BY SAM MCDOWELL
As Tim Melia jogged onto the Sporting Park field Saturday evening, more than 30 minutes before his club kicked off its match against the Western Conference leaders, the crowd on the southern end of the stadium slowly rose to its feet and offered a brief standing ovation.
Only five weeks ago, Melia was buried on the Sporting Kansas City bench as a six-year MLS veteran without a victory to his name.
But on Saturday, he added yet another chapter to his coming-out party.
Melia posted his fourth shutout in six starts, lifting Sporting KC to a 1-0 victory against Seattle in front of 21,505 fans at Sporting Park — the largest crowd in the venue’s history.
“Tonight’s was Tim’s night to step up,” Sporting KC captain Matt Besler said. “And he did.”
Melia made a career-high six saves and remained unbeaten over his six starts as he helped extend the club’s unbeaten streak to a season-best seven matches.
Benny Feilhaber turned him into a winner Saturday when Feilhaber buried a penalty kick in the 84th minute after Seattle keeper Stefan Frei was whistled for a foul in a collision with Dom Dwyer.
Frei immediately protested the call, as did Seattle coach Sigi Schmid after the match. Schmid was also upset with an offsides call that negated a potential goal from Lamar Neagle in the 66th minute.
“We scored a goal that was perfectly onside and got taken away,” Schmid said. “And that’s never a penalty. I’m sorry, but when the goalkeeper comes out to punch the ball, it’s never a penalty.”
Asked if he felt the penalty kick was the correct call, Dwyer deadpanned, “I don’t remember. He punched me too hard.”
The call negated Frei’s attempt to match Melia’s shutout.
Melia had to work for the shutout.
Neagle formulated three first-half chances on target — the last of which was a missile from the right side — but Melia was up for the challenge each time. He made four saves in the opening half, then made two more in the second half in helping Sporting earn its first win against Seattle in the past 10 meetings.
“I would say it wasn’t our cleanest game, but at the end of the day, 1-0, we’ll take it and move on,” Melia said. “We obviously have a lot of injuries right now, and we’ve had a bunch of games in a short period of time.” So the fact we’re getting results in the fashion we are is a good (sign) moving forward.”
Indeed, Sporting KC played Saturday without its leading scorer, Krisztian Nemeth, who joined the Hungary national earlier this week for a pair of international friendlies. Dwyer returned from a three-game absence in a second-half reserve role.
The club also remained without Seth Sinovic (defender), Paulo Nagamura (back) and Bernardo Anor (hamstring).
But the Sounders didn’tt have their full complement of options, either. Five regulars — Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins, Brad Evans, Osvaldo Alonso and Chad Barrett — did not travel with the team.
Despite the loss, Seattle remained atop the Western Conference standings with 26 points. Sporting KC trails by two points.
“We’re getting so many guys experience, (which) is valuable in a tough MLS season,” Feilhaber said. “A lot of guys have contributed in these last six or seven games. It’s a credit to everybody.”
Sporting Kansas City 1
Sounders 0
Seattle
0
0
—
0
Kansas City
0
1
—
1
SEATTLE: Stefan Frei, Tyrone Mears, Chad Marshall, Zach Scott, Dylan Remick, Cristian Roldan (Leo Gonzalez, 77th), Lamar Neagle, Andy Rose, Micheal Azira (Darwin Jones, 86th), Gonzalo Pineda, Marco Pappa (Thomas, 80th).
KANSAS CITY: Tim Melia, Marcel De Jong (Dom Dwyer, 58th), Kevin Ellis, Jalil Anibaba, Matt Besler, Amadou Dia, Connor Hallisey (Saad Abdul-Salaam, 85th), Soni Mustivar, Roger Espinoza, Benny Feilhaber, Graham Zusi.
GOAL SCORING
Seattle: None. Kansas City: 1, Feilhaber 5 (penalty kick), 84th minute.
SEA
KC
Shots
6
16
Shots on goal
6
4
Saves
3
6
Corner kicks
5
3
Fouls
9
7
Offsides
3
1
CAUTIONS
Seattle: Frei (dissent), 82nd.
Kansas City: None.
RED CARDS
Seattle: None.
Kansas City: None.
OFFICIALS
Referee: Ismail Elfath.
Assistant referee: Corey Parker.
Assistant referee: Chris Strickland.
4th official: Fotis Bazakos.
Announced attendance: 21,505.
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mls/sporting-kc/article23317059.html#storylink=cpy