Jordan Hamilton salvages point for Toronto FC vs. Sporting Kansas City

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:29 am

Jordan Hamilton's left-footed goal in the 69th minute helped visiting Toronto FC salvage a 2-2 tie against Sporting Kansas City at Kansas City, Kan., and halt a three-match MLS losing streak.

Defending MLS champion Toronto FC had last earned a point on June 13 after a 4-4 tie with D.C. United. Since then, it was handed defeats by New York City FC, the New York Red Bulls and Minnesota United.

Sporting Kansas City erased a 1-0 halftime deficit in earning a point after consecutive road defeats at Real Salt Lake and Montreal. It was Sporting KC's first two-match losing streak of the season.

Toronto FC still has not won a match at Sporting KC's Children's Mercy Park, but did earn its second tie against six defeats.

Sporting KC remains in second place in the Western Conference behind FC Dallas after relinquishing the top spot following a Wednesday defeat at Real Salt Lake.

Hamilton recorded his second goal of the season, taking a pass from Nicolas Hasler and scoring from well outside the penalty area.

Jordan Hamilton
Jordan Hamilton
Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports

Toronto FC was able to get even just eight minutes after Sporting KC had grabbed the lead. Johnny Russell put Sporting KC on top 2-1 in the 61st minute when he scored a left-footed goal on a pass from Diego Rubio.

It was Russell's sixth goal of the season and first since April 20, when he scored three times against Vancouver.

Trailing 1-0 at half-time, Sporting KC was able to get even when Ilie Sanchez scored on a penalty kick in the 57th minute. It was Sanchez's third goal of the season. The penalty kick was awarded after Gerso Fernandes was fouled in the penalty area on a late tackle by Toronto's Eriq Zavaleta, who received a yellow card.

Toronto FC scored the lone goal of the first half when Jonathan Osorio took a centering pass from Justin Morrow in the 25th minute and slotted it past Sporting KC goalkeeper Tim Melia. It was Osorio's sixth of the season.

After a pair of red cards on Wednesday at Real Salt Lake, Sporting KC was playing without leading goal-scorer Daniel Salloi and assist leader Roger Espinoza.