Sporting KC takes early lead ... but Jordan Morris erupts in lopsided Seattle win

Despite an early lead, Sporting KC could not overcome several self-inflicted wounds on Saturday.

Jordan Morris scored four goals for the Seattle Sounders in Sporting’s 4-1 defeat. Two came after Ben Sweat received his second yellow card in a 10-minute span, which resulted in Kansas City playing down a man.

Frustrated with the result, Peter Vermes sounded off in the postmatch press conference.

“I’m more pissed off than anything else,” Vermes said. “(We made) very naive mistakes.”

Morris might have scored four goals, but all seemed preventable in one way or another. Vermes lamented the back line’s play and hinted at changes coming as Dany Rosero arrives from Colombia and other players begin to get healthy.

“I’m very interested in getting all the other guys back because some people need to see the game from a different place,” Vermes said.

Sporting Kansas City, now winless on the season through five games, took the lead inside the first five minutes. Willy Agada cleaned up the rebound from Daniel Salloi’s initial shot, putting it into the roof of the net. But Sporting KC never really threatened after that.

The Sounders’ first goal came out of nowhere when Leo Chu placed a perfectly weighted cross into the path of Jordan Morris, who slotted his shot past KC goalkeeper John Pulskamp.

Morris gave the Sounders the lead in the 54th minute, and they never looked back. After a set piece created by a Sweat foul in the corner, Morris found space behind the Sporting KC back line and was wide open to receive a through-ball. He was kept onside by Sweat, who was a good couple of steps behind the rest of his line.

Minutes later, Sweat received his second yellow card for running through a Sounders player at midfield while trying to get to a loose ball. Vermes thought Sweat’s first challenge even could’ve warranted a red card.

It was clear that the 10-minute stretch from Sweat — yellow card, holding Morris onside by quite some distance and then a careless second yellow — was a sticking point for Vermes.

“When you have experience you have to use it,” Vermes said. “Experience means nothing if you don’t use it.”

After Sweat hit the showers, Morris scored two more, both on crosses to the back post.

Up next, Sporting KC heads on the road next Saturday, traveling to take on the Philadelphia Union. Vermes stated he was looking for a response from the team.

“I’m more interested in seeing what the reaction is,” Vermes said. “It’s not a time where the coach has to wind you up. You should have that already inside of you.”

Captain Johnny Russell agreed with Vermes’ assessment. When asked what the team could say to the fans right now, Russell offered a thoughtful response.

“We want to get this club back to where we feel it should be: top side of the table, challenging for things, winning silverware,” Russell said. “That’s what this club is used to.

“It doesn’t feel great to be part of a side right now that’s not living up to those expectations. They demand that of us, you know? It’s their club. They turn up week in, week out to get behind us. So it’s time we start repaying that and show them something.”