Johnny Russell’s sensational hat-trick lifted Sporting Kansas City to a 3-2 win over Seattle Sounders FC in an absorbing five-goal thriller on Sunday night at Children’s Mercy Park.
The Scottish forward became the second player in club history to record multiple regular-season hat-tricks in a Kansas City uniform, striking twice in the first half and slotting home the 68th-minute winner as Sporting (3-4-5, 14 points) secured their first victory since March 30 and snapped second-place Seattle’s six-game unbeaten streak in a Western Conference clash that entertained from beginning to end before a nationally televised audience on FS1.
Manager Peter Vermes’ side entered Sunday winless in seven straight league matches, but a spirited performance against the in-form Sounders (7-2-5, 26 points) yielded an invaluable triumph for the hosts, who climb within four points of the seventh and final playoff spot with multiple games in hand on several of their conference rivals.