Sporting Kansas City advances to Eastern Conference finals

The stage was set Wednesday night at Livestrong Sporting Park for Sporting Kansas City’s dramatic advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2007. The rain was driving, the air was frigid, the soaked fans were huddled together and screaming, and the Colorado Rapids were determined to avoid being bounced out of the playoffs. Everything was ready for Sporting to put on another gut-wrenching thriller that mirrored the club’s season.

But the stadium’s defibrillators took the night off. A composed Sporting team collected a 2-0 win, vanquishing last season’s MLS Cup champions.