A Major League Soccer two-week hiatus came in early June, and for Sporting Kansas City, it provided a much-needed break. The club had fallen to eighth place in the Western Conference standings only a day earlier, a product of its inability to win on its home field.
But over the ensuing six weeks after the league resumed play, Sporting KC welcomed five opponents to Children’s Mercy Park, rattling off a series of victories to fortify its case for the postseason.
The most significant upturn came Sunday.
Sporting KC won its fifth straight home game, defeating MLS defending-champion Portland 1-0 in front of 19,098 fans at Children’s Mercy Park.