Sporting Kansas City defeated the Seattle Sounders 2-1 at Lumen Field on Saturday afternoon, giving the New England Revolution the 2021 MLS Supporters' Shield. Johnny Russell's late second-half strike gave Sporting Kansas City the victory. Russell's 79th-minute goal came against the run of play following a Roger Espinoza pass, with Russell sending his effort first-time across goal and beyond Stefan Frei.

Russell scored for the fifth consecutive game, and Sporting is now undefeated in 16 when scoring two goals in a game this season. The game was tense, with both teams receiving eight yellow cards and a total of 35 fouls called. Sporting got out to a fast start, scoring within the first five minutes after the Sounders got off to a lethargic start. SKC midfielder Remi Walter blasted home a curling attempt after a flurry of bustle in the area and two botched clearances by the Sounders in the fourth minute.

After a high-pressing sequence by the Sounders, with the hosts surging into the Sporting box, Nicolas Benezet equalized in the 58th minute. However, controversy erupted only two minutes earlier when Sporting goalkeeper Tim Melia seemed to take up Cristian Roldan and fling him to the ground in the box. To the dismay of both players and supporters, Melia was only given a yellow card for the incident.

The energy between the teams increased, with lots of end-to-end action, but the hosts' lack of precision finishing proved to be their undoing. Russell scored the game-winner in the 79th minute, surprising the home fans. Sporting drew closer to Seattle, closing the gap to three points with a game in hand, meaning there's still a lot to play for with only four matchdays left. It's a difficult home setback for the Sounders, but a poor start hurt them.

[Photography by ICONIC photographer Alejandro Sanchez]