Johnny Russell had a hat trick and Sporting Kansas City beat the Seattle Sounders 3-2 on Sunday to snap a seven-game winless streak.
Nicolas Hasler took it away from Seattle's Handwalla Bwana near midfield and then led Yohan Croizet with a low pass to the right corner of the area. He won a battle with Kim Kee-hee and fed Russell for the finish from the top of the box to open the scoring in the 29th minute. Then, seconds into first-half stoppage time, Russell weaved through three defenders and side-netted a left-footer to make it 2-0.
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Johnny Russell had a hat trick and Sporting Kansas City beat the Seattle Sounders 3-2 on Sunday to snap a seven-game winless streak.
Rowe tapped it to Russell at the top of the box where he bent a first-timer inside the post in the 68th. Leerdam headed home a corner kick by Nicolás Lodeiro in the 71st to cap the scoring.
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Seattle Sounders defender Roman Torres, top, and Sporting Kansas City defender Seth Sinovic battle for control of the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match Sunday, May 26, 2019, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP PhotoCharlie Riedel)
Seattle Sounders defender Brad Smith passes the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match against Sporting Kansas City, Sunday, May 26, 2019, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP PhotoCharlie Riedel)
Kelvin Leerdam stopped, turned 360 degrees to avoid a defender and raced to the corner of the 6-yard box, where, as defender Kelyn Rowe and goalkeeper Tim Melia converged, tapped it to Raúl Ruidíaz for the empty-netter in the 63rd minute.
Seattle Sounders midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro, left, and Sporting Kansas City midfielder Felipe Gutierrez battle for the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match Sunday, May 26, 2019, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP PhotoCharlie Riedel)
Rowe tapped it to Russell at the top of the box where he bent a first-timer inside the post in the 68th. Leerdam headed home a corner kick by Nicolás Lodeiro in the 71st to cap the scoring.
Sporting Kansas City (3-4-5) won for the first time since March 30.
Seattle (7-2-5) had its six-game unbeaten streak snapped.
Sporting Kansas City midfielder Ilie Sanchez kicks the ball away from Seattle Sounders forward Handwalla Bwana (70) during the first half of an MLS soccer match Sunday, May 26, 2019, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP PhotoCharlie Riedel)
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/apf-Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Sporting Kansas City forward Johnny Russell celebrates after scoring a goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match against the Seattle Sounders, Sunday, May 26, 2019, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP PhotoCharlie Riedel)
Seattle Sounders defender Roman Torres, top, and Sporting Kansas City defender Seth Sinovic battle for control of the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match Sunday, May 26, 2019, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP PhotoCharlie Riedel)
Seattle Sounders defender Brad Smith passes the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match against Sporting Kansas City, Sunday, May 26, 2019, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP PhotoCharlie Riedel)