Don’t look now, Sporting KC has a win streak going. How SKC made it three in a row

Don’t look now, but Sporting KC is on a winning streak.

Goals from Erik Thommy and Alan Pulido gave Sporting a lead in the second half at the last-place San Jose Earthquakes.

A late goal — a Sporting own-goal, no less — made things a little more tense, but Sporting hung on for its third straight win in all competitions.

Final score: Sporting KC 2, San Jose 1.

Sporting (6-13-5) has won four of its last five in all competitions and three of its last four in MLS play. With the win, Sporting leapfrogs St. Louis City SC in the standings, improving to 12th in the West.

After a scoreless first half, Sporting KC got the second half started with a bang.

Thommy picked up a pass from Nemanja Radoja at the top of the penalty area, faked a shot, cut onto his left foot and ripped a shot past Earthquakes keeper William Yarbrough for a 1-0 lead in the 48th minute.

The goal broke Thommy’s streak of 14 games in all competitions without a goal. And he wasn’t the only one to bust a slump.

Pulido was next, scoring after a perfect pass put him in behind the Earthquakes’ back line. Radoja delivered the assist to give Sporting a 2-0 lead in the 57th minute. Pulido’s goal busted a 12-game streak in all competitions without a goal.

Things got nervy with a late own-goal off the foot of Khiry Shelton.

A misplayed back-pass from Johnny Russell set the Earthquakes on the counterattack. A shot from the Earthquakes was redirected into the net off the heel of Shelton.

But Sporting held on for the win.

Up next: Sporting travels to face the white-hot Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday night at 9:30 p.m. The team returns home next weekend for a rivalry matchup with St. Louis.

Daniel Sperry covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at sperry.danielkc@gmail.com.