Sporting Kansas City closed out the 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League group stage with a 3-1 home win over Central FC of Trinidad at Children’s Mercy Park. Cameron Porter, Nansel Selbol and Connor Hallisey orchestrated the comeback for the MLS side after finishing the first half down by a goal.
Sporting, already eliminated from the competition after falling to the Vancouver Whitecaps, came close to scoring early on through Hallisey and Nuno Coelho. Still, it was the visitors who struck first through Jem Gordon. In the 43rd minute, Sean De Silva found the forward, who was kept onside by Ike Opara inside the box and buried the ball into the net.
The home side came out firing on all cylinders in the second half and were justly rewarded in the 49th minute. Porter outpaced the Central FC defense after collecting a long pass from Tomas Granitto, leveling the score with a low shot. Selbol scored the game-winner in the 55th minute after creating some space and shooting from outside the box. Hallisey would put it out of reach after converting his first goal for Sporting KC from the penalty spot in injury time.
With the result, Sporting Kansas City will finish in second place in Group C. The Whitecaps, who maintained a perfect record through the group stage, will move on to the next round of the competition.
