Sporting Kansas City claimed an invaluable 2-1 road victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night, jumping up to fifth place in the Western Conference with a gutsy performance at Avaya Stadium.
Dom Dwyer headed the visitors ahead inside seven minutes, and while Simon Dawkins leveled terms shortly before halftime for San Jose (7-9-13, 34 points), a back-heel from defender Kevin Ellis gave Sporting Kansas City three massive points in the club’s push for the MLS Cup Playoffs.
The result saw Sporting Kansas City (12-12-7, 43 points) exorcise demons of past and present: Peter Vermes’ men earned their first win in San Jose since August 2000 — ending a dismal run of 18 straight league matches (including playoffs) — and snapped a 12-game road winless run in MLS that began on April 17.