The Western Conference match lived up to the billing. Played at a frenetic pace from start to finish, challenges flowed and tempers flared as the second-place and third-place teams in the West battled it out.
Colorado opened the scoring through Jonathan Lewis in the 17th minute. Again in a more central role, the 24-year-old attacker received a layoff from Andre Shinyashiki and blasted a low shot towards goal. Sporting defender Graham Zusi did well to get down and block the initial shot, but the rebound fell directly to Lewis, who saw the goal gaping and made no mistake with the finish.
After the goal, SKC quickly grew into the game. Daniel Salloi forced William Yarbrough into a decent save, while Johnny Russell rang the bar with a header. The dam eventually broke in the 41st minute, though. Gadi Kinda drew a foul just outside Colorado’s penalty area, and Russell curled the resulting set-piece into the top corner past a helpless Yarbrough.
The second half saw its fair share of chances. Mark-Anthony Kaye nearly found the go ahead goal, rattling the post in the 68th minute before Shinyashiki flashed the rebound just wide.
Russell came inches away from a winner in the 89th minute.
Alan Pulido sent in a cross to the back post for the waiting captain, who laid out to get a toe on the ball, but couldn’t get clean contact. His scuffed effort bounced toward goal, but was cleared off the line by Yarbrough.
