Sporting KC thrashes Rapids at Children’s Mercy Park, setting up must-win match Saturday

Sporting KC took care of business, and then some, against the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday night, defeating the West’s third-best team 4-1 to keep its slim playoff chances alive.

Alan Pulido scored in the first and second halves, and Erik Thommy scored two goals of his own after coming into the game as a second-half substitute.

Michael Edwards added a consolation goal for the Rapids in the 75th minute.

With 8 wins, 7 draws and 15 losses, Sporting (31 points, four matches left) must pass three teams in the standings to get into playoff position. Minnesota (39 points, five matches left) occupies the final playoff spot.

Sporting came out of the gate looking to feast on the Rapids’ defense, which has given up the fourth-most goals in the Western Conference. In total, Sporting outshot the Rapids 31-6, the club’s highest shot total of the season.

Pulido was the first beneficiary of that aggressiveness. A cross into the box intended for Willy Agada was cleared by a Rapids defender straight to Pulido, who made no mistake with a low and hard finish to Zack Steffen’s left-hand side.

Pulido added another in the 49th minute in nearly the same scenario.

Erik Thommy replaced Pulido as a sub 10 minutes later. Shortly after coming on, he made it 3-0 with a composed curled finish into the bottom corner.

While Sporting surrendered yet another set-piece goal in the 75th minute, a cheeky back-heel goal by Michael Edwards, it wouldn’t matter. Thommy scored again seven minutes later on a counterattack to put the game to bed.

Sporting KC is back at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night against Minnesota United for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. A win would narrow the gap between the two in the standings to five points. A loss would eliminate Sporting from playoff contention.

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