Sporting Kansas City’s win over Dallas on Sunday was overshadowed by a commotion that broke out when Paul Arriola threw the ball in an opponent’s face.
Players from both Major League Soccer teams were involved in a shoving match in injury time, with Sporting KC attempting to hold on to a 3-2 lead.
The problems started in the 94th minute, when Dallas received a throw-in deep in their own half.
As Arriola tried to restart the game – his team needed a goal – Zorhan Bassong did his best to deter him. The defender started jumping in front of Arriola and blocked him so that he could not take the throw-in.
Eventually, Arriola threw the ball in Bassong’s face, infuriating the Sporting KC star who retaliated by hitting Arriola hard on the ground with his chest.
Paul Arriola (7) is seen throwing a ball at Zorhan Bassong’s face, prompting retaliation
Bassong at the center of more pushing and shoving as tempers flare in Kansas City
That caused players from both teams to rush, with Bassong taking centre stage and pressing and criticising even more.
The Canadian was eventually led away by his teammates, but the referee still gave him a red card, while Arriola got away with just a yellow card.
Willy Agada scored twice in the first half before Memo Rodriguez scored the winning goal in the closing stages, giving Sporting Kansas City the chance to survive an own goal from goalkeeper Tim Melia to beat Dallas 3-2.
Agada put Sporting KC (5-13-5) ahead in the 11th minute when he converted Rodríguez’s sixth assist of the season – from a corner – to score with a header from the centre of the penalty area.
In the 23rd minute, Agada scored again, after passes from debutant Alenis Vargas and defender Tim Leibold, scoring his seventh goal of the season.
Willy Agada (23) scored twice to help Sporting KC to a victory over FC Dallas
Dallas reduced the score to 2-1 before halftime after the ball rebounded off Melia’s foot during a scrimmage in the penalty area.
Dallas leveled the score in the 65th minute when Petar Musa scored his 11th goal of the season.
But Rodriguez made it the points for Kansas City in the 82nd minute.