Sporting Kansas City looked to turn back the clock Saturday, July 12 and put a spell on the Seattle Sounders, but three first-half goals were too much for Sporting to overcome in a 3-2 loss at Children’s Mercy Park.

Sporting fell behind in the 15th minute when Jordan Morris turned a cross from Paul Rothrock into a goal, burying it in the left corner. The Sounders doubled their advantage with a penalty kick converted by Albert Rusnak, after video review found that Sporting’s Daniel Salloi’s extended arm deflected a cross in the penalty area. After a late charge by Shapi Suleymanov was saved by Seattle’s Andrew Thomas, the Sounders charged the other way and drew Sporting keeper John Pulskamp well off his line, allowing Jesus Ferreira to comfortably notch his goal right at the halftime whistle.

Sporting’s two goal came by way of penalty kicks. Dejan Joveljic drew a foul in the 67th minute in the box and netted the hosts’ first goal. SKC continued pressing, but even with a late ejection, Sporting were only able to convert a second PK after another video review found that a sliding tackle from Seattle’s Reed Baker-Whiting prevented a goal-scoring opportunity for Santiago Munoz. Munoz would bury the kick in the 96th minute. However, a last-gasp opportunity to equalize was not successful.

Sporting see a three-game unbeaten streak snapped as they remain 12th in the Western Conference on 23 points, four behind Austin for the final playoff spot. SKC next host New York City FC on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, St Louis City SC look to avoid falling into last in the Western Conference when they host the Portland Timbers on Sunday evening at Energizer Park. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. Also in St Louis, the club’s reserves are showing much stronger promise, as St Louis CITY2 won their eighth straight game Friday with 4-2 victory against Austin FC II.  The eight-game winning streak is the longest in MLS Next Pro history.