Football
ESPN staff 9y

Saprissa knock Sporting KC out of the CONCACAF Champions League

Sporting Kansas City have been knocked out of the CONCACAF Champions League after a 2-0 defeat Costa Rica's Deportivo Saprissa.

The MLS team endured a dismal night with injuries to Benny Feilhaber and Igor Juliao adding to the pain of being knocked out of the competition.

Saprissa knew that a 2-0 result would send them through to the CCL quarter-finals at Sporting's expense, and put themselves in the box seat to qualify after 22 minutes when Heiner Mora scrambled the ball home from close range for the hosts.

Things then went from bad to worse for the MLS side. First, in the 37th minute, Feilhaber needed to be taken off the pitch on a stretcher after appearing to damage his right ankle. Then, seven minutes later, Juliao had to be substituted after injuring his hamstring.

After the break, Saprissa took control of the match, with Ariel Rodriguez slotting home his fifth goal of the group stage -- sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

Despite Sporting manager Peter Vermes throwing caution to the wind and sending Dom Dwyer up front, SKC couldn't find a way back into the tie.

In the nights other match, Mexico's Leon defeated Salvadoran football club Metapan 4-1 at the Estadio Leon.

^ Back to Top ^