Substitute C.J. Sapong scored on a header in stoppage time in Sporting Kansas City's 1-0 victory over D.C. United in the season opener for both teams Saturday night.
Bill Hamid made seven saves to keep United in it, but had little chance to stop Sapong's header off Graham Zusi's corner kick that gave Sporting its third straight 1-0 victory over D.C.
Kansas City dominated most of the game, outshooting D.C. 17-7 overall and 8-1 in shots on target as it began the defense of its Eastern Conference regular-season title.
Sporting goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen needed to make just one save, a routine stop on Maicon Santos' long-range late effort.
But for all the possession, Sporting looked to be headed for a scoreless tie until Sapong entered for starter Teal Bunbury and drew the foul that would eventually lead to the goal.
Sapong bodied up United defender Brandon McDonald and cajoled him into bear-hugging the forward for a foul.
Zusi blasted the resulting free kick into United's defensive wall, with the ball deflecting out for a corner kick. Zusi then found Sapong at the 6-yard box from the corner for a mostly unchallenged header.
Kansas City has won four of its last five against D.C., its best run against United since it won five straight in 1996-97. It has also won two straight at RFK stadium after losing its previous three.
United is 1-2-1 in its last four home openers.
