In their latest stints with the United States men’s national team, Matt Besler and Graham Zusi began to count the number of days they spent away from Sporting Kansas City, a chart that would eventually reach 36 tallies.
They made their long-awaited return to Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday.
And they responded with even longer-awaited returns to the scoring column.
Matt Besler secured his first goal in five seasons, a 90th-minute sigh-of-relief to lift Sporting Kansas City to a 3-2 victory against visiting Columbus Crew on Sunday night.
Sporting, 7-8-4, moved back above the playoff line in the Western Conference in front of a crowd of 19,322, the 80th consecutive sellout at Children’s Mercy Park.