SEATTLE -- In his opinion, Patrick Ianni never scored a better goal. It still wasnt enough for the Seattle Sounders to snap a winless streak that now stands at six matches. Jacob Peterson scored on a deflected shot in the eighth minute for Sporting Kansas City, and Iannis electrifying volley goal just a few minutes later was enough for the Sounders to earn a draw 1-1 on Wednesday night. Kansas City is now unbeaten in its last four matches -- two wins and two draws -- and continued to inch toward the top of Major League Soccers Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Sounders are slumping, and with a rivalry game at Portland coming up Sunday. Despite the draw, Seattle coach Sigi Schmid was pleased with the improved effort over last Saturdays 4-1 loss at Montreal. Seattle nearly pulled out the victory in the 88th minute when Fredy Monteros shot beat goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen, but deflected off both posts and stayed out of the net. "I thought it was a major jump forward from the way we played in Montreal," Schmid said. "I thought our effort and our desire was very good and unfortunately it didnt bear the ultimate fruit for us in terms of winning the game." Much of the focus from Seattles perspective never left the bench area, where Steve Zakuani sat as a potential substitute for the first time since suffering a broken lower right leg in a game at Colorado in April 2011. Zakuani warmed up at halftime with the rest of Seattles possible subs, but remained on the bench with coach Sigi Schmid choosing to use his subs on Andy Rose, Alvaro Fernandez and Sammy Ochoa. Schmid said the physicality of the game caused him to hesitate about using Zakuani, a decision Zakuani agreed with. "The referee wasnt really protecting players and I didnt think that was a good environment to throw him into in the first game," Schmid said. The physical game took an ugly turn during second-half stoppage time when Seattles Alvaro Fernandez was given a red card for his retaliatory tackle on Roger Espinoza. There was pushing and shoving, and plenty of complaints for referee Jair Marrufo, but only a few cards shown. "Players should never try and control what the referee is doing or not doing," Fernandez said through an interpreter. "I made a mistake and it wont happen again." Petersons goal came when his shot from the edge of the penalty area deflected off Seattle midfielder Osvaldo Alonso and past goalkeeper Andrew Weber. It was the kind of start Kansas City was hoping to get having lost its previous five games to the Sounders. It also continued Kansas Citys impressive rebound from a three-game losing streak earlier this season. "We talked about silencing the crowd. Its a tough place to come play, tough place to come get a point. However long theyve been in the league, I dont think Ive gotten a point here," said Peterson, who scored his first goal of the season. "They were on a bit of a slide, if we could get on them early, hopefully take them out of it. They scored pretty quickly after that, but getting a point was what we wanted." The Sounders got even just seven minutes later when Iannis volley off a free kick from Mauro Rosales blew past Nielsen for his first goal of the year. Alex Caskey twice had chances in each half to give Seattle the lead. His left-footed shot on a breakaway in the second half beat Nielsen, but went wide of the post. "Best goal in practice, games, since I was born," Ianni said. Kansas City nearly took the lead in the 71st minute when defender Chance Myers, pushing forward on a corner kick, saw his header stopped at the goal line by Weber. It was an impressive stop by Weber, making his first start for Seattle after Bryan Meredith allowed four goals to Montreal in a 4-1 defeat last weekend. Both Weber and Meredith are filling in while starter Michael Gspurning recovers from a hip injury. Kansas City played without regular starters Bobby Convey and Matt Besler, both out with injuries. "To come up here and get a result like we did I think was big time, especially since we have five games in 14 days, so it was imperative for us," Kansas City coach Peter Vermes said. wholesale jerseys . Theyre hoping he will be all right. But the usually jovial attitude inside the Colts locker room turned serious whenever the topic turned to Collie and his history of head injuries. nfl holdjersey . Today, they try to take a commanding lead to Oakland when they play Game 2 against the Athletics at Comerica Park. Verlander struck out 11 batters over seven splendid innings and Alex Avila went 2-for-3 with a solo home run to power Detroit to a 3-1 victory on Saturday. http://www.holdjersey.com/ . Brand was available after the Philadelphia 76ers this week used the one-time amnesty provision in the new CBA to let him go and not have the $18.1 million he is owed in the final season of his five-year deal count against their salary cap or luxury tax. cheap jerseys . The Winnipeg Jets forward has signed an agreement with Dinamo Minsk during the NHL lockout and will depart for Belarus on Saturday, according to agent Craig Oster of Newport Sports. holdjersey . 1 Lleyton Hewitt knocked out Juan Monaco of Argentina 6-3, 6-4 in the opening round of the Valencia Open on Monday, ending a 10-match losing run against top-10 opponents.OAKLAND, Calif. -- Dodgers slugger Matt Kemp still is optimistic about playing in the All-Star game next month in Kansas City -- as long as hes sure he will be healthy for the stretch run with NL West-leading Los Angeles. Whether manager Don Mattingly and the medical staff give him the go-ahead is another question altogether. Kemp said he and Mattingly have discussed the All-Star game and will do so again. "Of course I want to play but Ive got to do whats best for the team," Kemp said Thursday, before going through an extensive rehab workout of running on the field. "If Im not ready, I cant play, but as of right now I plan on playing. Weve discussed some stuff. When that point comes, well get to it and figure out what were going to do." Kemp has been on the disabled list for a second time this season since May 31 with the same strained left hamstring that first sidelined him from May 14-29. Kemp, the runner-up for last years NL MVP and the National Leagues All-Star votes leader with 3,322,009 in baseballs latest count this week, insists he wont play iin the Midsummer Classic if there is any question he wont be healthy for the long haul.dddddddddddd He is flattered by the fans support. "It means a lot, it shows that the fans really appreciate the way I play the game, and I thank them for that," Kemp said. "Thats pretty tight right there, so Im going to definitely try to do whatever it takes to play in the game." The Dodgers havent put a timetable on Kemps return, though Mattingly has said just after the All-Star break is the goal. Kemp, who half-joked during spring training that he would become the first player to ever hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases, is batting .355 with 12 homers and 28 RBIs in 36 games and has two stolen bases. "The most important thing is being ready for the second half," Kemp said before the finale of a series against the Oakland Athletics. "I would love to play in the All-Star game. I want to play in the All-Star game, but Ive got to be ready. I feel great. I cant really say when its going to be, Ive just got to be comfortable and be ready." ' ' '