A day before Sporting Kansas City embarked on its CONCACAF Champions League schedule in Trinidad and Tobago, coach Peter Vermes hinted that a reserve-heavy lineup represented an important opportunity for a handful of players.
Defender Kevin Ellis seized his in unexpected fashion.
Ellis returned to his goal-scoring roots from Oak Park High School, providing a second-half strike that gave Sporting KC a 2-2 draw Tuesday against Central FC at Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, Trinidad and Tobago.
After a scoreless first half, the two teams combined for four goals in a 20-minute span, the last one an equalizer from Ellis in the 70th minute to ensure Sporting captured a point on the road in its CCL opener.