Recap: Sporting KC falls 3-1 in Minnesota

Sporting Kansas City Falls 3-1 to Minnesota United at Allianz Field

Sporting Kansas City dropped a 3-1 result against Minnesota United at Allianz Field on Wednesday night, moving their record to 6-22-4 with 22 points in the 2026 MLS regular season. Taylor Calheira provided the visitors with a first-half advantage before Minnesota bounced back after the break with three unanswered goals to secure all three points in front of 18,354 rain-soaked fans in St. Paul.

Head coach Raphael Wicky made just one adjustment to his starting lineup following a weekend loss to Austin FC, bringing Jacob Bartlett back into central midfield to cover for the injured Zorhan Bassong, who is sidelined with a hamstring issue. Sporting controlled early sequences, generating the opening chance when Bartlett drove onto a cutback from Jake Davis near the top of the penalty area, only to see his powerful attempt sail over the crossbar.

Stefan Cleveland was called into action for the first time in the 19th minute when Anthony Markanich got in behind the backline, but the goalkeeper was quick off his line to smother the attempt from a tight angle. Pressure mounted as the half progressed, with Aziel Jackson firing wide from 12 yards out in the 24th minute and Markanich heading inches wide of the far post six minutes later.

Calheira Breaks Through Before Minnesota Responds

Sporting broke the deadlock in the 31st minute. A pass from Jake Davis took a deflection directly into the path of Taylor Calheira, allowing the striker a clear path toward goal. Calheira buried his shot into the bottom corner for his fifth goal of the season, sending Sporting into the locker room with a 1-0 halftime advantage.

The hosts thought they had drawn level immediately after the restart when Mauricio Gonzalez headed in from close range. However, a Video Review overturned the effort for a foul on Emir Karic during the buildup.

Sporting absorbed heavy pressure and nearly doubled their margin in the 64th minute. Andre Luiz beat the Minnesota defense and cut inside onto his left foot, but his strike rebounded off the crossbar. Kwaku Agyabeng tested the netminder moments later from 20 yards, forcing a sharp save.

Minnesota finally broke through in the 72nd minute when Markanich headed home from a Joaquin Pereyra corner kick. Four minutes later, a turnover deep in Sporting’s territory allowed Gonzalez to slot home the go-ahead goal, making it 2-1.

Jansen Miller nearly leveled the score in the 80th minute, bouncing a header off the inside of the post from an Owen Wolff corner directly into the arms of Callender. At the other end, Kelvin Yeboah struck the woodwork with a header before securing the victory in the 88th minute. Receiving a pass inside the area from Tomas Chancalay, Yeboah slotted home his 18th goal of the campaign to seal the 3-1 final scoreline.

Looking Ahead to the Home Finale

Sporting Kansas City returns home this weekend to face FC Dallas in the club’s final home match of the 2026 season. Kickoff at Sporting Park is scheduled for Saturday night at 2 p.m. CT. The fixture will stream live on Apple TV, with radio broadcasts available on Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Grande 1340 AM, and tickets accessible through SeatGeek.