Alan Pulido scored a goal in each half as Sporting Kansas City continued their surge up the Western Conference table with an impressive 4-1 victory over visiting Austin FC on Saturday night.

Sporting is above the red line for the first time this season.

Sporting (5-8-5, 20 points) was winless in its first 10 matches (0-7-3) with a total of three goals scored. The Wizards have now scored 17 goals in their last eight matches.

Austin FC (5-8-4, 19 points) dropped below the red line into 11th place with the loss, their fourth in the last five matches.

Sporting extended its halftime advantage in the 47th minute on a goal by Robert Castellanos. Erik Thommy sent a long pass into the box on a set piece. It was just beyond Pulido, but he got enough on the ball to send it to Castellanos on the left side. Castellanos then rocketed it past Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver.

Pulido’s second goal came in the 57th minute. Robert Voloder found Tim Leibold racing up the left sideline. Leibold then served it into the center of the box, where Pulido controlled it just beyond the reach of Stuver.

Austin drew one back in the 61st minute. Following a corner kick, Sebastian Driussi collected a deflection in the box and squeezed it past SKC keeper Kendall McIntosh.

But Khiry Shelton’s first goal of the season, in the 89th minute, iced the game. Shelton stole the ball at midfield and fed Thommy to his left. Thommy’s shot was stopped by Stuver, but Shelton collected the rebound and sent it into an empty net.

Pulido got Sporting on the board in the 19th minute from close range.

Following a corner kick and a loose-ball scramble in front of the Austin net, Leibold lobbed one toward the goal. Marinos Tzionis attempted a header that was deflected to the feet of Pulido, who rammed it home past Stuver.

The first half showed little offensive thrust, with the two sides combining for just 11 shots. Austin controlled possession at almost a 2-to-1 ratio, but the Verde and Black never threatened McIntosh.

–Field Level Media