André Luiz Golazo Leads Sporting KC Past LAFC 3-1, Snapping SKC's Seven-Match Winless Streak

The team at the bottom of the league just took down one of the West's heavyweights, and André Luiz set the tone.

The Sporting Kansas City newcomer curled a left-footed beauty into the top corner in the 18th minute, Taylor Calheira headed in a rebound off the post, homegrown sub Jacob Bartlett sealed it, and Sporting KC beat LAFC 3-1 on Saturday night at Sporting Park. The win snapped Sporting's seven-match winless streak, a slide that, as the AP noted, started with a 4-0 loss at LAFC in July. Sporting began the night with the fewest points in MLS. LAFC began it third in the West.

Sporting Strikes First, Then Strikes Again

LAFC came out looking like the team with the record. Three corners in five minutes, a long-range Sergi Palencia blast over the bar, a Nkosi Tafari header and a Denis Bouanga shot both blocked in the 13th minute, then a Son Heung-Min effort blocked in the 14th. Sporting were bending. They did not break.

Instead, they hit back. André Luiz had already tested Hugo Lloris from distance in the eighth minute, and in the 18th, Justin Reynolds found him on the right side of the box. One swing of that left foot later, the ball was curling into the top left corner and Lloris was left admiring it.

The second goal arrived in the 31st minute and was pure chaos in the best way. Emir Karic swung in a cross, Stephen Afrifa rose at the right side of the six-yard box and headed it off the left post, and Calheira was waiting to nod the rebound into the top left corner from point-blank range. Lloris made a fine save on Afrifa from distance in the 39th, Stefan Cleveland stopped Bouanga in the 43rd and Son in first-half stoppage time, and Sporting went into the break up 2-0.

LAFC Answers, Bartlett Ends It

LAFC changed things at halftime, sending on Mark Delgado and Jacob Shaffelburg, and the move paid off inside two minutes. Shaffelburg set up Bouanga at the right side of the six-yard box, and Bouanga steered a right-footed finish into the bottom right corner for 2-1.

For the next 20 minutes, LAFC pushed and Cleveland held. He denied Bouanga from a tight angle in the 50th minute, Armindo Sieb from the middle of the box in the 59th and Mathieu Choinière from distance in the 69th. Sporting head coach Raphael Wicky admitted his side needed time to sort itself out.

"LAFC came out very strong in the second half and played well, but we fought together through that," Wicky said.

Wicky's 61st-minute change turned out to be the masterstroke. Bartlett replaced Kwaku Agyabeng, who was carrying a first-half yellow card, and 10 minutes later André Luiz drew a crowd on the right side of the box, saw his shot blocked, and the loose ball sat up for Bartlett in the middle of the box. One touch, one right-footed finish into the bottom right corner, 3-1.

LAFC spent the rest of the night throwing crosses into the box like confetti. Eddie Segura, Ryan Hollingshead, Delgado and Jeremy Ebobisse all had headers blocked or wide in the final 15 minutes, Tafari forced a save from more than 40 yards, and Segura's 90th-minute header went just over. Sporting cleared everything.

The New Guy, the No. 9 and the Homegrown

André Luiz was the best player on the field. Seven shots, three on target, a goal, and five fouls drawn by an LAFC defense that never quite figured him out. The AP noted it was his first goal in his third MLS appearance.

"That's why we bought him, right? That's why he's here. He's a very good player," Wicky said.

Calheira, meanwhile, put both of his shots on target, and the AP counted his goal as his third in 16 appearances. Bartlett scored with his only shot and spoke about what it meant afterward.

"Obviously, I've been in this club pretty much half my life. It pretty much means everything to me to be able to score and to impact the team and help the team get back to where it used to be," Bartlett said.

Cleveland finished with seven saves, the quiet hero of a night when LAFC put eight shots on frame.

For LAFC, Bouanga took five shots and put three on target. His goal was his 13th in MLS this season, and per LAFC it tied him with Carlos Vela for the most MLS regular-season goals in club history, at 78. Shaffelburg's assist was his fourth of the season, matching his single-season MLS high, according to the club. Lloris made six saves.

Ten Minutes After the Hour

LAFC had the momentum, the ball and the chances after Bouanga's goal. What it did not have was the equalizer. Bartlett's 71st-minute strike came at the exact moment LAFC looked most likely to find one, and it forced the visitors to chase with crosses instead of patience. Sporting were built to defend that, and they did.

Stats That Matter

• Shots: LAFC 22 (8 on target), Sporting Kansas City 20 (8 on target).
• Saves: Cleveland made 7, Lloris made 6.
• Clearances: Sporting Kansas City 46, LAFC 10.
• Crosses: LAFC attempted 37 and won 13 corners.
• Possession: LAFC 58.1 percent.

Bottom Feeder Bites Back

Sporting moved to 5-3-16 with 18 points. The seven-match skid had included six losses, and Wicky did not pretend the table does not sting.

"I see the standing every day and it hurts every day," he said.

The Philadelphia Union visit Sporting Park next Saturday.

LAFC fell to 11-7-8 with 40 points, and the result was a gut punch after Wednesday's 2-0 win over Red Bull New York. That victory is now LAFC's only one in its last eight league matches. According to the club, eight regular-season games remain before the playoffs, beginning with a trip to the San Jose Earthquakes next Saturday.

A Night for the People in the Stands

Sporting has had the kind of season where the standings feel like a horror movie that will not end. For one night, Kansas City got the happy ending, and Wicky knew exactly who it was for.

"That's a great win. I'm happy for all the fans who didn't see enough wins this year," he said.

Stats from ESPN's match data. Postgame quotes as reported by Sporting Kansas City (sportingkc.com); match notes from the AP recap via ESPN and LAFC (lafc.com).