Revolution 1, Sporting KC 3: Undisciplined Revs squander early lead

Days after suffering a 7-0 loss to Atlanta United, the Revolution looked poised to bounce back with an inspired performance against Sporting Kansas City. But a strong start went for not, as the club conceded three straight goals en route to a 3-1 defeat.

Teal Bunbury opened the scoring in the 4th minute when his shot deflected off Sporting midfielder Jimmy Medranda and over the top of goalkeeper Tim Melia. The early goal served as a much-needed pick-me-up for a team that didn’t record a shot in its loss to Atlanta.

Yet seven minutes later, Krisztian Nemeth took all the wind out of the Revs’ sails when he picked up a red card. Away from the play, the former SKC forward elbowed defender Graham Zusi in the face. Referee Jorge Gonzalez used video review to confirm the offense; he responded by sending off Nemeth.

Five minutes later, Sporting equalized off the foot of Gerso Fernandes. The Bissau-Guinean forward took a rebound off Revs goalkeeper Brad Knighton and buried it with a close-range shot.

Fernandes’ goal opened the floodgates for the home side. Sporting would go on to score twice more, riding goals from Diego Rubio—one in the 45th minute, and one in the 57th—to a dominant win over the shorthanded Revolution.

A match that began with promise ended in disarray for Nemeth & Co., raising more questions for the 8th-place team in the Eastern Conference. The Revs plays its next match on September 23 against Toronto FC.