Reynoso leads Minnesota past Sporting KC to keep playoff hopes alive

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:02 am

Emanuel Reynoso scored the go-ahead goal on a penalty kick and Minnesota United kept their MLS Cup playoff hopes alive with a 2-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City on Sunday afternoon in Saint Paul, Minn.

Franco Fragapane also scored for Minnesota, who moved from eighth place and below the playoff line in the Western Conference into fifth place with the victory. Tyler Miller finished with one save.

Khiry Shelton scored the opening goal for Sporting, who remained ahead of the Seattle Sounders in first place in West on goal differential. Johnny Russell assisted on Shelton's opener, but had his eight-game goal streak snapped.

SKC jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute on Shelton's third goal of the season. Russell picked up his eighth assist of the campaign after he headed a cross from near the right post to Shelton, who fired a right-footed shot past Miller from the middle of the six-yard box for his fourth career goal against the Loons.

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Minnesota tied it 12 minutes later on Fragapane's fifth goal of the season, a right-footed blast from the center of the box that went in off the hands of a diving Melia and into the left corner of the net. It was the first goal in three games this season for the Loons against Sporting KC.

Four minutes after Melia made a brilliant two-handed save on a point-blank header by Bakaye Dibassy near the right post, United seized a 2-1 lead in the 39th minute after Reynoso was tripped cutting through the middle of the box by midfielder Ilie Sanchez.

Reynoso then coolly scored a panenka into the middle of the net past Melia, who guessed wrong and dove toward the right post. It was the first goal on a penalty kick this season for the Loons.

Sporting are next in action on Wednesday, when they visit Austin FC, while United will travel to the LA Galaxy on Decision Day with hopes of booking their third straight postseason appearance.