent chance of precipitation between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., with patchy fog in the morning. The high will be near 50 with an east wind of 5 to 10 mph, the weather service said.
Tonight, there is a 100 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 10 p.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 43 with an east wind of 10 to 14 mph, gusting as high as 20 mph. Between a half and three-quarters of an inch is possible.
Saturday, there is a 50 percent chance of showers before 9 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9 a.m. and noon, and a chance of showers after noon, the weather service said. The temperature will rise to near 49 by 11 a.m., then fall to 41 during the remainder of the day. An east southeast wind of 7 to 11 mph will become west southwest in the afternoon. Between a tenth and quarter-inch is possible, with higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday night, there is a 50 percent chance of showers, with a low of 35, according to the weather service. A west wind of 11 mph will gust as high as 18 mph. Less than a tenth of an inch is possible.
Sunday, there is a 20 percent chance of showers, with a high near 40, the weather service said, and a west northwest wind of 9 to 13 mph.
Sunday night, there is a 20 percent chance of rain before 9 p.m., then a slight chance of rain and snow between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., and a slight chance of snow showers after 10 p.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 29.
Monday, the high will be near 33 with cloudy skies, the weather service said.
Monday night, the low will be around 21 with mostly cloudy skies, according to the weather service.
Tuesday, it will be partly sunny with a high near 31, the weather service said.
Tuesday night, the low will be around 20 with partly cloudy skies, according to the weather service.
Wednesday, the high will be near 35 with mostly sunny skies, the weather service said.
Wednesday night, the low will be around 25 with partly cloudy skies, according to the weather service.
Thursday, it will be partly sunny with a high near 37, the weather service said.
