Kansas City take MLS crown as Jamaica’s Palmer misses penalty
KANSAS (CMC) – On a freezing night at Sporting Park, Sporting Kansas City claimed their second Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup title by the slimmest of margins, winning an epic 7-6 penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regulation.
Real Salt Lake missed their first two penalties, but came back to force sudden death, with Jamaican Lovel Palmer hitting the crossbar after Aurelien Collin netted in the 10th round of the shootout.
It was the third time the MLS Cup has been decided by a shootout.
Álvaro Saborío opened the scoring after collecting a beautiful one-time pass from Kyle Beckerman, turning and firing past Sporting goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen in the 52nd minute.
Aurelien Collin got Sporting back in the game, though, rising above Chris Schuler to head a Graham Zusi corner past Nick Rimando in the 76th minute, sending the game to extra time.
