The red card appeared from referee Juan Guzman’s back pocket, prompting Sporting Kansas City defender Jimmy Medranda to make an earlier-than-anticipated stroll to the locker room. Almost instantly, Philadelphia coach Jim Curtin turned to his bench and summoned midfielder Roland Alberg to check into the match.
The substitution scoreboard lit up in the 65th minute Saturday.
Alberg had the game-winning strike only two minutes later.
Alberg stuck a ball into the upper corner of the net, exploiting Philadelphia’s one-man advantage for a 2-0 victory against Sporting on Saturday at Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, Pa.
Sporting, 11-12-5, finished the match with nine men after Roger Espinoza was also ejected in the 87th minute, and then Philadelphia midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta supplied the finishing touches in stoppage time.