And The Beat Goes On...

This is how good teams play at home. You score first to take the opposing team out of their rhythm and make sure you keep it tight at the back. It seemed to me that this team was fighting. Fighting for every ball and fighting for their teammates, especially after Roger Espinoza's red card in the 56th minute.

Before the game started, I said (and I have people who can verify this) that Teal would score tonight. In the 34th minute, he did. RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando stoned Kei Kamara (who I also said would score) from close range. Rimando could not control the rebound and it found its way to Teal's feet. Teal put the ball in the back of the net by way of Rimando's head. Teal's goal was also the first this year that RSL has allowed in the 15 minutes on either side of halftime.

The one person who I wouldn't have called scoring a goal (besides Jimmy Nielsen) was Roger. It's not that I don't think he's capable of it. It's just that tonight's goal was his first in a league game since 2008.

Sporting KC's unbeaten streak has now reached 14. That streak (6-0-8) ranks 1st in franchise history and 3rd in MLS history. The record is 19, set last year by FC Dallas.

Here are tonight's photos...

Jimmy Nielsen bending over to talk to the young boy who walked out with him...


The Sporting KC bench's reaction to Roger Espinoza's goal...


Jimmy celebrating Teal's goal...


Referee Hilario Grajeda shows RSL's Nat Borchers a yellow card in the 46th minute...


Manager Peter Vermes during the post-match press conference...


That's all for now... See you soon...