Myrto Uzuni’s 86th-minute goal completes Austin’s 2-1 comeback

Austin came from behind to beat Sporting Kansas City 2-1 at Children’s Mercy Park, with Myrto Uzuni scoring the decisive goal in the 86th minute. The late strike changed a match Sporting had led since the 55th minute and secured Austin’s win in Major League Soccer’s Regular Season - 31.

Uzuni turns the match around

Sporting Kansas City opened the scoring in the 55th minute when Stephen Afrifa converted André Luiz’s assist to make it 1-0. Austin responded in the 64th minute through Uzuni, whose goal levelled the score at 1-1.

The final turning point arrived in the 86th minute. Uzuni scored again to put Austin 2-1 ahead, completing the comeback and providing the last goal of the match. He was the standout performer, earning a 9.1 rating after playing 90 minutes, scoring twice and recording five shots on target.

Austin had more control, but fewer shots

Austin held 56% possession and completed 412 accurate passes compared with Sporting’s 328. The visitors also registered eight shots on goal to Sporting’s five, while goalkeeper S. Cleveland made five saves.

Sporting nevertheless produced more attempts overall, leading 18-13, and had 14 shots inside the box to Austin’s seven. Their expected-goals figure was 1.47 against Austin’s 1.82, illustrating how the hosts’ greater volume did not translate into the better result.

Table impact

Sporting went into the game #15 in the Western Conference with 22 points and remain provisionally #15 on 22 points after 31 games. Austin entered #14 with 31 points and now have 34, 12 points ahead of Sporting, although their position after the result depends on tie-breakers. The loss followed Sporting’s pre-match sequence ending Loss, Loss, while Austin added a win after entering with a Draw.