Sporting K.C. edges Earthquakes, 3-2

Felipe Gutierrez's 68th-minute goal proved to be the winner as Sporting Kansas City held on for a 3-2 victory against the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan.

Gutierrez collected his third goal of the season, as he had a pair in Sporting K.C.'s 4-3 comeback victory against the Chicago Fire last weekend.

Ilie Sanchez and Graham Zusi each had one goal apiece for Sporting K.C. (2-1-0), which has earned back-to-back wins after being blanked 2-0 by New York City FC in its MLS season opener on March 4.

Valeri Qazaishvili and Chris Wondolowski had the goals for San Jose (1-1-0), which slipped following a 3-2 season-opening win on the road against Minnesota United.

Sporting K.C. goalkeeper Tim Melia had two saves while San Jose keeper Andrew Tarbell logged just one save.

Sanchez put SKC on the board in the 25th minute on a penalty kick, marking the first goal of his MLS career.

Just nine minutes later, the Earthquakes had the game knotted up at 1 after Qazaishvili's strike.

After the game headed into the break with the score tied, Zusi struck in the 56th minute off an assist from Roger Espinoza to put SKC back up 2-1.

Gutierrez's goal off assists from Daniel Salloi and Johnny Russell provided Sporting K.C. with some important insurance, as Wondolowski made things interesting with his goal in the first minute of stoppage time off an assist from Magnus Eriksson.

Sporting K.C. heads back out on the road for a match against the Colorado Rapids next Saturday. San Jose resumes its MLS schedule on March 31 at home against New York City FC.

--Field Level Media