The Seattle Sounders recaptured first place in the Western Conference with a 2-1 victory against Sporting Kansas City on Sunday at Children's Mercy Park, courtesy of two goals from Cristian Roldan and Will Bruin. After Roldan's opening goal and Bruin's 55th-minute goal put the Sounders up 2-0, Sporting's Johnny Russell scored in the second half to give the visitors a tense final half-hour. Seattle, on the other hand, held on to all three points and jumped ahead of their Western Conference rivals for the top place on the table with 48 points from 25 games.

Neither team created many chances in the first half-hour before Roldan broke the deadlock for the visitors 31 minutes in. Brad Smith sent a cross into the box, which Roldan redirected on goal. Sporting KC’s Tim Melia, got a touch on the shot but couldn't stop the deflection from going into the net.

Sporting KC appeared energized to open the second half, but the Sounders increased their advantage in the 55th minute on a strange sequence, probably against the flow of play. The Peruvian eluded two SKC players in the area and attempted an audacious chip over Melia before the ball was popped into the air and intercepted by a waiting Bruin, who scored at the far post with a header.

The hosts fought back, with Russell reducing the deficit in half just after the hour mark. The Scottish attacker broke clear at the back post and completed a well-executed set piece with a shot that bounced off Frei and into the net from a difficult angle.

Seattle couldn't have selected a better way to bounce back in MLS action after a devastating Leagues Cup Final loss on Wednesday than an away win over a fellow Western Conference contender. All of this sets up what could be an exciting stretch run in the West as these two clubs battle for the top place, with the Colorado Rapids and Portland Timbers also vying for a berth.

[Photography by ICONIC photographer Trevor Hellman]