Music: {allcanada} SPORTING KC USES TWO PENALTIES TO DOWN SLUMPING IMPACT

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

{allcanada} SPORTING KC USES TWO PENALTIES TO DOWN SLUMPING IMPACT

MONTREAL -- Kai Kamara and Graham Zusi scored on penalty kicks in the second half Wednesday night, lifting Sporting Kansas City to a 3-1 victory over the Montreal Impact.

Fans booed through much of the second half after referee Sorin Stoica called Montreal's Patrice Bernier for an accidental hand ball in the area for one penalty and then awarded another after what looked like incidental contact by captain Davy Arnaud.

"I haven't seen something like that in 11 years in the league," Arnaud said. "If we're going to start giving penalty kicks in the box for guys battling and fighting, there's going to be eight penalty kicks a game.

"Let's see consistency and call every single one. Every corner, every set piece, guys battle. That's the way the game's played. Guys don't mind it because that's the way it is."

After Kamara and Zusi converted from the spot to erase a 1-0 deficit, substitute Jacob Peterson put the match away for Kansas City (10-5-2) with a goal from the right side in the 82nd minute as Sporting ended a two-game skid.

Bernier scored in the 49th minute for Montreal (5-11-3), which lost its third straight.

The Impact got into a running spat with Stoica that led to penalties and cautions. Midfielder Felipe Martins and Arnaud each drew their fifth yellow cards of the season and will be suspended for Sunday's home game against Columbus.

Bernier was called for a hand ball in the area in the 57th minute when a headed ball bounced off his arm. Kamara made no mistake on the penalty kick.

Montreal was called for another foul in the area during a Kansas City corner and Zusi drilled his kick in the left side for the game-winner in the 75th minute.

Kansas City coach Peter Vermes said his team made adjustments after a rough first half and outplayed Montreal in the second. And he saw nothing wrong with the calls.

"I'm 100 per cent sure the penalties were justifiable and we should have had one in the first half because the same thing was happening," Vermes said. "Two of their guys were grabbing Kamara and C.J. Sapong every time they were in the box.

"I'm glad the ref had the (courage) to make the call. I saw them live. It's a hand ball. It's unfortunate, but that happens to everyone. On the other, there was no play on the ball and he tackled the man. You can't do that. Go win the ball."

Former Italian international defender Alessandro Nesta, who has agreed to terms on a contract with Montreal, watched from a box with the Impact's management team. Montreal is waiting for league approval of the deal for the 36-year-old former AC Milan star.