Erik Thommy netted a second-half goal, and set up the opening score four minutes into Sporting Kansas City’s 2-1 road victory Friday, July 4 over the Colorado Rapids.

Thommy provided the assist on a one-touch shot from Dejan Joveljic, just outside the six-meter box, that rolled to the left of Rapids keeper Nicolas Hansen and into the right corner of the net. Thommy then doubled the score in the 53rd minute when he took a clearance from midfield and dribbled past three defenders before his right-footed shot beat Hansen. The Those two goals ended up being the only Sporting shots on goal, as Colorado would pepper Sporting’s John Pulskamp with nine shots on target. Eight of those were saved, while the ninth was a penalty kick awarded just before stoppage time that Rafael Navarro converted. Colorado were awarded a penalty kick earlier in the contest, but the shot from Djordie Mihailovic hit the left post.

Sporting now sit 10th in the Western Conference, three points behind Austin and Colorado for the last two playoff spots. However, the Friday night game means that KC and Colorado have a game in hand, with most of the league playing Saturday. Sporting KC return to Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday, June 12th to host the Seattle Sounders, with kickoff at 7:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, Saint Louis City are in Utah to face Real Salt Lake on Saturday evening. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m., as City are looking for their fourth win of the season against the team that’s four points ahead of them for 13th in the Western Conference.