WWW.SPORTINGKC.COM/MEDIA-GUIDE CURRENT SPORTING KC INTERNATIONAL LEADERS
SPORTING KANSAS CITY at DEPORTIVO TOLUCA FC
Player POS GP GS MIN Seth Sinovic D 12 11 1027 Gerso Fernandes F 1 1 87 Ilie Sanchez M 1 1 90 Krisztian Nemeth F 1 1 82 Graham Zusi D 9 9 780 Matt Besler D 11 11 975 Roger Espinoza M 4 3 310 Tim Melia GK 2 2 180 Jimmy Medranda D 2 1 96 Andreu Fontas D 1 1 90 Felipe Gutierrez M 1 1 90 Johnny Russell F 1 1 90 Kelyn Rowe M 1 0 12 Erik Hurtado F 1 0 8 Daniel Salloi F 1 0 3 Botond Barath D 0 0 0 Gianluca Busio M 0 0 0 Yohan Croizet M 0 0 0 Eric Dick GK 0 0 0 Tyler Freeman F 0 0 0 Jaylin Lindsey D 0 0 0 Abdul Rwatubyaye D 0 0 0 Graham Smith D 0 0 0 Rodney Wallace D 0 0 0 Wan Kuzain M 0 0 0 Adrian Zendejas GK 0 0 0
Thursday, February 28, 2019 Kickoff: 9:00 p.m. CT Estadio Nemesio Diez (Toluca, Mexico) Champions League Round of 16 Leg 2 Sporting Kansas City (2018) 18-8-8, 62 points (10-2-5 home; 8-6-3 away) 1st place in MLS Western Conference Deportivo Toluca FC (2019) 2-5-1, 7 points (1-1-1 home; 1-4-0 away) 15th place in Liga MX Clausura
Live Stream: Yahoo Sports Spanish TV: Univision Deportes English Radio: Sports Radio 810 WHB Spanish Radio: ESPN Deportes 1480 AM Referee: Assistant ref: Assistant ref: 4th official:
Mario Escobar Gerson Lopez Humberto Panjoj Bryan Lopez
SPORTING KANSAS CITY ROSTER
No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 26 29 75 94
Pos. GK DEF DEF DEF DEF MID FWD DEF FWD MID MID FWD MID DEF DEF MID GK FWD FWD MID DEF FWD DEF GK MID MID
Name Adrian Zendejas Botond Barath Abdul Rwatubyaye Andreu Fontas Matt Besler Ilie Sanchez Johnny Russell Graham Zusi Krisztian Nemeth Yohan Croizet Kelyn Rowe Gerso Fernandes Gianluca Busio Seth Sinovic Graham Smith Roger Espinoza Eric Dick Erik Hurtado Daniel Salloi Felipe Gutierrez Rodney Wallace Tyler Freeman Jaylin Lindsey Tim Melia Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal Jimmy Medranda
Pronunciation zen-DAY-haas BOH-tond BORE-ath GWAH-too-BYAH-yay ahn-DRAY-oo BEEZ-ler ILL-ee-eh
gram ZOO-see KRIS-tee-ON NEY-muth CRAH-zay KELL-in JER-soh jahn-LUKA BOO-see-oh sin-OH-vick
Goalkeeper Stats Player Tim Melia Eric Dick Adrian Zendejas
her-TAH-doh shallow-EE feh-LEE-pay MEE-lia wahn koo-ZANE wahn kuh-MAHL muh-DRAHN-dah
GS 2 0 0
MIN 180 0 0
GA 2 0 0
GAA SO REC 1.00 1 1-1-0 0.00 0 0-0-0 0.00 0 0-0-0
Player GP Competition Participation Felipe Gutierrez 23 Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana, UEFA Europa League Concacaf Champions League Seth Sinovic 16 Superliga, Concacaf Champions League Andreu Fontas 12 UEFA Champions League, Europa League, FIFA Club World Cup Concacaf Champions League Rodney Wallace 12 Concacaf Champions League, Copa Sudamericana Matt Besler 11 SuperLiga, Concacaf Champions League Abdul Rwatubyaye 10 CAF Champions League, CAF Confederation Cup Graham Zusi 9 Concacaf Champions League Gerso Fernandes 7 UEFA Europa League, Concacaf Champions League Botond Barath 6 UEFA Europa League Erik Hurtado 6 Concacaf Champions League Roger Espinoza 5 UEFA Europa League, Concacaf Champions League Johnny Russell 5 UEFA Europa League, Concacaf Champions League Krisztian Nemeth 3 UEFA Europa League, Concacaf Champions League Jimmy Medranda 2 Concacaf Champions League Tim Melia 2 Concacaf Champions League Kelyn Rowe 1 Concacaf Champions League Ilie Sanchez 1 Concacaf Champions League Daniel Salloi 1 Concacaf Champions League
GP 14 12 12 12 12 11 11 11 10 GS 13 12 11 11 11 10 GP 8 10 3 2 4
GP 2 0 0
CAREER INTERNATIONAL HISTORY
ALL-TIME SPORTING KC INTERNATIONAL LEADERS GOALS GAMES PLAYED Player GP G Player 1. Chris Brown 11 4 1. Kerry Zavagnin 2. Roy Lassiter 8 3 2. Nick Garcia 2. Antonio Dovale 4 3 2. Francisco Gomez 4. Claudio Bieler 7 2 2. Matt McKeon 4. Dom Dwyer 9 2 2. Seth Sinovic* 4. Kevin Ellis 6 2 6. Matt Besler* 4. Onandi Lowe 3 2 6. Chris Brown 4. Soony Saad 4 2 6. Mike Burns 9. Jose Burciaga 5 1 8. Tony Meola 9. Mike Burns 11 1 9. Dario Gabbro 2 1 GAMES STARTED 9. Benny Feilhaber 9 1 Player 9. Gerso Fernandes* 1 1 1. Kerry Zavagnin 9. Gary Glasgow 9 1 2. Nick Garcia 9. Francisco Gomez 12 1 3. Matt Besler* 9. Connor Hallisey 4 1 5. Mike Burns 9. Matt McKeon 12 1 3. Seth Sinovic* 9. Krisztian Nemeth* 1 1 5. Tony Meola 9. Ike Opara 7 1 9. Jacob Peterson 6 1 SHUTOUTS 9. Ilie Sanchez* 1 1` Player 9. Cameron Porter 4 1 1. Eric Kronberg 9. Preki 5 1 2. Tony Meola 9..Nansel Selbol 1 1 3. Kevin Hartman 9. Seth Sinovic* 11 1 3. Tim Melia* 9. Carey Talley 4 1 3. Bo Oshoniyi 9. Sal Zizzo 3 1
POS GK GK GK
G A 1 2 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SO 5 3 1 1 1
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Sporting KC Game Notes | February 28, 2019 at Deportivo Toluca | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes ALL-TIME INTERNATIONAL RESULTS
ALL-TIME CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WINNERS
Sporting KC International Record: 11-12-9 Home games: 7-4-5 (23 GF, 13 GA) Road games: 4-8-3 (19 GF, 32 GA) Date Score 2001 Copa Merconorte 08/01/2001 KC 1 vs Sporting Cristal 2 08/08/2001 KC 2 at Santos Laguna 4 08/29/2001 KC 3 at Barcelona SC 2 09/12/2001 KC 1 at Sporting Cristal 2 10/17/2001 KC 1 vs Barcelona SC 1 11/21/2001 KC 0 vs Santos Laguna 1
Result Location L L W L T L
Arrowhead Stadium Estadio Corona Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha San Martin de Porres Arrowhead Stadium Arrowhead Stadium
2002 Champions Cup 03/03/2002 KC 1 at W Connection 0 03/16/2002 KC 2 vs W Connection 0 04/10/2002 KC 1 at Santos Laguna 2 04/24/2002 KC 2 vs Santos Laguna 0 08/07/2002 KC 1 at Monarcas Morelia 6 08/28/2002 KC 1 vs Monarcas Morelia 1
W W L W L T
Manny Ramjohn Stadium Arrowhead Stadium Estadio Corona Arrowhead Stadium Estadio Morelos Arrowhead Stadium
2005 Champions Cup 03/09/2005 KC 0 vs Saprissa 0 03/17/2005 KC 1 at Saprissa 2
T L
Arrowhead Stadium Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Ayma
2009 SuperLiga 06/21/2009 KC 0 vs FC Atlas 0 06/24/2009 KC 1 at New England 0 06/28/2009 KC 1 vs Santos Laguna 3
T T L
Robert R. Hermann Stadium Gillette Stadium CommunityAmerica Ballpark
2013-14 Champions League 08/07/2013 KC 3 at Real Esteli 0 08/27/2013 KC 2 at CD Olimpia 0 09/17/2013 KC 1 vs Real Esteli 1 10/23/2013 KC 0 vs CD Olimpia 0 03/12/2014 KC 1 vs Cruz Azul 0 03/19/2014 KC 1 at Cruz Azul 5
W W T T W L
Estadio Independencia Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Children’s Mercy Park Children’s Mercy Park Children’s Mercy Park Estadio Azul
2014-15 Champions League 08/19/2014 KC 1 at Real Esteli 1 09/18/2014 KC 3 vs Saprissa 1 09/23/2014 KC 3 vs Real Esteli 0 10/23/2014 KC 0 at Saprissa 2
T W W L
Estadio Independencia Children’s Mercy Park Children’s Mercy Park Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Ayma
2016-17 Champions League 08/16/2016 KC 2 at Central FC 2 08/23/2016 KC 0 at Vancouver 3 09/13/2016 KC 1 vs Vancouver 2 10/19/2016 KC 3 vs Central FC 1
T L L W
Ato Boldon Stadium BC Place Children’s Mercy Park Children’s Mercy Park
2019 Champions League 02/21/2019 KC 3 vs Toluca 0
W
Children’s Mercy Park
Champion
Runner-Up
2008-09
Atlante (MEX)
Cruz Azul (MEX)
2009-10
Pachuca (MEX)
Cruz Azul (MEX)
2-2
2010-11
Monterrey (MEX)
Real Salt Lake (USA)
3-2
2011-12
Monterrey (MEX)
Santos Laguna (MEX)
3-2
2012-13
Monterrey (MEX)
Santos Laguna (MEX)
4-2
2013-14
Cruz Azul (MEX)
Toluca (MEX)
1-1
2014-15
Club America (MEX)
Montreal Impact (CAN)
5-3
2015-16
Club America (MEX)
Tigres UANL (MEX)
4-1
2016-17
Pachuca (MEX)
Tigres UANL (MEX)
2-1
2018
Chivas Guadalajara (MEX) Toronto FC (CAN)
2-0
3-3 (4-2 pen.)
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE INFORMATION
Sporting Kansas City qualified for the Champions League by winning the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against the New York Red Bulls on Sept. 20, 2017. DRAW AND KNOCKOUT FORMAT Sporting KC was the only team from the North American Zone to be placed in Pot B for the Round of 16 draw, with Mexican side Deportivo Toluca selected as Sporting’s opponents in the opening round of the tournament. In the Champions League, the 16 teams play home-and-away, two-legged rounds. In the round of 16, quarterfinals, and semifinals, the away goals rule will be applied if the aggregate score is tied after the second leg. If still tied, a penalty shoot-out will be used to determine the winner. In the finals, the away goals rule will not be applied, and extra time will be played if the aggregate score is tied after the second leg. If the aggregate score is still tied after extra time, a penalty shoot-out will be used to determine the winner.
North American Zone Central American Zone Carribbean Zone Concacaf League Sporting KC (USA) Saprissa (CRC) Atletico Pantoja (DOM) Herediano (CRC) Atlanta United (USA) Alianza (SLV) Houston Dynamo (USA) Guastatoya (GUA) New York Red Bulls (USA) Marathon (HON) Toronto FC (CAN) Independiente (PAN) Monterrey (MEX) Santos Laguna (MEX) Tigres UANL (MEX) Deportivo Toluca (MEX)
SCHEDULE Stage Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
First leg February 19–21, 2019 March 5–7, 2019 April 2–4, 2019 April 23–25, 2019
CHILDREN’S MERCY PARK BY THE NUMBERS
19,510
CONSECUTIVE MLS SELLOUTS Dating back to April 2012 (including postseason)
ALL-TIME AVERAGE MLS ATTENDANCE 144 MLS matches since 2011 (including postseason)
SPORTING KC MATCHES PLAYED 136 MLS regular season, 8 MLS postseason, 19 Open Cup, 8 CCL, 5 friendlies
PERCENT CAPACITY IN MLS MATCHES 144 MLS matches since 2011 Seating capacity: 18,467
176
Agg. Score
QUALIFICATION A total of 16 teams participate in the Concacaf Champions League: • North American Zone: 9 teams • Central American Zone: 5 teams • Caribbean Zone: 1 team • Winners of the Concacaf League
QUALIFIED CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TEAMS
123
Year
105.6 2
Second leg February 26–28, 2019 March 12–14, 2019 April 9–11, 2019 April 30 – May 1, 2019
98
SPORTING KC MATCHES WON
not including penalty shootout victories in 2012 U.S. Open Cup and 2013 MLS Cup finals
305
SPORTING KC GOALS SCORED in 176 matches played at the stadium
Sporting KC Game Notes | February 28, 2019 at Deportivo Toluca | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes DECISIVE LEG BECKONS
SPORTING KANSAS CITY NEWS AND NOTES
GERSO EARNS CONTINENTAL RECOGNITION
Sporting Kansas City continues their Concacaf Champions League campaign this Thursday, February 28 when the side heads south of the border to take on Deportivo Toluca FC in the Round of 16 Second Lag at Estadio Nemesio Diez, carrying a 3-0 lead from the First Leg at Children’s Mercy Park last Thursday.
Sporting Kansas City winger Gerso Fernandes produced a sensational performance in the Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 First Leg victory over Deportivo Toluca last Thursday at Children’s Mercy Park, recording a goal and an assist in the 3-0 win. Gerso’s excellent performance earned him a spot on the Concacaf Champions League Team of the Week on Friday.
In the opening match of the 2019 season, Sporting showed few signs of rust as the side dispatched a side already seven matches into their regular season by a 3-0 scoreline. Krisztian Nemeth bagged the first goal of the 2019 campaign midway through the first half, before Gerso Fernandes and Ilie Sanchez extended the lead in the second period.
Gerso, who celebrated his 28th birthday on Saturday, Feb. 23, now has 17 goals and 10 assists across 75 appearances in all competitions for Sporting KC since joining the club ahead of the 2017 campaign.
Sporting KC qualified for the 2019 edition of the Champions League by winning the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. On September 20, 2017, Sporting knocked off the New York Red Bulls at Children’s Mercy Park by a 2-1 scoreline behind goals from Latif Blessing and Daniel Salloi to claim their fourth all-time U.S. Open Cup, and their third since 2012.
On his debut in international competition for the club, Gerso started by getting behind the Toluca backline and laying the ball off to Krisztian Nemeth to give Sporting KC the lead in the 35th minute. The diminutive winger then got his name on the scoresheet early in the second half, picking up a loose ball from a tight angle after his cross to Nemeth rebounded back to him, and the Guinea-Bissau native slammed the ball into the roof of the net to make the score 2-0 in the 52nd minute.
For the draw, Sporting KC was placed in Pot B - the only team from the nine-member North American Zone to be placed in the lower pot - meaning that Sporting could only be drawn against a Mexican team or Toronto FC - who qualified as winners of the Canadian Championship and did not qualify as a U.S. Soccer representative. Sporting KC drew Deportivo Toluca, a perennial team in Liga MX who has one of the best home-field advantages in Concacaf with a 8,800 foot elevation at Estadio Nemesio Diez. Champions League Round of 16 Sporting Kansas City vs. Deportivo Toluca Deportivo Toluca vs. Sporting Kansas City
DUO MAKE SPORTING DEBUT
Sporting Kansas City saw a pair of debutants enter the field for the first time in Sporting blue when the side defeated Deportivo Toluca 3-0 in the Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 First Leg last Thursday at Children’s Mercy Park. Midfielder Kelyn Rowe replaced Roger Espinoza in the 78th minute for his debut. Rowe joined Sporting KC having spent the entirety of his seven-year professional career with the New England Revolution. Selected third overall in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, Rowe has made 214 MLS appearances to date, tallying 30 goals and 42 assists as a versatile midfielder who has also played at outside back. Rowe has three caps for the U.S. National Team, helping the side win the 2017 Gold Cup, and was a beaten finalist with New England in the 2014 MLS Cup Final.
Thursday, Feb. 21 3-0 Thursday, Feb. 28 9:00 p.m. CT
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE REFRESHER
Sporting Kansas City is currently taking part in the Concacaf Champions League for the fourth time in club history since the competition changed to its current format in 2008. Sporting KC also took part in the 2013-14, 2014-15 and the 2016-17 editions of the tournament. It’s the eighth time in club history that Sporting KC has participated in an international competition, going along with 2001 Copa Merconorte, 2002 and 2005 Champions Cup and the 2009 SuperLiga.
Forward Erik Hurtado came on for Krisztian Nemeth with eight minutes remaining of the contest. Hurtado arrived in Kansas City following a trade with Vancouver Whitecaps FC where the 28-year-old forward had 17 goals and 13 assists in 123 matches (47 starts), and had a splendid career playing against Sporting KC. He scored twice against Peter Vermes’ side in the 2016-17 Champions League group stage, before scoring the lone goal in a 1-0 Vancouver win at Children’s Mercy Park on Sept. 30, 2017 that snapped Sporting KC’s club-record 24-game home unbeaten streak.
The Second Leg against Deportivo Toluca will be the 11th competitive match Sporting KC has played against a Mexican team, with Sporting currently holding a 3-6-1 record. The most recent matches against a Liga MX foe came in the 2013-14 Champions League, when Sporting KC advanced out of their group only to face Cruz Azul in the Quarterfinals. Sporting KC won the first leg at Children’s Mercy Park 1-0 but were eliminated in the second leg at Estadio Azul by a 5-1 scoreline (5-2 on aggregate). Cruz Azul would go on to win the tournament by, ironically, beating Toluca in the final that year.
SCOUTING TOLUCA
Sporting Kansas City opened its 2019 season last Thursday by topping Mexican side Deportivo Toluca 3-0 in the Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 First Leg. A perennial contender both domestically and internationally, Toluca’s last major championship came in 2010 when the side won the Bicentenario, while the side has taken part in the current Champions League format three times: 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2013-14.
No MLS club (American or Canadian) has ever won the Champions League in its current format, though three have come close. In the 2010-11 competition, Real Salt Lake advanced to the final only to be beaten 3-2 on aggregate by Monterrey. Then, in the 2014-15 edition, the Montreal Impact gave Club America a scare before the Mexican giants eventually won 5-3 on aggregate. Finally, in last season’s campaign, Toronto FC pushed Chivas Guadalajara all the way in the final only to fall 4-2 on penalties after the two-legged series had ended in a 3-3 draw.
Toluca has struggled so far in the 2019 Clausura, posting a 2-5-1 record, seeing head coach Hernan Cristante dismissed of his duties on Monday following a poor run of results. Despite starting the season with back-to-back wins, Toluca went winless in seven, going 0-6-1 with a 4-0 defeat on the road to Santos Laguna on Sunday proving to be the final straw for Cristante at the helm.
Heading into this year’s tournament, Sporting KC had six players on the active roster that had represented the club in international competition in the past: Seth Sinovic (11 apps), Matt Besler (10), Graham Zusi (8), Roger Espinoza (3), Jimmy Medranda (2) and Tim Melia (1). Following the first leg against Toluca last Thursday, that number now stands at 15 as nine players made their international debuts for Sporting KC on Feb. 21.
Toluca qualified for the Champions League by finishing as runners-up in the 2018 Clausura, and carries a strong history in the competition. In the 2009-10 tournament, Toluca advanced to the Semifinals before falling to Pachuca, while the side advanced to the knockout stages again the following year, suffering elimination at the hands of Monterrey in the Quarterfinals. Toluca’s best showing in the Champions League came in their most recent participation, charging to the Final in the 2013-14 edition only to fall to Cruz Azul - who had knocked out Sporting KC at the Quarterfinal stage that year - on away goals after playing to a 0-0 draw away and a 1-1 draw at home in the two-legged final.
MAKING HISTORY
Sporting Kansas City’s comfortable 3-0 victory over Deportivo Toluca FC in the Champions League Round of 16 First Leg last Thursday at Children’s Mercy Park held wider significance, as it was just the second time in the 57-year history of the Concacaf Champions League that a team from the United States or Major League Soccer defeated a Mexican club by three goals.
NEMETH & ILIE OFF THE MARK IN 2019
In addition to Gerso Fernande’s man of the match display in the Champions League Round of 16 First Leg victory over Toluca, Krisztian Nemeth and Ilie Sanchez each got their names on the scoresheet during the 3-0 victory as well.
This rare occasion first occurred in the preliminary regional playoffs of the 1997 Concacaf Champions’ Cup, when the LA Galaxy posted a 4-1 home win over Santos Laguna.
Both players were making their debuts in international competition for Sporting KC, and Nemeth took little time to make an impact, firing home left-footed in the first half for his second goal since returning for a second stint at Sporting last August, and his 18th goal in all competitions across both spells.
The 2019 Concacaf Champions League is the 11th edition under its current name and the 54th overall edition of North America’s premier club tournament. Dating back to 1962, the competition has been dominated by Mexican clubs, who have accounted for 34 titles compared to Major League Soccer’s two. D.C. United and LA Galaxy were crowned champions in 1998 and 2000, respectively, when the tournament featured eight teams in a single-elimination bracket and took just a week to complete.
Ilie, who volleyed home a stunning third goal late on, notched his first goal from open play for Sporting KC. The Spaniard scored his first four goals for the club in 2018, all coming from the penalty spot.
3
Sporting KC Game Notes | February 28, 2019 at Deportivo Toluca | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes SHORTEST OFFSEASON EVER
SPORTING KANSAS CITY NEWS AND NOTES
2026 WORLD CUP HEADING TO NORTH AMERICA
Sporting Kansas City entered the 2019 season off the back of the shortest offseason in club history, totaling just 83 days between the last match of 2018 and the first match of 2019 when the side beat Deportivo Toluca FC in the Champions League Round of 16 First Leg last Thursday.
The United Bid of Canada, Mexico, and the United States was selected to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 by the 68th FIFA Congress in Moscow. Kansas City is one of 23 Candidate Host Cities in the United Bid. The vote, which occurred a day before the start of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, also marks the first time three nations have been selected to co-host a FIFA World Cup and the first time the FIFA World Cup will be played in North America in 32 years. The United Bid offers FIFA and its 211 Member Associations unity, certainty, and opportunity as they prepare to host the largest FIFA World Cup in history.
The previous record for shortest offseason in club history came after hoisting aloft the MLS Cup in 2013, as the side then had 90 days between that freezing December 13 night and the following season’s MLS opener on March 8, 2014. Subtract seven days and you get the break that Sporting KC has endured this offseason, between the November 29, 2018 loss to the Portland Timbers in the Western Conference Championship Second Leg and the Champions League opener on February 21, 2019.
With the FIFA Congress decision to award the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to the federations of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, the three nations will jointly manage preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup until FIFA establishes their operations to manage the competition. Among other decisions, FIFA will make the final selection of host cities for the 2026 competition from the 23 candidates proposed in the United Bid.
At the local level, consider the offseason lengths of the Kansas City Royals and the Kansas City Chiefs. The Royals will go 178 days - almost exactly six months - between their 2018 finale and their 2019 MLB opener on March 28. The Chiefs will go at least 227 days between their AFC Championship Game appearance and their 2019 NFL opener, which will come anywhere between Sept. 5-9.
Each of the United Bid’s 23 proposed stadiums are fully built, occupied and operational, ensuring long-term use following the 2026 World Cup. The United Bid has 150 existing world-class training facilities, millions of hotel rooms, and advanced infrastructure. The United Bid is expected to generate more than $14 billion in revenue and $11 billion in profits for FIFA, which will be shared with the 211 FIFA Member Associations, helping further develop and expand the game of football across the globe.
RECORD-SETTING 2018
Sporting Kansas City enjoyed a historic 2018 season that saw the club set new records in multiple attacking categories. Most notably, the club shattered the franchise’s all-time goalscoring record by tallying 65 goals in 34 games, eclipsing the 61 goals the then Kansas City Wizards tallied in their inaugural season in 1996.
PLAYOFF STREAK REACHES EIGHT SEASONS
As well as their overall goalscoring exploits, Sporting Kansas City also set new club records in five other offensive categories: Road Goals (31), Goal Difference (+25), Assists (69), Shots (583) and Corner Kicks (206).
In 2018, Sporting KC continued its impressive streak of postseason appearances, becoming just the sixth club in MLS history to make at least eight straight trips to the MLS Cup Playoffs, while Manager Peter Vermes is now just the third coach to lead the same team to eight straight playoff appearances.
Peter Vermes’ side also found multiple goals in 25 of the club’s 40 matches in all competitions last season and was only shutout seven times. Sporting KC finished the regular season as the fourth highest scoring team in MLS with 65 goals, while the side scored 79 goals when including the MLS Cup Playoffs and U.S. Open Cup play.
LONGEST MLS PLAYOFF STREAKS Club Seasons LA Galaxy 10 (1996-2005) Seattle Sounders FC 10 (2009-2018) *active New York Red Bulls 9 (2010-2018) *active Sporting KC 8 (2011-2018) *active LA Galaxy 8 (2009-2016) NE Revolution 8 (2002-2009) Real Salt Lake 7 (2008-2014)
Sporting had 16 different goalscorers last year in MLS play - which was tied for the second highest number of goalscorers across a single squad this season. In 2018, SKC found goals from Daniel Salloi (14), Johnny Russell (10), Diego Rubio (10), Felipe Gutierrez (7), Gerso Fernandes (6), Ilie Sanchez (5), Ike Opara (3), Yohan Croizet (3), Roger Espinoza (3), Khiry Shelton (2), Graham Zusi (2), Jimmy Medranda (2), Cristian Lobato (2), Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal (1), Krisztian Nemeth (1) and Gianluca Busio (1).
LONGEST MLS PLAYOFF STREAKS BY A COACH WITH THE SAME TEAM Coach Club Years Seasons Peter Vermes Sporting KC 8 2011-2018 (active) Bruce Arena LA Galaxy 8 2009-2016 Steve Nicol NE Revolution 8 2002-2009 Sigi Schmid Seattle Sounders 7 2009-2015 LA Galaxy 6 1999-2004 Jason Kreis Real Salt Lake 6 2008-2013
The 6-0 triumph over Vancouver Whitecaps FC on April 20, 2018 tied club records for largest margin of victory and most goals scored in a competitive match. Sporting KC finished the year with 65 goals in 34 regular-season matches, having scored 40 in all of 2017. The last time Sporting KC hit six goals in an MLS match was on June 20, 1999.
VERMES ENTERS 11th SEASON
Entering his 11th season at the helm of Sporting KC, manager Peter Vermes looks to achieve more hardware and guide his side to yet another postseason appearance in 2019. The task begins with the Concacaf Champions League, beginning at the end of February, before MLS play begins in March and U.S. Open Cup action starts later in the year.
VERMES VERBATIM
See below for comments from Sporting KC Manager and Sporting Director Peter Vermes following the 3-0 victory over Deportivo Toluca FC in the Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 First Leg on Thursday, Feb. 21.
Vermes is the longest tenured coach that is currently coaching a team in Major League Soccer, having been in charge of Sporting KC since 2009 - one year longer than Ben Olsen has been at the helm at D.C. United. Vermes became the longest tenured coach in MLS when then LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena took the USMNT job in late 2016.
On if that performance exceeded his expectations: “I think there’s no doubt that the ability for us to play through as good a team as Toluca is pretty impressive. I think, at the end of the day, you have to commend our guys. We have quality guys on our team. They worked very, very hard. Ever since the last game last year, they kind of knew what was in front of us. We had a big talk about it. We laid out a plan physically while they were in their offseason. They did the work and we started a little bit earlier than we normally would have. I think we had the best preseason we’ve ever had, and I commend the players for that. At the end of the day, if they don’t come to work every day then you don’t have the best preseason. Credit to them - they worked hard. But this is just one leg. This is just one game. We have a second leg here that is going to be very difficult and we realize that.”
Vermes has guided Sporting KC to four titles under his watch, winning three Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups in 2012, 2015 and 2017, and the MLS Cup in 2013. His trophy haul ranks as the second highest among active MLS coaches - only trailing Toronto FC’s Greg Vanney’s five championships. On a local level, Vermes’ 11 years with SKC is the second longest tenure by a head coach in the history of major KC professional sports behind Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Famer Hank Stram, who was Chiefs head coach from 1963-1974. Vermes has compiled a 166-116-94 record in all competitions with Sporting KC, including a remarkable 20-6-3 mark in U.S. Open Cup contests. Vermes’ 133 wins in MLS regular-season action ranks fifth all-time and second among active coaches in MLS, trailing Los Angeles FC’s Bob Bradley.
On the connection between Krisztian Nemeth and Gerso: “I thought from the attacking perspective we had a really good understanding of what we wanted to take advantage of. I thought that Gerso’s movement off the ball was tremendous. I thought that Nemeth was excellent to play through. He’s always very good in very tight spaces in and around the box. He got his goal that way. He almost scored another one. He’s giving final passes in some great situations. He’s maybe a little bit unlucky on a few balls that he hit. His movement was tremendous. His link up play was great and he definitely helped us in the way we wanted to play.”
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Sporting KC Game Notes | February 28, 2019 at Deportivo Toluca | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes SPORTING KANSAS CITY TRANSACTION TRACKER Players In
Players Out
Tyler Freeman (Signed as Homegrown Player - Oct. 2, 2018)
Kharlton Belmar (Option Declined - Nov. 30, 2018)
Rodney Wallace (Signed as Free Agent - Dec. 14, 2018)
Amer Didic (Option Declined - Nov. 30, 2018)
Erik Hurtado (Trade - Dec. 14, 2018)
Brad Evans (Option Declined/Retired - Nov. 30, 2018)
Botond Barath (Signing - Dec. 18, 2018)
Cristian Lobato (Option Declined - Nov. 30, 2018)
Kelyn Rowe (Trade - Dec. 18, 2018)
Colton Storm (Option Declined - Nov. 30, 2018)
Abdul Rwatubyaye (Signing - Feb. 5, 2018)
Diego Rubio (Trade - Dec. 14, 2018) Ike Opara (Trade - Jan. 28, 2019)
SPORTING KANSAS CITY TRANSACTION TIMELINE DATE IN/OUT DETAILS Oct. 2: IN Sporting KC signs F Tyler Freeman as a Homegrown player from the Sporting KC Academy. Nov. 30: OUT Sporting KC declines options for D Amer Didic, D Brad Evans, D Colton Storm, M Cristian Lobato and F Kharlton Belmar. Dec. 14: IN Sporting KC signs D Rodney Wallace as a free agent. Dec. 14: IN/OUT Sporting KC acquires F Erik Hurtado from Vancouver Whitecaps FC (MLS) in exchange for the club’s natural second-round pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft and natural first-riund pick in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft. Dec. 18: IN Sporting KC signs D Botond Barath, most recently at Budapest Honved FC (Hungary). Dec. 18: IN/OUT Sporting KC acquires M Kelyn Rowe and $300,000 in allocation money from the Colorado Rapids (MLS) in exchange for F Diego Rubio. Jan. 28: OUT Sporting KC acquires up to $1,000,000 in allocation money from Minnesota United FC (MLS) in exchange for D Ike Opara. Feb. 5: IN Sporting KC acquires D Abdul Rwatubyaye from Rayon Sports FC (Rwanda).
CONSTRUCTING SPORTING KANSAS CITY Year
MLS SuperDraft
2009
Matt Besler (8th) Graham Zusi (23rd)
Signings
2011
Trades
Homegrown Players
Seth Sinovic (5/10/11)
2013
Jimmy Medranda (8/9/13)
2015
Tim Melia (12/23/14) Roger Espinoza (1/6/15)
2016
Daniel Salloi (1/13/16)
2017 2018
2019
Swope Park Rangers
Gerso Fernandes (1/4/17) Ilie Sanchez (1/13/17) Eric Dick (13th) Graham Smith (18th)
Gianluca Busio (8/25/17)
Yohan Croizet (12/15/17) Johnny Russell (1/31/18) Felipe Gutierrez (2/6/18) Andreu Fontas (8/8/18)
Krisztian Nemeth (8/6/18)
Rodney Wallace (12/14/18) Botond Barath (12/18/18) Abdul Rwatubyaye (2/5/19)
Erik Hurtado (12/14/18) Kelyn Rowe (12/18/18)
5
Jaylin Lindsey (1/1/18) Wan Kuzain (4/13/18) Tyler Freeman (10/2/18)
Adrian Zendejas (12/2/16)
Sporting KC Game Notes | February 28, 2019 at Deportivo Toluca | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes SPORTING KANSAS CITY 2018 SCHEDULE AND RESULTS DATE
OPPONENT
COMPETITION
TIME (CT) / RESULT
TV / SCORERS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21
DEPORTIVO TOLUCA
CCL
W
Nemeth, Gerso, Ilie
Thursday, February 28
at Deportivo Toluca
CCL
9:00
Yahoo Sports/UDN
Sunday, March 3
at Los Angeles FC
MLS
7:00
ESPN
SUNDAY, MARCH 10
PHILADELPHIA UNION
MLS
2:00
FOX SPORTS KC
Sunday, March 17
at Colorado Rapids
MLS
8:00
FOX Sports KC
SATURDAY, MARCH 30
MONTREAL IMPACT
MLS
2:00
FOX SPORTS KC PLUS
Sunday, April 7
at FC Cincinnati
MLS
2:00
ESPN
SUNDAY, APRIL 14
NEW YORK RED BULLS
MLS
6:00
FOX SPORTS 1
Saturday, April 20
at San Jose Earthquakes
MLS
9:00
FOX Sports KC Plus
SATURDAY, APRIL 27
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
MLS
7:30
FOX SPORTS KC
SUNDAY, MAY 5
ATLANTA UNITED FC
MLS
8:00
FOX SPORTS 1
Sunday, May 12
at D.C. United
MLS
6:00
FOX Sports 1
SATURDAY, MAY 18
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
MLS
7:30
FOX SPORTS KC PLUS
SUNDAY, MAY 26
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
MLS
5:00
FOX SPORTS 1
WEDNESDAY, MAY 29
LA GALAXY
MLS
7:30
FOX SPORTS KC PLUS
Saturday, June 1
at Houston Dynamo
MLS
7:30
FOX Sports KC
Friday, June 7
at Toronto FC
MLS
7:00
FOX Sports KC Plus
Sunday, June 23
at Columbus Crew SC
MLS
6:30
FOX Sports KC
Saturday, June 29
at Real Salt Lake
MLS
9:00
FOX Sports KC
WEDNESDAY, JULY 3
LOS ANGELES FC
MLS
7:30
FOX SPORTS KC PLUS
SATURDAY, JULY 6
CHICAGO FIRE
MLS
7:30
FOX SPORTS KC
Saturday, July 13
at Vancouver Whitecaps FC
MLS
9:00
FOX Sports KC
SATURDAY, JULY 20
FC DALLAS
MLS
7:30
FOX SPORTS KC PLUS
Friday, July 26
at New York City FC
MLS
6:30
FOX Sports 1
Sunday, August 4
at Seattle Sounders FC
MLS
9:00
FOX Sports 1
SATURDAY, AUGUST 10
REAL SALT LAKE
MLS
7:30
FOX SPORTS KC
Wednesday, August 14
at Orlando City SC
MLS
6:30
FOX Sports KC Plus
SATURDAY, AUGUST 17
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
MLS
7:30
FOX SPORTS KC PLUS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22
MINNESOTA UNITED FC
MLS
8:30
ESPN
SATURDAY, AUGUST 31
HOUSTON DYNAMO
MLS
7:30
FOX SPORTS KC PLUS
Saturday, September 7
at Portland Timbers
MLS
9:30
FOX Sports KC
Sunday, September 15
at LA Galaxy
MLS
9:00
FOX Sports KC
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
COLORADO RAPIDS
MLS
7:30
FOX SPORTS KC PLUS
Wednesday, September 25
at Minnesota United FC
MLS
7:00
FOX Sports KC Plus
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
PORTLAND TIMBERS
MLS
6:30
FOX SPORTS KC
Sunday, October 8
at FC Dallas
MLS
3:00
FOX Sports KC
6
3-0
Sporting KC Game Notes | February 28, 2019 at Deportivo Toluca | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes SPORTING KC 2019 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BOX SCORES February 21, 2018: Sporting KC 3-0 Deportivo Toluca Concacaf Champions League | Children’s Mercy Park | Kansas City, KS Attendance: 13,927 Weather: Clear and 36 degrees 1 2 F 1 2 3 0 0 0
Sporting KC (1-0-0) Deportivo Toluca (0-1-0) Sporting KC GK Melia D Zusi D Fontas D Besler (C) D Sinovic M Ilie M Espinoza (Rowe 78’) M Gutierrez F Russell F Nemeth (Hurtado 82) F Gerso (Salloi 87’)
Deportivo Toluca GK Talavera (C) D Salinas D Maidana D Tobio D Gonzalez M Pardo M Rios (Acero 76’) M Mancuello M Barrientos (Lopez 62’) M Mendoza F Triverio (Gigliotti 21’)
Subs not used: Subs not used: Zendejas (GK) L. Garcia (GK) Barath S. Garcia Wallace Mora Busio Esquivel Scoring Summary: SKC - Krisztian Nemeth 1 (Gerso Fernandes 1) 35’ SKC - Gerso Fernandes 1 (Unassisted) 52’ SKC - Ilie Sanchez 1 (Unassisted) 72’ Misconduct Summary: TOL - Rodrigo Salinas (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 39’ TOL - Osvaldo Gonzalez (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 83’ SKC - Seth Sinovic (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 86’ Stats Summary Shots (on goal) Saves Fouls Offside Corner Kicks
SKC 13 (4) 3 21 2 4
TOL 9 (3) 1 18 2 1
7
Sporting KC Game Notes | February 28, 2019 at Deportivo Toluca | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes SPORTING KC STARTERS BY POSITION (2018 REGULAR SEASON)
Formation: 4-3-3
NOTE: Chart does not account for players interchanging and/or switching positions over the course of a match. Substitute players are not listed.
Center forward Khiry Shelton 15 Diego Rubio 9 Daniel Salloi 5 Krisztian Nemeth 4 Yohan Croizet 1
Left forward
Daniel Salloi 20 Gerso Fernandes 12 Johnny Russell 2
Right forward Johnny Russell 22 Gerso Fernandes 5 Yohan Croizet 5 Cristian Lobato 1 Daniel Salloi 1
Left-center midfielder
Right-center midfielder
Felipe Gutierrez 17 Yohan Croizet 11 Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal 3 Gianluca Busio Roger Espinoza 1 Jimmy Medranda 1
Roger Espinoza 31 Yohan Croizet 2 Felipe Gutierrez 1
Defensive midfielder Ilie 34
Left back
Seth Sinovic 19 Jimmy Medranda 7 Jaylin Lindsey 6 Cristian Lobato 2
Left center back
Right center back
Matt Besler 31 Emiliano Amor 2 Graham Smith 1
Ike Opara 31 Emiliano Amor 1 Graham Smith 1 Andreu Fontas 1
Goalkeeper Tim Melia 34
8
Right back
Graham Zusi 34
Sporting KC Game Notes | February 28, 2019 at Deportivo Toluca | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes SPORTING KC 2018 REGULAR-SEASON RESULTS DATE
March 4 March 10 March 17 March 24 March 31 April 8 April 15 April 20 April 28 May 5 May 9 May 20 May 27 June 3 June 9 June 23 June 30 July 4 July 7 July 14 July 28 Aug. 4 Aug. 11 Aug. 18 Aug. 25 Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 23 Sept. 30 Oct. 6 Oct. 17 Oct. 21 Oct. 28
OPPONENT
vs. New York City FC at Chicago Fire vs. San Jose Earthquakes at Colorado Rapids vs. D.C. United at LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC at New England Revolution vs. Colorado Rapids at Atlanta United FC at Minnesota United FC vs. Columbus Crew SC vs. Minnesota United FC at Portland Timbers vs. Houston Dynamo at Montreal Impact at Real Salt Lake vs. Toronto FC at New York Red Bulls vs. FC Dallas at Houston Dynamo at Los Angeles FC vs. Portland Timbers vs. Minnesota United FC at Seattle Sounders FC vs. Orlando City SC at San Jose Earthquakes at Philadelphia Union vs. Real Salt Lake vs. LA Galaxy at Vancouver Whitecaps FC at FC Dallas vs. Los Angeles FC
RESULT L W W T W W T W L W W T T W T W L L T L L W W W W L W W L T T W W W
SCORE 0-2 4-3 3-2 2-2 1-0 2-0 2-2 6-0 0-1 1-0 2-0 1-1 0-0 4-1 0-0 3-2 0-2 2-4 2-2 2-3 2-3 1-0 2-0 3-0 2-0 1-3 1-0 5-1 0-2 1-1 1-1 4-1 3-0 2-1
ATTEND. 20,831 14,021 18,868 17,424 18,624 25,846 18,508 19,690 17,015 20,553 44,696 23,117 20,697 20,422 21,144 20,081 16,142 19,206 21,064 16,793 20,758 14,675 22,000 19,737 19,345 39,530 19,332 16,682 15,080 19,844 20,094 18,689 19,096 20,702
RECORD PLACE PTS. GOALSCORERS 0-1-0 1-1-0 2-1-0 2-1-1 3-1-1 4-1-1 4-1-2 5-1-2 5-2-2 6-2-2 7-2-2 7-2-3 7-2-4 8-2-4 8-2-5 9-2-5 9-3-5 9-4-5 9-4-6 9-5-6 9-6-6 10-6-6 11-6-6 12-6-6 13-6-6 13-7-6 14-7-6 15-7-6 15-8-6 15-8-7 15-8-8 16-8-8 17-8-8 18-8-8
T-8 T-3 T-1 T-1 T-1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 T-1 1 T-1 2 3 3 5 T-3 2 T-2 2 3 2 1 2 2 T-2 T-2 1 1
0 3 6 7 10 13 14 17 17 20 23 24 25 28 29 32 32 32 33 33 33 36 39 42 45 45 48 51 51 52 53 56 59 62
-Gutierrez (2), Russell, Medranda Ilie, Zusi, Gutierrez Gutierrez, Rubio Gutierrez Salloi, Russell Ilie, Zusi Russell (3), Medranda, Lobato, Croizet -Salloi Salloi, Fernandes Shelton -Salloi, Kuzain, Lobato, Rubio -Salloi, Rubio, Shelton -Salloi, Opara Ilie, Russell Russell, Espinoza Fernandes, Salloi Rubio Fernandes, Ilie Rubio (2), Russell Croizet, Rubio Rubio Gutierrez Gutierrez, Fernandes (2), Opara, Nemeth -Opara Russell Croizet, Salloi (2), Busio Salloi, Espinoza, Russell Espinoza, Salloi
SPORTING KC 2018 REGULAR-SEASON STATS 2018 SPORTING KANSAS CITY STATISTICS (18-8-8, 62 pts.) THROUGH GAMES OF OCTOBER 28, 2018 UNF POS PLAYER GP 20 F Daniel Salloi 29 7 F Johnny Russell 30 11 F Diego Rubio 20 21 M Felipe Gutierrez 20 12 F Gerso Fernandes 31 6 M Ilie Sanchez 34 17 M Roger Espinoza 32 10 M Yohan Croizet 32 3 D Ike Opara 31 8 D Graham Zusi 34 14 F Khiry Shelton 20 94 D Jimmy Medranda 12 19 D Cristian Lobato 7 9 F Krisztian Nemeth (TOT) 24 9 F Krisztian Nemeth (KC) 9 13 M Gianluca Busio 7 75 M Wan Kuzain 6 5 D Matt Besler 31 15 D Seth Sinovic 23 26 D Jaylin Lindsey 7 22 D Emiliano Amor 5 90 F Kharlton Belmar 4 30 D Andreu Fontas 2 29 GK Tim Melia 34 16 D Graham Smith 2 18 GK Eric Dick 0 2 D Amer Didic 0 4 D Brad Evans 0 23 D Colton Storm 0 1 GK Adrian Zendejas 0 Team totals 34 Opponent totals 34
GS 26 24 9 18 17 34 32 19 31 34 15 8 3 8 4 1 3 31 19 6 3 0 1 34 2 0 0 0 0 0 34 34
MIN 2291 2183 781 1522 1591 3060 2825 1594 2773 3060 1370 728 327 852 386 153 307 2745 1650 555 332 65 92 3060 180 0 0 0 0 0 3060 3060
G 11 10 8 7 5 4 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 65 40
A 7 10 6 2 5 4 9 3 2 7 5 1 0 3 1 1 0 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 69 37
SHT 78 70 29 40 38 45 47 49 23 57 36 9 6 27 19 8 5 1 13 5 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 583 405
SOG 31 30 15 17 19 14 11 14 6 19 10 3 4 10 8 1 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 207 148
FC 12 15 11 38 31 34 66 25 30 21 20 11 3 18 5 1 4 18 18 5 2 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 376 377
FS 26 37 19 25 26 34 48 16 16 35 18 5 2 14 6 2 6 11 13 2 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 377 376
OFF 10 4 3 1 7 0 0 2 0 3 1 1 0 6 5 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 38 86
CK 1 74 0 19 4 2 0 2 0 100 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 206 131
C 3 3 3 3 1 6 9 2 5 2 2 1 0 1 0 0 1 2 4 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 50 66
E 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 12
GAME-WINNING GOALS: Daniel Salloi 6, Felipe Gutierrez 4, Diego Rubio 2, Gerso Fernandes 2, Khiry Shelton 1, Johnny Russell 1, Wan Kuzain 1, Yohan Croizet 1 GAME-WINNING ASSISTS: Daniel Salloi 3, Johnny Russell 3, Diego Rubio 3, Khiry Shelton 3, Roger Espinoza 2, Graham Zusi 2, Ilie Sanchez 1, Gianluca Busio 1, Yohan Croizet 1, Felipe Gutierrez 1 PENALTY KICK GOALS/ATTEMPTS: Ilie Sanchez 4-6, Johnny Russell 1-1 SPORTING KANSAS CITY INDIVIDUAL GOALKEEPING UNF POS 29 GK
GOALKEEPER Tim Melia Team totals Opponent totals
GP 34 34 34
GS 34 34 34
MIN 3060 3060 3060
SH 148 148 207
SV 106 106 138 9
GA 40 40 65
GAA 1.18 1.18 1.91
PG 5 5 5
PA 8 8 7
W 18 18 8
L 8 8 18
T 8 8 8
SO 13 13 6
Sporting KC Game Notes | February 28, 2019 at Deportivo Toluca | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes Manager | Peter Vermes
Assistant Coach | Kerry Zavagnin Assistant Coach Kerry Zavagnin first joined Kansas City in 2000 as a holding midfielder and was an integral part of the club’s midfield for the next nine seasons, during which time he helped lead the Wizards to MLS Cup (2000) and U.S. Open Cup (2004) Championships. He was named to the MLS All-Star team and the Best XI in 2004. Zavagnin’s primary duties as an assistant include scouting, developing Sporting Kansas City’s younger players, breaking down film and assisting with training sessions, among others.
Peter Vermes is entering his 11th season as Sporting Kansas City Manager in 2019 and is the longest-tenured active head coach in MLS. He is the team’s longest-serving manager and his 166 coaching victories in all competitions are the most club history. During his tenure, he has won four major trophies – the 2012, 2015 and 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups and the 2013 MLS Cup championship – and finished atop the Eastern Conference regular-season standings in 2011 and 2012, as well as the Western Conference in 2018. His three U.S. Open Cup championships are the third most in Open Cup history. He is the first coach in club history to lead Sporting KC to eight straight postseason appearances, as well as the only person to ever win the MLS Cup as both a player and a coach with the same team. His 133 regular-season wins top the club’s all-time chart and rank fifth most in MLS history. He passed his former coach Bob Gansler as the winningest manager in team history with a 3-1 win over Real Salt Lake on Aug. 12, 2015, his 109th victory in all competitions.
He started his professional career with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, where he played in 39 games over two seasons. After spending one season with the Lehigh Valley Steam (USL-1), Zavagnin came to Kansas City in 2000. He played 237 games (228 starts) and logged 20,516 minutes for Kansas City, setting team records in both categories before both were overtaken by Matt Besler early in 2018. He scored eight goals and added 22 assists in his nine seasons in Kansas City blue. Zavagnin was named Team Defender of the Year in 2001.
On August 4, 2018, Vermes coached his 302nd MLS regular-season game with Sporting KC, becoming the league’s all-time leader in games coached for one club. He was named the first-ever Sporting Executive of the Year by his peers in 2018. Vermes has coached 376 total games during his Kansas City coaching career, most in club history.
On top of his club success in Kansas City, Zavagnin also appeared 21 times for the United States Men’s National Team. He recorded one assist for the U.S., who went 15-2-4 when Zavagnin featured. He married his wife Mirriam prior to the 2009 season, when he became an assistant coach at the club.
Vermes oversees all soccer operations for Sporting KC, including the active roster, the Swope Park Rangers (USL) and the Sporting KC Academy. Vermes entered MLS ahead of its inaugural season in 1996 and retired from the league in 2002, closing out his playing career in Kansas City after stints with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars and Colorado Rapids.
Assistant Coach | Zoran Savic Assistant Coach Zoran Savic joined Sporting Kansas City late in the 2009 season after a 30-year career at all levels of the game in the United States. A native of Gornji Milanovac, Yugoslavia, Savic began his journey through American soccer with the Buffalo Stallions of the Major Indoor Soccer League in 1980. Savic would go on to star for several MISL teams, with his most prosperous period coming with the Kansas City Comets, with whom he scored 70 goals in just over 100 appearances from 1982-1984.
Following a standout high school career in which he was named New Jersey Player of the Year, Vermes was a star forward and All-American at Rutgers University. After college, Vermes represented the United States in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea, and was named 1988 Chevrolet U.S. Male Soccer Athlete of the Year for his efforts. Vermes was an integral part of a young U.S. team at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, where he nearly scored a sensational goal against the host Azzurri. It was the first time the U.S. had qualified for the World Cup in 40 years and set the stage for the progress of the U.S. National Team. In 1989 and 1990, Vermes became the first American to play in the Hungarian and Dutch First Divisions, playing for Raba ETO and FC Volendam, respectively. He later spent five years with Figueras of the Spanish Second Division.
After retiring as a player in 1991, Savic turned his attention to coaching in the indoor game. Savic led the Kansas City Attack from 1992-1996, winning Coach of the Year honors for the 1994-1995 season while also serving as the team’s General Manager. Savic later coached the Kansas City Comets from 2000-2005. In 2007 Savic switched to the outdoor game, joining Chivas USA as an assistant to then-head coach Preki before moving into the commentary booth for Kansas City matches in 2008 and 2009. Savic’s career as a commentator was cut short, however, when newly installed Manager Peter Vermes tabbed Savic to be part of his coaching staff late in the 2009 season.
For MLS’s inaugural season in 1996, Vermes served as captain of the New York/New Jersey MetroStars. In 1997, he was traded to the Colorado Rapids for current Sporting KC Assistant Coach Kerry Zavagnin and played in Denver through the 1999 season, leading the Rapids to the 1997 MLS Cup Final.
Goalkeeper Coach | Alec Dufty
Vermes joined Kansas City in 2000 for what would be the most successful seasons of his MLS career. During his first year in Kansas City, he anchored one of the best defenses in league history and won MLS Defender of the Year honors in helping lead the Wizards to the 2000 MLS Cup Championship. He retired in 2002 after appearing in 209 MLS matches (including playoffs) and playing more than 18,000 minutes. In 2013, Vermes was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. Year
Goalkeeper coach Alec Dufty enters his third season with Sporting Kansas City having been introduced to the organization as the Swope Park Rangers goalkeeper coach in the side’s inaugural season in 2016. In his first season working with Sporting KC’s goalkeepers, starting goalkeeper Tim Melia enjoyed a record-breaking season where he was named the 2017 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year.
PETER VERMES HEAD COACHING RECORD AT SPORTING KC MLS Playoffs Open Cup International Total
2009 3-6-3 --- 2010 11-13-6 --- 2011 13-9-12 2-1-0 2012 18-7-9 1-1-0 2013 17-10-7 2-1-2 2014 14-13-7 0-1-0 2015 14-11-9 0-0-1 2016 13-13-8 0-1-0 2017 12-9-13 0-1-0 2018 18-8-8 1-1-2 2019 0-0-0 0-0-0 TOTAL 133-99-82 6-7-5
--- 0-1-0 3-1-0 4-0-1 1-1-0 1-1-0 4-0-1 1-1-0 4-0-1 2-1-0 0-0-0 20-6-3
--- --- --- --- 2-0-2 3-2-1 --- 1-2-1 --- --- 1-0-0 7-4-4
A former MLS player, Dufty began his playing career with the New York Red Bulls in 2009, making one appearance before joining the MLS reserve goalkeeper pool. In 2010, Dufty joined USSF D2 Pro League side AC St. Louis, making 30 appearances before returning to MLS with the Chicago Fire in late 2010.
3-6-3 11-14-6 18-11-12 23-8-10 22-12-11 18-17-8 18-11-11 15-17-9 16-9-13 21-10-10 1-0-0 166-116-94
He announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2011 season. Dufty then took to coaching, first working with Florida Gulf Coast University and then the University of Illinois at Chicago. In 2015, Dufty served as goalkeeper coach for Toronto FC II in their inaugural USL season.
Fitness Coach | Mateus Manoel Mateus Manoel is in his eighth season with Sporting KC as Head Fitness Coach. His responsibilities cover all aspects of sport performance and science for the team, including strength and conditioning, injury prevention, field practices, nutrition, fitness monitoring (training load and readiness), player re-adaptation following rehab and recovery. In the summer of 2010, Manoel was an Assistant Fitness Coach for the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team during the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He had formerly served as the Head Fitness Coach for the Mexican Men’s National Team in 2009, working with renowned coach Sven-Goran Eriksson. During 2007 and 2008, Manoel held a position with Athletes’ Performance in the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles, where he worked with professional athletes from a variety of sports, including NFL, NHL, MLB and MLS (Chivas USA and LA Galaxy). Previously, he had assisted with strength and conditioning for D.C. United, while concurrently holding the position of Sports Performance Director with Velocity Sports Performance in Alexandria, Virginia. Manoel holds a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from George Washington University, where he was also responsible for the strength and conditioning needs of the Colonials Men’s Varsity Soccer Team. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland - College Park and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Manoel was born in Brazil and is fluent in both Portuguese and Spanish. 10
Sporting KC Game Notes | February 28, 2019 at Deportivo Toluca | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #2 | D | BOTOND BARATH SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
0
0
0
0
0
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
0
0
0
0
0
International
0
0
0
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
0
0
0
0
0
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals N/A Assists N/A Shots on Goal N/A Shots N/A Fouls Committed N/A Fouls Suffered N/A Last Regular Season... Appearance N/A Goal N/A Assist N/A 2018 Record when: he starts 0-0-0
Height: 6-2 Weight: 165 Birthday: 4/21/1992 Hometown: Budapest, Hungary Last Club: Budapest Honved FC (Hungary) Acquired: Signed on 12/18/18 Sporting Kansas City signed Hungarian international defender Botond Barath entering the 2019 campaign. Born and raised in Budapest, Hungary, Barath has previously spent the entirety of his professional career with hometown club Budapest Honved FC, where he made 213 first-team appearances in all competitions from 2009-2018. The center back helped Honved to the 2016-17 Hungarian first-division title and earned his first of three caps for the Hungary Men’s National Team in October 2018.
he scores 0-0-0
debut and scored his first of 12 career goals for the club as Honved finished third in the top-flight Nemzeti Bajnoksag. Barath bagged a career-high four goals during the 2015-16 campaign before helping the club win its 14th first-division championship and its first since 1993 in the 2016-17 season. Honved entered 2017-18 UEFA Champions League qualifying, where Barath scored a goal in an aggregate loss to Israeli club Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
Barath began his professional career in 2009 with Honved II and became a regular starter Barath has three caps for Hungary, all in UEFA Nations League play in 2018. Barath for the first team in 2012. In 2012-13, Barath made his UEFA Europa League qualifying previously represented the Magyars at the U-18, U-19 and U-21 levels from 2009-2013. MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
#5 | D | MATT BESLER | @MattBesler SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
257
251
22576
3
18
MLS Postseason
18
18
1740
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
20
18
1684
0
1
International
11
11
975
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
306
298
26975
3
19
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, 3 times, last: July 3, 2016, KC vs. CLB Assists 1, 18 times, last: Oct. 17, 2018, KC at VAN Shots on Goal 2, Oct. 9, 2010, KC vs. SEA Shots 2, 4 times, last: March 16, 2013, KC vs. CHI Fouls Committed 5, Aug. 4, 2012, KC at NE Fouls Suffered 4, Sept. 26, 2009, KC vs. COL Last Regular Season... Appearance Oct. 28, 2018, KC vs. LAFC Goal July 3, 2016, KC vs. CLB Assist Oct. 17, 2018, KC at VAN 2018 Record when: he starts 17-6-8 he scores 0-0-0
Height: 6-0 Weight: 170 Birthday: 2/11/1987 Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas College: Notre Dame Acquired: 2009 MLS SuperDraft 1st Round (#8) Sporting KC’s Matt Besler is in his 10th season at his hometown club. He has earned MLS Best XI (2012-13), MLS All-Star (2011, 2013-16), MLS Defender of the Year (2012) and MLS Breakout Player of the Year (2012) honors since being selected in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Notre Dame.
Besler has earned 47 caps for the United States Men’s National Team since debuting in January 2013. He featured in four matches at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first Kansan to play in the quadrennial tournament, as the U.S. advanced to the Round of 16. He also helped the U.S. win the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, starting all three matches in the knockout stage. He joined the U.S. squad for the 2016 Copa America Centenario, starting two matches, and scored his first international goal at St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Sept. 2, the same day his firstborn daughter Parker Rhea was born in Kansas City. He recently made four appearances for his country as the U.S. claimed the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Besler is first in SKC history with 306 appearances across all competitions and is the club’s leader in regular-season appearances (257), starts (251) & minutes (22,576). A regular staple of the team’s backline, he has started 269 of 275 MLS matches (including playoffs) and landed club Defender of the Year honors four times (2011-13, 2015). MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
257
251
22576
3
18
42
10
218
121
8
1
31
2
2
7
KC - Postseason
18
18
1740
0
0
4
0
20
16
3
0
1
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
275
269
24316
3
18
46
10
238
137
11
1
32
2
2
7
11
Sporting KC Game Notes | February 28, 2019 at Deportivo Toluca | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #13 | M | GIANLUCA BUSIO | @gbusio10 SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
7
1
153
1
1
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
1
1
90
0
0
International
0
0
0
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
8
2
243
1
1
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, Oct. 17, 2018, KC at VAN Assists 1, Aug. 4, 2018, KC at HOU Shots on Goal 1, Oct. 17, 2018, KC at VAN Shots 4, Aug. 4, 2018, KC at HOU Fouls Committed 1, Aug. 4, 2018, KC at HOU Fouls Suffered 2, 2 times, last: Oct. 17, 2018, KC at VAN Last Regular Season... Appearance Oct. 17, 2018, KC at VAN Goal Oct. 17, 2018, KC at VAN Assist Aug. 4, 2018, KC at HOU 2018 Record when: he starts 1-0-0 he scores 1-0-0
Height: 5-7 Weight: 135 Birthday: 5/28/2002 Hometown: Greensboro, North Carolina Last Club: Sporting KC Academy Acquired: Signed as Homegrown on 8/25/2017 Sporting KC signed Gianluca Busio as the club’s fifth Homegrown Player on Aug. 25, 2017, making Busio the youngest active player in MLS and the second youngest player in MLS history at the age of 15 years and 89 days. Busio made his professional debut for the Swope Park Rangers on April 4, 2018, recording the game-winning assist.
Busio starred for the Sporting KC Academy during the 2016-17 season, stepping up from the U-14s to the U-16 level, where he scored nine goals in the USSDA and earned Central Conference Best XI honors. He led the U-16s to their first appearance in the USSDA quarterfinals. Busio also earned time for the SKC U-18s throughout 2016-17.
He made his MLS debut on July 28, 2018, before earning his first MLS start, recording the game-winning assist in a 1-0 win over Houston on Aug. 4, 2018 while he became the third youngest player to start an MLS game at the age of 16 years and 68 days. Busio scored his first MLS goal in the 4-1 victory over Vancouver on Oct. 17, 2018, becoming the second youngest goalscorer in league history at the age of 16 years and 142 days.
At the international level, Busio is a member of the U.S. U-17 National Team. He previously guided the U.S. to a second-place finish at the CONCACAF U-15 Championship in Bradenton, Florida, scoring a team-high five goals in five matches in August 2017. In May 2017 at the Torneo Delle Nazioni in Italy, Busio scored three goals as the American U-17s were crowned tournament champions.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
7
1
153
1
1
9
1
1
2
0
2
0
0
0
1
MLS - TOTAL
7
1
153
1
1
9
1
1
2
0
2
0
0
0
1
#10 | M | YOHAN CROIZET | @Yohancroizet SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
32
19
1594
3
3
MLS Postseason
4
1
105
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
2
0
24
2
0
International
0
0
0
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
38
20
1723
5
3
Height: 5-10 Weight: 170 Hometown: Sarrebourg, France Last Club: KV Mechelen (Belgium) Acquired: Signed on 12/15/2017
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, 3 times, last: Oct. 17, 2018, KC at VAN Assists 1, 3 times, last: Sept. 8, 2018, KC vs. ORL Shots on Goal 4, April 20, 2018, KC vs. VAN Shots 7, April 20, 2018, KC vs. VAN Fouls Committed 3, 2 times, last: May 20, 2018, KC at MIN Fouls Suffered 2, 4 times, last: Sept. 8, 2018, KC vs. ORL Last Regular Season... Appearance Oct. 28, 2018, KC vs. LAFC Goal Oct. 17, 2018, KC at VAN Assist Sept. 8, 2018, KC vs. ORL 2018 Record when: he starts 9-5-5 he scores 3-0-0
Birthday: 2/15/1992
Yohan Croizet has scored 31 goals in more than 200 professional appearances across Europe. He joins Sporting KC after spending each of the last three seasons in the top-flight Belgian First Division A, where he has tallied 12 goals and 11 assists since 2015. He signed as a Designated Player in December 2017.
Prior to joining KV Mechelen, Croizet blossomed during a two-year stint with Belgian outfit OH Leuven. He bagged four goals as OH Leuven won the 2014-15 Belgian Second Division playoffs and earned promotion to the top flight. The following year, Croizet notched a career-high nine goals and added four assists as the team’s top scorer.
In his first season with KV Mechelen in 2016-17, Croizet played 37 matches, tallying three goals and four assists to help KV Mechelen to a seventh-place finish and 14 league wins, their most in the Belgian first division since 1993. Croizet added three assists in 15 appearances during the 2017-18 season.
Croizet began his professional career as a 19-year-old, debuting for French club FC Metz in 2011. The midfielder amassed seven goals in 57 matches for FC Metz II from 2011-13 before moving from his native France to Belgium ahead of the 2013-14 campaign, signing for RE Virton of the Belgian Second Division. His six goals from the midfield paved the way for his subsequent move to OH Leuven.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
32
19
1594
3
3
49
14
25
16
2
1
2
0
1
1
KC - Postseason
4
1
105
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
36
20
1699
3
3
49
14
26
17
2
2
2
0
1
1
12
Sporting KC Game Notes | February 28, 2019 at Deportivo Toluca | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #18 | GK | ERIC DICK | @DaBrickWall00 SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
0
0
0
0
0
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
0
0
0
0
0
International
0
0
0
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
0
0
0
0
0
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals N/A Assists N/A Shots on Goal N/A Shots N/A Fouls Committed N/A Fouls Suffered N/A Last Regular Season... Appearance N/A Goal N/A Assist N/A 2018 Record when: he starts 0-0-0
Height: 6-5 Weight: 205 Birthday: 10/3/1994 Hometown: Carmel, Indiana College: Butler University Acquired: 2018 MLS SuperDraft 1st Round (#13) - signed on 2/15/18
he scores 0-0-0
Sporting KC selected goalkeeper Eric Dick with the 13th overall pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. He officially signed an MLS contract for the club in February 2018.
Born in Kansas City suburb Roeland Park, Kansas, Dick led Butler to the 2016 Big East Championship and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances over his last two seasons. He compiled a 27-10-4 record over his junior and senior campaigns, landing First Team Dick, the 13th overall pick in the SuperDraft, was a four-year starter at Butler University in All-Big East Conference accolades in 2017. Indianapolis. As a senior, he was named the 2017 Big East Conference Goalkeeper of the Year and received United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American honors. He ended his At the youth level, Dick played for the Indiana Fire Academy and attended Carmel High college career with 28 shutouts and a 0.96 goals against average across 71 starts. School in Carmel, Indiana, where he was a two-time All-District and All-County performer. MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
#17 | M | ROGER ESPINOZA SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
222
202
17915
8
32
MLS Postseason
13
12
1019
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
21
18
1946
0
3
International
4
3
310
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
260
234
21190
8
35
Height: 5-11 Weight: 170 Hometown: Aurora, Colorado College: Ohio State Last Club: Wigan Athletic (England) Acquired: Signed on 1/6/2015
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, 8 times, last: Oct. 28, 2018, KC vs. LAFC Assists 2, 2 times, last: July 4, 2018, KC at RSL Shots on Goal 2, 9 times, last: Oct. 7, 2017, KC at MIN Shots 6, May 15, 2016, KC vs. ORL Fouls Committed 5, 2 times, last: Oct. 7, 2017, KC at MIN Fouls Suffered 6, 2 times, last: Oct. 16, 2016, KC at RSL Last Regular Season... Appearance Oct. 28, 2018, KC vs. LAFC Goal Oct. 28, 2018, KC vs. LAFC Assist Aug. 18, 2018, KC vs. POR 2018 Record when: he starts 17-8-7 he scores 2-1-0
Birthday: 10/25/1986
Roger Espinoza played five seasons in Kansas City from 2008-12 before moving abroad to Wigan Athletic FC. After a two-year stint in the English Premier League and English Championship, Espinoza returned to Sporting KC in 2015 and tallied one goal and four MLS assists. His 2015 campaign was cut short due to a left foot injury sustained in early August, but returned to the fold as a regular starter in 2016. Espinoza set new careerhighs in both goals (3) and assists (9) in 2018. Espinoza was an MLS All-Star in 2012 and helped lead the club to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title that season. He has made 260 appearances for the club in all
competitions, tallying eight goals and 35 assists over nine seasons. In two years at Wigan Athletic, he logged 57 appearances, including eight in the UEFA Europa League, and started in the club’s 2013 FA Cup Final victory over Manchester City. Espinoza has earned 51 caps for the Honduras Men’s National Team since debuting in 2009. He has competed in the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups as well as the 2012 Summer Olympics.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
222
202
17915
8
32
258
64
362
311
13
16
50
8
1
8
KC - Postseason
13
12
1019
0
0
9
4
17
19
2
0
5
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
235
213
18934
8
32
267
68
379
330
15
16
55
8
1
8
13
Sporting KC Game Notes | February 28, 2019 at Deportivo Toluca | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #12 | F | GERSO FERNANDES | @ge7fe SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
63
43
3829
13
7
MLS Postseason
3
1
83
1
0
U.S. Open Cup
8
7
538
2
2
International
1
1
87
1
1
ALL COMPETITIONS
75
52
4537
17
10
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 3, May 17, 2017, KC vs. SEA Assists 2, Sept. 15, 2018, KC at SJ Shots on Goal 4, May 17, 2017, KC vs. SEA Shots 6, May 17, 2017, KC vs. SEA Fouls Committed 5, July 28, 2018, KC vs. FCD Fouls Suffered 4, 2 times, last: Aug. 18, 2018, KC vs. POR Last Regular Season... Appearance Oct. 28, 2018, KC vs. LAFC Goal Sept. 15, 2018, KC at SJ Assist Sept. 15, 2018, KC at SJ 2018 Record when: he starts 9-5-3 he scores 3-1-0
Height: 5-8 Weight: 140 Birthday: 2/21/1991 Hometown: Bissau, Guinea-Bissau Last Club: C.F. Os Belenenses (Portugal) Acquired: Signed on 1/4/2017 Gerso Fernandes, a left-footed winger, has played more than 150 matches during a six-year professional career in Portugal. Prior to joining Sporting KC ahead of the 2017 season, he spent the previous five seasons in the Portuguese first division, including the 2016-17 Primeira Liga campaign with Belenenses. On May 17, 2017, Fernandes scored the first Sporting KC hat-trick in seven years in a 3-0 win over Seattle Sounders FC before adding a goal and an assist in his first-ever U.S. Open Cup game against Minnesota United FC on June 14, 2017. He was named the club’s 2017 Offensive Player of the Year.
Fernandes started nine of 14 Primeira Liga appearances for Belenenses in the 2016-17 season prior to joining Sporting KC, recording one goal and four assists. He also contributed one assist in three domestic cup matches, featuring in the 2016-17 Taça de Portugal and the 2016-17 Taça da Liga. Fernandes appeared more than 100 times for Estoril between 2011-2016. He helped clinch promotion to the Primera Liga in his first year with the club before facilitating Estoril’s transition to the top flight over the next two seasons, recording four assists in 43 Primera Liga appearances and playing six games in the 2013-14 UEFA Europa League group stage.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
63
43
3829
13
7
100
43
63
66
14
11
5
0
4
1
KC - Postseason
3
1
83
1
0
5
3
2
3
0
1
0
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
66
44
3912
14
7
105
46
65
69
14
12
5
0
4
1
#4 | D | ANDREU FONTAS | @AFontas3 SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
2
1
92
0
0
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
0
0
0
0
0
International
1
1
90
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
3
2
182
0
0
Height: 6-1 Weight: 190 Hometown: Banyoles, Spain Last Club: Celta Vigo (Spain) Acquired: Signed on 8/8/2018
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 0 Assists 0 Shots on Goal 0 Shots 0 Fouls Committed 1, Sept. 8, 2018, KC vs. ORL Fouls Suffered 2, Sept. 8, 2018, KC vs. ORL Last Regular Season... Appearance Oct. 21, 2018, KC at FCD Goal N/A Assist N/A 2018 Record when: he starts 1-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
Birthday: 11/14/1989
Sporting Kansas City signed center back Andreu Fontas, a 10-year professional with more than 200 appearances in his native Spain, on Aug. 8, 2018. Sporting KC used Targeted Allocation Money to sign Fontas, who was a free agent after being released from his contract with La Liga side Celta Vigo following the 2017-18 season. Fontas spent five seasons from 2013-2018 with Celta Vigo in Spain’s top-flight La Liga, where he started 100 of 105 league appearances and helped the club to the semifinals of the 2016-17 UEFA Europa League. The defender developed in FC Barcelona’s famed La
Masia youth academy alongside current Sporting KC midfielder Ilie Sanchez, playing nearly 100 matches combined for FC Barcelona B and FC Barcelona from 2008-2012. Fontas advanced through from the B team to the first team in 2009 and played in 16 games for the Spanish giants, including a sub appearance in the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup Final that Barca won 4-0 over Santos. Fontas spent the 2012-13 season on loan at Mallorca before signing with Celta Vigo in June 2013, where he made 139 appearances over five years. Internationally, Fontas has represented Spain at the Under-19, Under-20 and Under-21 levels and has also played for the Catalonia National Team.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
2
1
92
0
0
0
0
1
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
2
1
92
0
0
0
0
1
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
14
Sporting KC Game Notes | February 28, 2019 at Deportivo Toluca | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #23 | F | TYLER FREEMAN | @tylerfreeman23 SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
0
0
0
0
0
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
0
0
0
0
0
International
0
0
0
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
0
0
0
0
0
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals N/A Assists N/A Shots on Goal N/A Shots N/A Fouls Committed N/A Fouls Suffered N/A Last Regular Season... Appearance N/A Goal N/A Assist N/A 2018 Record when: he starts 0-0-0
Height: 5-10 Weight: 150 Birthday: 1/9/2003 Hometown: Shawnee, Kansas Last Club: Sporting KC Academy Acquired: Signed as Homegrown on 10/2/2018 Sporting Kansas City announced the signing of 16-year-old forward Tyler Freeman as a Homegrown Player late in the 2018 season. A native of Shawnee, Kansas, Freeman is the second-youngest player in club history behind current teammate Gianluca Busio. He entered the Sporting KC Academy in 2014 at age 11 and has represented his hometown club at the U-12 through U-19 levels.
he scores 0-0-02
fourth-place finish at the CONCACAF U-13 Champions League in Mexico City, scoring three goals at the tournament. He featured extensively for both the U-17s and U-19s in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 Development Academy season.
On the international stage, Freeman earned his first selection to the U.S. U-14 Boys’ National Team for a training camp in November 2016. The following June in Zagreb, Freeman made an immediate impact upon joining Sporting KC’s youth ranks, leading the Croatia, he led the U.S. U-14s with a team-best four goals across three friendlies. In U-12s at the 2015 Generation adidas Cup before winning Kansas State Cup titles in 2015 2018, Freeman competed for the U.S. U-16s in April at the Torneo Delle Nazioni in Italy and 2016 with the U-13s. In August 2016, Freeman propelled the Sporting KC U-13s to a before receiving his first call to the U.S. U-17s in August for a Costa Rica training camp. MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
#21 | M | FELIPE GUTIERREZ SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
20
18
1522
7
2
MLS Postseason
4
4
360
0
3
U.S. Open Cup
1
0
19
0
0
International
1
1
90
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
26
23
1991
7
5
Height: 5-7 Weight: 145 Hometown: Quintero, Chile Last Club: Real Betis (Spain) Acquired: Signed on 2/6/2018
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 2, March 10, 2018, KC at CHI Assists 2, Sept. 15, 2018, KC at SJ Shots on Goal 3, 2 times, last: March 24, 2018, KC at COL Shots 6, March 24, 2018, KC at COL Fouls Committed 4, 3 times, last: Sept. 30, 2018, KC vs. RSL Fouls Suffered 3, 4 times, last: Oct. 6, 2018, KC vs. LA Last Regular Season... Appearance Oct. 28, 2018, KC vs. LAFC Goal Sept. 15, 2018, KC at SJ Assist Sept. 15, 2018, KC at SJ 2018 Record when: he starts 11-4-3 he scores 5-0-1
Birthday: 10/8/1990
Gutierrez joined 12-time Chilean Primera Division champion CD Universidad Catolica in 2009. He enjoyed a breakout season for the club in 2011, scoring 10 goals in the top-flight Primera Division as Universidad Catolica finished atop the spring Apertura standings and won the 2011 Copa Chile. Gutierrez landed a transfer to FC Twente ahead of the 2012-13 Eredivisie season, debuting for the Dutch side in a UEFA Europa League qualifier. In his sophomore season at FC Twente, Gutierrez reached new heights as the midfielder started 33 league matches and was named the 2013-14 Eredivisie Most Valuable Player for his instrumental role in propelling the Tukkers to a third-place finish in the table.
Gutierrez moved from Netherlands to Spain in 2016-17, signing for Spanish La Liga side Real Betis. His first La Liga goal was a stoppage-time winner as Real Betis beat Osasuna 2-1 in October 2016. Gutierrez spent most of 2017 on loan at Internacional in Brazil, where he played 16 games and helped the club gain promotion to the top-flight Serie A. A native of Quintero, Chile, Gutierrez has represented his country 35 times at the senior international level. He’s competed on a global stage at the sport’s highest level, featuring at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and helping Chile lift the 2015 Copa America title as champions of South America.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
20
18
1522
7
2
40
17
38
25
1
19
3
0
4
1
KC - Postseason
4
4
360
0
3
9
4
9
11
1
11
0
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
24
22
1882
7
5
49
21
47
36
2
30
3
0
4
1
15
Sporting KC Game Notes | February 28, 2019 at Deportivo Toluca | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #19 | F | ERIK HURTADO | @Etado19 SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
0
0
0
0
0
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
0
0
0
0
0
International
1
0
8
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
1
0
8
0
0
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, 12 times, last: Aug. 4, 2018, VAN at NYC (w/ VAN) Assists 1, 10 times, last: Oct. 21, 2018, VAN at LAFC (w/ VAN) Shots on Goal 2, 9 times, last: Sept. 30, 2018, VAN at KC (w/ VAN) Shots 7, Sept. 3, 2016, VAN vs. NY (w/ VAN) Fouls Committed 5, Sept. 3, 2017, VAN vs. NY (w/ VAN) Fouls Suffered 5, Aug. 27, 2016, VAN at LA (w/ VAN) Last Regular Season... Appearance Oct. 21, 2018, VAN at LAFC (w/ VAN) Goal Aug. 4, 2018, VAN at NYC (w/ VAN) Assist Oct. 21, 2018, VAN at LAFC (w/ VAN) 2018 Record when: he starts 0-2-2 he scores 0-1-1
Height: 5-10 Weight: 185 Birthday: 11/15/1990 Hometown: Beaverton, Oregon Last Club: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (MLS) Acquired: Acquired via trade on 12/14/2018 Sporting KC acquired forward Erik Hurtado in late 2018 from Vancouver Whitecaps FC. In six seasons with the Whitecaps, Hurtado contributed 17 goals and 13 assists in 123 matches (47 MLS starts) across all competitions since being selected fifth overall in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft.
Norwegian first division. Hurtado made 12 appearances during the five-month loan spell. Hurtado had two goals and two assists in the 2016-17 Concacaf Champions League with Vancouver, scoring in both CCL fixtures against Sporting KC, as the Whitecaps advanced from the group stage and advanced all the way to the semifinals.
The former U.S. youth international and Santa Clara product recorded seven goals and five assists in his first two professional seasons, before helping the Whitecaps to their lone Canadian Championship title in 2015 with an 87th-minute game-tying assist in the semifinal series before garnering European experience on loan with Mjondalen in the
More recently, Hurtado has compiled six goals and three assists since the start of the 2017 season, including his game-winning goal in Vancouver’s 1-0 victory over Sporting KC at Children’s Mercy Park that snapped Sporting’s 24-game home unbeaten streakon Sept. 30, 2017.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
MLS - Regular Season
105
47
4713
12
10
126
43
101
71
46
6
3
0
2
3
MLS - Postseason
1
1
78
1
0
2
2
3
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
106
48
4791
13
10
128
45
104
74
46
6
3
0
2
3
#26 | D | JAYLIN LINDSEY | @JaylinLindsey SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
7
6
555
0
1
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
3
2
205
0
0
International
0
0
0
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
10
8
760
0
1
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 0 Assists 1, July 14, 2018, KC at NY Shots on Goal 1, July 28, 2018, KC vs. FCD Shots 2, 2 times, last: July 28, 2018, KC vs. FCD Fouls Committed 1, 5 times, last: July 28, 2018, KC vs. FCD Fouls Suffered 1, 2 times, last: July 28, 2018, KC vs. FCD Last Regular Season... Appearance July 28, 2018, KC vs. FCD Goal N/A Assist July 14, 2018, KC at NY 2018 Record when: he starts 1-3-2 he scores 0-0-0
Height: 5-8 Weight: 155 Birthday: 3/27/2000 Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina Last Club: Sporting KC Academy Acquired: Signed as Homegrown on 1/1/2018 Sporting Kansas City signed Jaylin Lindsey as a Homegrown Player in September 2017, with his contract starting on Jan. 1, 2018. He made his MLS debut on June 3 in a 4-1 win over Minnesota United FC. A product of the Sporting KC Academy, Lindsey is the third-youngest signing in club history. The defender has featured for the Sporting KC U-16s and U-18s and made more than 25 appearances for the United States U-17 Men’s National Team from 2016-2017. Born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, Lindsey joined the Sporting KC Academy in January 2015. He has made more than 30 combined appearances for the U-16s and U-18s. After impressing throughout his first full Academy season with Sporting KC,
Lindsey signed an Academy contract with the Swope Park Rangers on May 6, 2016. A day later, he became the first American player born in 2000 or later to appear in a professional match. Lindsey would feature once more for the Rangers before joining the U.S. U-17 Residency Program in August 2016. Lindsey has featured regularly for the U.S. U-17s and received his first call-up to the U.S. U-20s in September 2018. He was named to the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship Best XI in May after helping the U.S. to a second-place finish. That allowed Lindsey to represent the U.S. at the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India. Lindsey has been a youth international since 2013, representing the U-14s, U-15s and U-17s.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
7
6
555
0
1
5
1
5
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
7
6
555
0
1
5
1
5
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
16
Sporting KC Game Notes | February 28, 2019 at Deportivo Toluca | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #94 | D | JIMMY MEDRANDA | @jimmymedranda SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
86
62
5311
5
4
MLS Postseason
2
1
121
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
7
6
648
0
2
International
2
1
96
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
97
70
6177
5
6
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, 5 times, last: April 20, 2018, KC vs. VAN Assists 1, 4 times, last: April 15, 2018, KC vs. SEA Shots on Goal 3, June 3, 2017, KC vs. MIN Shots 4, 5 times, last: June 3, 2017, KC vs. MIN Fouls Committed 4, 2 times, last: Sept. 24, 2016, KC at SJ Fouls Suffered 4, March 15, 2014, KC vs. FCD Last Regular Season... Appearance May 20, 2018, KC at MIN Goal April 20, 2018, KC vs. VAN Assist April 15, 2018, KC vs. SEA 2018 Record when: he starts 5-1-2 he scores 2-0-0
Height: 5-8 Weight: 150 Birthday: 2/7/1994 Hometown: Mosquera, Nariño, Colombia Last Club: Deportivo Pereira (Colombia) Acquired: Signed on 2/13/2014 Jimmy Medranda joined Sporting KC in August 2013 on loan from Colombian club Deportivo Pereira, making his MLS debut a month later. He signed permanently for Sporting KC in February 2014 and has played 97 games for the club across all competitions. He set career highs for appearances (39), starts (29), minutes (2,619) and goals (2) in 2017.
Medranda has scored five goals and added six assists since the start of 2016, his first for the club. He joined Deportivo Pereira’s youth system at age 12 before climbing the ladder to the senior team by age 17. He made 16 first team appearances for the club in two seasons, scoring twice.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
86
62
5311
5
4
109
22
81
49
6
19
12
1
1
2
KC - Postseason
2
1
121
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
88
63
5432
5
4
110
22
82
50
6
19
12
1
1
2
#29 | GK | TIM MELIA | @TimMelia28 SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
115
115
10319
0
0
MLS Postseason
6
6
534
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
11
11
1080
0
0
International
2
2
180
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
134
134
12113
0
0
Height: 6-1 Weight: 190 Hometown: Great River, New York College: Lynn University Last Club: Chivas USA (MLS) Acquired: Signed on 12/23/2014
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals Allowed 5, 2 times, last: Aug. 19, 2015, KC vs. SJ Saves 10, April 8, 2018, KC at LA Last Regular Season... Appearance Oct. 28, 2018, KC vs. LAFC Shutout Oct. 21, 2018, KC at FCD 2018 Record when: he starts 18-8-8
Birthday: 5/15/1986
Tim Melia became one of the top goalkeepers in MLS in 2017 following his breakout season in 2015 where he earned MLS Comeback Player of the Year honors. Melia claimed the 2017 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year crown with career-highs in wins (12), shutouts (10), saves (91), starts (31) and minutes (2,759). Melia surpassed each of those numbers in 2018, posting 18 wins, 13 shutouts, 106 saves, 34 starts and 3060 minutes.
During his breakout campaign in 2015, Melia finished third in 2015 with a 72.6 precent save percentage while also ranking in the top 10 in wins, shutouts and goals against average. He was a six-time member of the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week and became the first goalkeeper in MLS history to record six shutouts in his first nine league matches for a new team.
Melia was also named the club’s 2017 Most Valuable Player. Among goalkeepers with at least 15 regular-season appearances in 2017, he led MLS with a 0.78 goals against average, 78.4 save percentage and 69.2-percent passing accuracy. He also ranked second in shutouts. On April 8, 2018, Melia set a new club record and career-high with 10 saves in a 2-0 win over the LA Galaxy.
After a four-year college career with NCAA Division III program Lynn University (New York), Melia began his professional career in 2008 with the Rochester Rhinos of the USL First Division. After stints with Real Salt Lake and Chivas USA, he spent the latter half of 2014 as a League Pool Goalkeeper, earning emergency call-ups from Sporting KC, FC Dallas and D.C. United.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
SHT
SVS
SO
GA
GAA
PG
PA
C
E
W
L
T
KC - Regular Season
115
115
10319
468
341
39
122
1.06
11
18
8
0
52
34
28
MLS - Regular Season
121
120
10759
504
363
39
136
1.14
12
19
8
1
52
38
29
KC - Postseason
6
6
534
24
15
1
8
1.35
0
0
0
0
1
2
2
MLS - TOTAL
127
126
11292
528
378
40
144
1.15
12
19
8
1
53
40
31
17
Sporting KC Game Notes | February 28, 2019 at Deportivo Toluca | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #9 | F | KRISZTIAN NEMETH | @KNemeth_Nemo SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
37
27
2423
11
7
MLS Postseason
2
1
130
1
0
U.S. Open Cup
4
4
371
5
1
International
1
1
82
1
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
44
33
3006
18
8
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 2, May 20, 2015, KC vs. NE Assists 1, 10 times, last: Aug. 18, 2018, KC vs. POR Shots on Goal 2, 8 times, last: Sept. 23, 2018, KC at PHI Shots 6, 2 times, last: Oct. 22, 2017, NE at MTL (w/ NE) Fouls Committed 2, 9 times, last: June 9, 2018, NE at CHI (w/ NE) Fouls Suffered 7, May 29, 2015, KC vs. FCD Last Regular Season... Appearance Oct. 21, 2018, KC at FCD Goal Sept. 15, 2018, KC at SJ Assist Aug. 18, 2018, KC vs. POR 2018 Record when: he starts 4-1-3 he scores 1-0-0
Height: 5-11 Weight: 165 Birthday: 1/5/1989 Hometown: Gyor, Hungary Last Club: New England Revolution (MLS) Acquired: Acquired via trade with New England Revolution on 8/6/2018 Sporting Kansas City acquired forward Krisztian Nemeth from the New England Revolution in August 2018. Nemeth returns to Sporting KC after recording 16 goals and seven assists in 33 competitive matches for the club in 2015. The forward joined Al-Gharafa SC in Qatar in 2016 and has spent the last 12 months in MLS with the Revs.
Nemeth also played a pivotal role in Sporting KC’s run to the 2015 U.S. Open Cup title, finishing as the tournament’s joint-top scorer with five goals, including a second-half equalizer in the final as Sporting KC defeated the Philadelphia Union on penalties. Nemeth began his career with MTK Budapest in Hungary before signing with Liverpool FC in 2007. He had loan stints at Blackpool and AEK Athens before signing permanently in Greece with Olympiacos in 2010. Nemeth endured further loan spells at Olympiacos Volos, MTK Budapest and RKC Waalwijk before signing permanently in the Netherlands with Roda JC in 2012, where he spent two years prior to joining SKC in 2015.
In his first stint with SKC, Nemeth was named the club’s newcomer of the year and became Kansas City’s first MLS Goal of the Year winner for his stunning solo effort in a 1-0 victory over the Portland Timbers on Oct. 3, 2015. The Hungarian scored 10 goals throughout the 2015 regular season, earning MLS Player of the Month honors in May. MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
37
27
2423
11
7
77
28
24
42
13
0
3
0
5
1
MLS - Regular Season
58
34
3066
12
10
95
33
40
51
14
0
4
1
5
1
KC - Postseason
2
1
130
1
0
4
2
3
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
60
35
3196
13
10
99
35
43
51
14
0
5
1
5
1
#11 | M | KELYN ROWE | @Krowe210 SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
0
0
0
0
0
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
0
0
0
0
0
International
1
0
12
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
1
0
12
0
0
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 2, 3 times, last: Sept. 17, 2016, NE at MTL (w/ NE) Assists 2, 2 times, last: April 6, 2018, NE vs. MTL (w/ NE) Shots on Goal 5, March 28, 2016, NE vs. SJ (w/ NE) Shots 7, March 28, 2016, NE vs. SJ (w/ NE) Fouls Committed 5, March 10, 2018, NE vs. COL (w/ NE) Fouls Suffered 5, 3 times, last: May 27, 2017, NE at NY (w/ NE) Last Regular Season... Appearance Oct. 28, 2018, NE vs. MTL (w/ NE) Goal Oct. 18, 2018, NE at RSL (w/ NE) Assist April 6, 2018, NE vs. MTL (w/ NE) 2018 Record when: he starts 6-5-7 he scores 0-1-0
Height: 5-8 Weight: 150 Birthday: 12/02/1991 Hometown: Federal Way, Washington Last Club: New England Revolution (MLS) Acquired: Acquired via trade with the Colorado Rapids on 12/18/2018
Kelyn Rowe joined Sporting KC ahead of the 2019 season having made 214 appearances England to their first MLS Cup appearance since 2007. Rowe combined for 12 goals and for the New England Revolution in MLS action since being selected out of UCLA as the 13 assists in 2015 and 2016, playing 33 of the side’s 34 MLS regular season games in third overall pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, recording 30 goals and 42 assists over the each campaign, while also aiding the Revs’ run to the U.S. Open Cup Final in 2016. past seven seasons. Rowe has earned four caps for the U.S. Men’s National Team, helping the side win the During his rookie year, Rowe bagged three goals and five assists in 30 appearances 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup. Rowe made his debut on July 1, 2017 in a friendly against before breaking out in 2013 as the Revs reached the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in Ghana before appearing in two group stage games at the Gold Cup – recording an assist four attempts, notching eight goals and nine assists on the season. Rowe followed that up on the game-winner against Panama before netting his first international goal in the win with another solid season in 2014, as his five goals and six assists helped propel New vs. Nicaragua. He won his fourth cap against Bosnia & Herzegovina in January 2018. MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
MLS - Regular Season
206
160
14604
29
40
360
123
224
261
26
195
20
0
6
9
MLS - Postseason
8
7
647
1
2
15
5
11
8
1
7
0
0
1
0
MLS - TOTAL
214
167
15251
30
42
375
128
235
269
27
202
20
0
7
9
18
Sporting KC Game Notes | February 28, 2019 at Deportivo Toluca | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #7 | F | JOHNNY RUSSELL SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
30
24
2183
10
10
MLS Postseason
4
4
345
0
1
U.S. Open Cup
3
2
190
2
2
International
1
1
90
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
38
31
2808
12
13
Height: 5-10 Weight: 170 Hometown: Glasgow, Scotland Last Club: Derby County FC (England) Acquired: Signed on 1/31/2018
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 3, April 20, 2018, KC vs. VAN Assists 2, 2 times, last: Aug. 25, 2018, KC vs. MIN Shots on Goal 4, April 20, 2018, KC vs. VAN Shots 6, 2 times, last: Oct. 6, 2018, KC vs. LA Fouls Committed 3, June 23, 2018, KC vs. HOU Fouls Suffered 4, May 20, 2018, KC at MIN Last Regular Season... Appearance Oct. 28, 2018, KC vs. LAFC Goal Oct. 21, 2018, KC at FCD Assist Oct. 17, 2018, KC at VAN 2018 Record when: he starts 11-5-8 he scores 5-1-2
Birthday: 4/8/1990
Sporting KC acquired Scottish winger Johnny Russell in a transfer from English club Derby County FC in January 2018. Russell scored 93 goals during a 12-year professional career in England and his native Scotland. Russell developed in the Dundee United FC Academy in Scotland before making his professional debut for the top-flight Scottish Premiership club in May 2007 at age 17. He spent most of the following two seasons on loan at Scottish side Forfar Athletic, recording eight goals, and marked his first career Dundee United start with a goal in a 2009 Scottish FA Cup win over East Sterlingshire. After being loaned to Raith Rovers in 2009-10, Russell enjoyed a breakout year at Dundee United with nine goals as the Tangerines finished fourth in the Scottish Premier League. He added 14 more goals in all
comps during the 2011-12 campaign to pace another fourth-place finish. Russell’s final season at Dundee saw him produce a team-best 20 goals in 38 competitive appearances. Russell reached new heights in June 2013 when he joined Derby County. He marked his debut for the outfit with his first of nine goals in the 2013-14 English Championship as the Rams fell just short of promotion to the EPL. He totaled 18 goals over the next two seasons. Russell has nine career caps for Scotland, receiving his first call to the senior squad in May 2012 for a friendly against the U.S. but did not feature in the match. Russell made his debut in 2014 and recently helped Scotland gain promotion to League B in the UEFA Nations League in 2018. He has also represented Scotland at the U-19 and U-21 levels.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
30
24
2183
10
10
70
30
15
37
4
74
3
0
1
3
KC - Postseason
4
4
345
0
1
8
2
6
6
1
13
0
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
34
28
2528
10
11
78
32
21
43
5
87
3
0
1
3
#3 | D | ABDUL RWATUBYAYE | @ARwatubyaye SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
0
0
0
0
0
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
0
0
0
0
0
International
0
0
0
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
0
0
0
0
0
Height: 6-1 Weight: 175 Hometown: Kigali, Rwanda Last Club: Rayon Sports FC (Rwanda) Acquired: Signed on 2/5/2019
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals N/A Assists N/A Shots on Goal N/A Shots N/A Fouls Committed N/A Fouls Suffered N/A Last Regular Season... Appearance N/A Goal N/A Assist N/A 2018 Record when: he starts 0-0-0
Birthday: 10/23/1996
he scores 0-0-0
Abdul Rwatubyaye joined Sporting KC in early 2019 from Rayon Sports FC in his native Rwanda. He spent three years rising the youth ranks of hometown club APR FC before launching his professional career at age 16 with Isonga FC in 2013. A strong showing with the club prompted his return to APR, where he won two consecutive Rwanda Premier League titles as a regular starter along the backline.
After leading APR to another league title in 2015-16, Rwatubyaye moved to crosstown rival Rayon Sports. In his first season with the team, he scored four goals in 22 matches and lifted his third straight Premier League trophy. The following season, Rwatubyaye and Rayon Sports performed admirably in the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup, reaching the tournament’s quarterfinals for the first time in club history.
Rwatubyaye tallied three goals and an assist in 21 games during the 2014-15 campaign, which culminated in a league championship and a berth in the 2016 CAF Champions League. He made an emphatic impact in the tournament’s preliminary round, scoring a hat-trick of headed goals in APR’s 4-1 second-leg victory over Mbabane Swallows to secure a 4-2 aggregate win.
Rwatubyaye has 22 caps for Rwanda and also represented his country at the U-17, U-20, U-23 and senior levels. Rwatubyaye made his Rwanda debut at the 2015 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup, helping the Wasps reach the tournament final, prior to scoring his first international goal in a 1-1 draw against Cameroon in January 2016. Rwatubyaye has started each of Rwanda’s four matches during 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
19
Sporting KC Game Notes | February 28, 2019 at Deportivo Toluca | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #20 | F | DANIEL SALLOI | @danielsalloi SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
51
38
3463
14
9
MLS Postseason
5
4
397
3
0
U.S. Open Cup
7
3
405
5
0
International
1
0
3
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
64
45
4268
22
9
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 2, Oct. 17, 2018, KC at VAN Assists 2, 2 times, last: June 23, 2018, KC vs. HOU Shots on Goal 4, 2 times, last: Oct. 28, 2018, KC vs. LAFC Shots 8, May 5, 2018, KC vs. COL Fouls Committed 2, 4 times, last: Aug. 4, 2018, KC at HOU Fouls Suffered 4, Oct. 11, 2017, KC at HOU Last Regular Season... Appearance Oct. 28, 2018, KC vs. LAFC Goal Oct. 28, 2018, KC vs. LAFC Assist Aug. 18, 2018, KC vs. POR 2018 Record when: he starts 15-6-5 he scores 8-2-0
Height: 6-1 Weight: 150 Birthday: 7/19/1996 Hometown: Budapest, Hungary Last Club: Gyirmot SE (Hungary) - Loan Acquired: Signed as a Homegrown on 1/13/2016 Sporting Kansas City signed forward Daniel Salloi as the fourth Homegrown Player in club history in early 2016 and made his Sporting KC debut on April 9, 2017 against the Colorado Rapids. Salloi is one of five Homegrown Players on Sporting Kansas City’s current roster, alongside Gianluca Busio (2017), Jaylin Lindsey (2018), Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal (2018) and Tyler Freeman (2019). He scored on his first start for the club - a 4-0 win over Minnesota United FC in the U.S. Open Cup on June 14, 2017 - before adding his first MLS goal vs. Portland on July 1. Salloi scored the winning goal in the 2017 U.S. Open Cup Final. Salloi made 10 appearances for Sporting KC’s USL affiliate, the Swope Park Rangers, in 2016 and scored four goals and added three assists before being loaned to Gyirmot SE in Hungary
for the remainder of the season. Salloi moved to the United States in August 2014 as an AFS exchange student and attended Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas, joining joined the Sporting Kansas City Academy U-18s for the 2014-15 season. After a successful spell with the Sporting KC U-18s, Salloi returned to his former Academy side Ujpest FC in July 2015 to sign an amateur contract for senior team, a 20-time champion in Hungary’s first division. He made his professional debut in the top-tier OTP Bank Liga on July 18, the day before his 19th birthday. Salloi received his first call-up to the Hungary National Team in August 2018. He previously played for the Hungary Under-21 National Team after debuting in 2017 and earned four caps.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
51
38
3463
14
9
120
50
23
44
14
1
4
1
6
4
KC - Postseason
5
4
397
3
0
15
5
3
8
2
0
1
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
56
42
3860
17
9
135
55
26
52
16
1
5
1
6
4
#6 | M | ILIE SANCHEZ SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
67
67
6030
4
6
MLS Postseason
5
5
480
1
0
U.S. Open Cup
8
8
780
0
1
International
1
1
90
1
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
81
81
7380
6
7
Height: 5-11 Weight: 170 Hometown: Barcelona, Spain Last Club: Elche CF (Spain) Acquired: Signed on 1/13/2017
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, 4 times, last: Aug. 11, 2018, KC at LAFC Assists 2, May 9, 2018, KC at ATL Shots on Goal 2, 2 times, last: Oct. 21, 2018, KC at FCD Shots 5, April 20, 2018, KC vs. VAN Fouls Committed 5, March 10, 2018, KC at CHI Fouls Suffered 6, May 5, 2018, KC vs. COL Last Regular Season... Appearance Oct. 28, 2018, KC vs. LAFC Goal Aug. 11, 2018, KC at LAFC Assist Oct. 17, 2018, KC at VAN 2018 Record when: he starts 18-8-8 he scores 2-0-2
Birthday: 11/21/1990
Ilie, a product of FC Barcelona’s famed La Masia youth academy, has eight years of professional experience in Spain and Germany. The defensive midfielder featured extensively for FC Barcelona B from 2009-2014 and most recently played for Elche CF during the 2015-16 season. He joined Sporting KC ahead of the 2017 season and has made 81 appearances in all competitions, earning SKC Newcomer of the Year honors in 2017 before being named an MLS All-Star and the club’s Most Valuable Player in 2018.
After missing most of 2011-12 through injury, Sánchez claimed a regular spot in Barcelona B’s midfield over the next two seasons. He played 29 league matches in 2012-13 and started 36 of 38 appearances in 2013-14, guiding Barcelona B to another third-place finish in the Segunda Division. Sánchez appeared in 114 league games during his five-year spell at FC Barcelona B.
Sánchez moved to Germany’s second division in 2014, making 26 appearances in all Born and raised in Barcelona, Sánchez jumped from La Masia to FC Barcelona B ahead competitions for 1860 Munich of the 2. Bundesliga. He was then loaned back to his native of the 2009-10 campaign. He helped the club earn promotion to the Spanish Segunda Spain for the 2015-16 campaign, where he played 28 games for CF Elche in the Segunda Division in his first professional season. He played 24 more matches the following year as Division. Barcelona B finished third in Spain’s second tier. MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
67
67
6030
4
6
64
16
50
71
0
13
12
0
0
2
KC - Postseason
5
5
480
1
0
5
2
4
4
0
0
1
0
1
0
MLS - TOTAL
72
72
6510
5
6
69
18
54
75
0
13
13
0
1
2
20
Sporting KC Game Notes | February 28, 2019 at Deportivo Toluca | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #15 | D | SETH SINOVIC | @ssinovic SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
188
179
15827
1
11
MLS Postseason
15
15
1404
2
0
U.S. Open Cup
15
15
1248
0
2
International
12
11
1027
1
2
ALL COMPETITIONS
230
220
19506
4
15
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, April 9, 2017, KC vs. COL Assists 1, 11 times, last: Aug. 25, 2018, KC vs. MIN Shots on Goal 2, 2 times, last: Oct. 11, 2017, KC at HOU Shots 3, 5 times, last: Aug. 25, 2018, KC vs. MIN Fouls Committed 5, 2 times, last: Sept. 23, 2015, KC at HOU Fouls Suffered 3, 6 times, last: April 20, 2013, KC at LA Last Regular Season... Appearance Oct. 28, 2018, KC vs. LAFC Goal April 9, 2017, KC vs. COL Assist Aug. 25, 2018, KC vs. MIN 2018 Record when: he starts 12-3-4 he scores 0-0-0
Height: 5-10 Weight: 170 Birthday: 1/28/1987 Hometown: Leawood, Kansas College: Creighton Last Club: New England Revolution (MLS) Acquired: Signed on 5/10/2011 A nine-year MLS veteran, Seth Sinovic has started 220 of 230 appearances in all competitions since joining Sporting KC from the New England Revolution in 2011. The left back played at least 30 regular season matches every year from 2012-2014, during which time Sporting KC conceded the fewest combined goals in MLS. He scored his first MLS regular-season goal on his 150th MLS appearance for Sporting KC against the Colorado Rapids on April 9, 2017.
A native of Leawood, Kansas, Sinovic scored his first professional goal in the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs and notched the second of his career in the 2013 postseason as Sporting KC won MLS Cup. He was named the club’s Defender of the Year in 2014. After a four-year college career at Creighton University, Sinovic was selected by New England with the 25th pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. He made 20 MLS appearances as a rookie before moving to Sporting KC in 2011.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
188
179
15827
1
11
96
25
195
117
10
0
31
1
0
5
MLS - Regular Season
208
197
17407
1
11
103
26
208
128
11
0
34
1
0
5
KC - Postseason
15
15
1404
2
0
7
4
23
16
0
0
3
0
2
0
MLS - TOTAL
223
212
18811
3
11
110
30
231
144
11
0
37
1
2
5
#16 | D | GRAHAM SMITH | @grahamsmith161 SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
2
2
180
0
0
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
1
1
90
0
0
International
0
0
0
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
3
3
270
0
0
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 0 Assists 0 Shots on Goal 0 Shots 1, June 23, 2018, KC vs. HOU Fouls Committed 2, July 14, 2018, KC at NY Fouls Suffered 0 Last Regular Season... Appearance July 14, 2018, KC at NY Goal N/A Assist N/A 2018 Record when: he starts 1-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
Height: 6-3 Weight: 185 Birthday: 4/8/1990 Hometown: Highlands Ranch, Colorado College: University of Denver Acquired: 2018 MLS SuperDraft 1st Round (#18) - signed on 2/15/18 Sporting Kansas City selected center back Graham Smith with the 18th overall pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft before officially sigining him in February 2018. He made his debut and first start for the club in the 3-2 victory over Houston on June 23, 2018, going the full 90 minutes at center back in the thrilling win.
A native of Highlands Ranch, Colo., Smith was teammates with current SKC forward Khiry Shelton during his freshman year at Oregon State. He assisted three goals in 38 matches for the Beavers, helping the side reach the NCAA Tournament in 2014. Upon transferring to Denver in 2016, Smith helped the Pioneers reach the Men’s College Cup for the first time in program history. He split time between the holding midfield and Smith split his four-year college career between Oregon State University (2014-15) and center back positions, serving as the anchor of a defense that notched a 0.52 goals the University of Denver (2016-17). The defender started all 80 appearances at the NCAA against average in 2016 and a 0.71 goals against average in 2017. As a senior, Smith Division I level, registering six goals and seven assists in his final two seasons with the was a United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Second Team selection and a CoSIDA Pioneers. Academic All-American. MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
2
2
180
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
2
2
180
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
21
Sporting KC Game Notes | February 28, 2019 at Deportivo Toluca | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #22 | D | RODNEY WALLACE | @rodwallace22 SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
0
0
0
0
0
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
0
0
0
0
0
International
0
0
0
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
0
0
0
0
0
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 2, Oct. 4, 2014, POR at SJ (w/ POR) Assists 3, June 23, 2013, POR vs. COL (w/ POR) Shots on Goal 5, May 7, 2017, NYC vs. ATL (w/ NYC) Shots 6, Sept. 27, 2017, NYC at MTL (w/ NYC) Fouls Committed 6, May 30, 2009, DC vs. NY (w/ DC) Fouls Suffered 3, 5 times, last: Sept. 27, 2017, NYC at MTL (w/ NYC) Last Regular Season... Appearance Oct. 21, 2018, NYC at DC (w/ NYC) Goal Sept. 29, 2018, NYC at MIN (w/ NYC) Assist May 19, 2018, NYC vs. COL (w/ NYC) 2018 Record when: he starts 7-2-0 he scores 1-0-0
Height: 6-0 Weight: 165 Birthday: 6/17/1988 Hometown: Rockville, Maryland College: University of Maryland Acquired: Signed as a Free Agent on 12/14/18 Sporting Kansas City signed free agent defender and Costa Rican international Rodney Wallace in December 2018. Wallace has recorded 26 goals and 33 assists in 214 MLS appearances (including playoffs) since beginning his professional career in 2009. The versatile veteran, who was a 2013 MLS All-Star and a 2015 MLS Cup champion with with the Portland Timbers, arrives in Kansas City after a two-year stint with New York City FC. Selected as the sixth overall pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, Wallace had three goals and three assists as a rookie with D.C. United before joining the Timbers ahead of their inaugural 2011 campaign. As a left-sided midfielder and defender, Wallace experienced a breakout year in 2013 when he scored a career-high seven goals with six assists and propelled Portland to the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time.
Wallace bounced back from a knee injury to record five goals and one assist in 17 games in 2014, resulting in 2014 MLS Comeback Player of the Year honors. He made a career-high 32 regular-season appearances in 2015 for a Portland side that finished third in the Western Conference before bagging the game-winner in the 2015 MLS Cup. In 2016, Wallace continued his career abroad in the top divisions of Portugal and Brazil, first with FC Arouca and then Sport Recife. Wallace made 46 MLS appearances for NYCFC from 2017-2018, where he notched five goals and eight assists. Wallace has earned 32 caps for the Costa Rica Men’s National Team, tallying four goals and notably featuring at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia after competing at the Concacaf Gold Cup in 2013 and 2017.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
MLS - Regular Season
203
160
14147
24
29
262
91
274
122
51
0
35
0
8
9
MLS - Postseason
11
11
891
2
4
21
7
27
7
3
0
4
0
1
2
MLS - TOTAL
214
171
15038
26
33
283
98
301
129
54
0
39
0
9
11
#75 | M | WAN KUZAIN WAN KAMAL | @LeKuz7 SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
6
3
307
1
0
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
2
2
173
0
1
International
0
0
0
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
8
5
480
1
1
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, June 3, 2018, KC vs. MIN Assists 0 Shots on Goal 2, June 3, 2018, KC vs. MIN Shots 3, June 3, 2018, KC vs. MIN Fouls Committed 2, July 4, 2018, KC at RSL Fouls Suffered 2, 2 times, last: July 7, 2018, KC vs. TOR Last Regular Season... Appearance July 7, 2018, KC vs. TOR Goal June 3, 2018, KC vs. MIN Assist N/A 2018 Record when: he starts 0-1-2 he scores 1-0-0
Height: 5-10 Weight: 160 Birthday: 9/14/1998 Hometown: Carbondale, Illinois Last Club: Swope Park Rangers (USL) Acquired: Signed as Homegrown on 4/13/2018 Sporting Kansas City signed holding midfielder Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal to an MLS contract on April 13, 2018, becoming the ninth Homegrown player in club history and the fourth on the active roster. Kuzain is the first Sporting KC Homegrown signing to progress from the Sporting KC Academy to the Swope Park Rangers to the senior team. Kuzain made his Sporting KC debut on May 27, 2018 before scoring his first goal in his second appearance with the game-winner against Minnesota United on June 3, 2018. Born and raised in Carbondale, Illinois, Kuzain spent several years with St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Club before joining the Sporting Kansas City Academy in August 2016. He signed an Academy contract with the Rangers later that month.
Kuzain continued to develop in 2017 with the Swope Park Rangers, where he helped them to a second straight Western Conference championship. He debuted for the club last March and signed his first professional contract with the club in July, ending the campaign with 13 games played. His 91.3-percent passing accuracy last season ranked first in the USL among players with at least five appearances. As a youth, Kuzain previously trained with the United States U-17 Men’s National Team in 2013 and 2014 as well as Dutch club Feyenoord in late 2015.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
6
3
307
1
0
5
2
4
6
0
0
1
0
1
0
MLS - TOTAL
6
3
307
1
0
5
2
4
6
0
0
1
0
1
0
22
Sporting KC Game Notes | February 28, 2019 at Deportivo Toluca | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #1 | GK | ADRIAN ZENDEJAS | @MrZ3ND SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
0
0
0
0
0
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
2
2
180
0
0
International
0
0
0
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
2
2
180
0
0
Height: 6-5 Weight: 185 Hometown: Chula Vista, California Last Club: Swope Park Rangers (USL) Acquired: Signed on 12/2/2016
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals Allowed N/A Saves N/A Last Regular Season... Appearance N/A Shutout N/A 2018 Record when: he starts 0-0-0
Birthday: 8/30/1995
Goalkeeper Adrian Zendejas signed an MLS contract for Sporting KC in December 2016 after playing for the Swope Park Rangers during the club’s inaugural 2016 campaign. He spent the 2017 season primarily on loan with the Swope Park Rangers, making 25 starts for the club and posting a 0.92 goals against average with 10 shutouts. Zendejas was one of the top goalkeepers in the USL, cementing his pedigree by saving four penalties and scoring the game-winning spot kick in the shootout of the Western Conference Final against OKC Energy FC in November 2017. Zendajas joined the Rangers in June 2016 and debuted in a 2-1 win over LA Galaxy II on Aug. 27 before starting five of the team’s final seven regular season matches, amassing a
perfect 5-0-0 record with three shutouts, 13 saves and a 0.40 goals against average. Zendejas carried his great form into the postseason, earning two more clean sheets as the Rangers rattled off three straight victories en route to the USL Cup Final. The Chula Vista, California native joined Club Tijuana in 2014 and made his debut for the Under-20 team in February 2015. He made 31 total appearances for the U-20 team while helping the Xolos reach the 2015 Apertura final and the 2016 Clausura final. He made his first-team debut in a preseason friendly against Club Leon on July 3, 2015 and played all four preseason games for the Xolos in July 2015.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
SHT
SVS
SO
GA
GAA
PG
PA
C
E
W
L
T
KC - Regular Season
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.00
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.00
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
#8 | M | GRAHAM ZUSI | @gzusi SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
252
212
19500
28
63
MLS Postseason
18
18
1739
0
6
U.S. Open Cup
17
15
1447
3
6
International
9
9
780
0
3
ALL COMPETITIONS
296
254
23466
31
78
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 2, 3 times, last: Sept. 28, 2012, KC vs. CHI Assists 2, 7 times, last: July 14, 2018, KC at NY Shots on Goal 3, 5 times, last: Aug. 18, 2018, KC vs. POR Shots 6, May 15, 2016, KC vs. ORL Fouls Committed 4, 2 times, last: March 30, 2013, KC vs. MTL Fouls Suffered 6, Oct. 26, 2013, KC at PHI Last Regular Season... Appearance Oct. 28, 2018, KC vs. LAFC Goal April 15, 2018, KC vs. SEA Assist Oct. 28, 2018, KC vs. LAFC 2018 Record when: he starts 18-8-8 he scores 1-0-1
Height: 5-10 Weight: 160 Birthday: 8/18/1986 Hometown: Longwood, Florida College: Maryland Acquired: 2009 MLS SuperDraft 2nd Round (#23) A 10-year veteran for Sporting KC, Graham Zusi has garnered MLS All-Star (2012-15, 2017-18), MLS Best XI (2012-13) & MLS Breakout Player of the Year (2011) accolades in addition to receiving a 2012 MLS MVP nomination. He earned Sporting KC MVP honors from 2012-14 and is the only player to appear in every All-Star Game from 2011-2014. Zusi signed a long-term Designated Player contract in 2014. He has recorded 31 goals and 78 assists in 296 appearances for Sporting KC across all competitions since being drafted in 2009 out of the University of Maryland, where he won two national championships. He is second in club history with 78 total assists, while his 410 chances created from 2011-2015 (including postseason) ranked third in MLS. With his assist
against RSL on April 29, 2017, Zusi reached 50 regular-season assists and later moved into first in club history with 24 game-winning assists on Aug. 19, 2017 versus FC Dallas. Zusi has earned 55 caps for the U.S. Men’s National Team since debuting in January 2012, recording five goals and seven assists. He played four matches at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, tallying two assists as the U.S. advanced out of the group stage. He played in his first CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2015, starting two matches, and scored in a World Cup qualifier against Guatemala on March 29, 2016. He played five games for the U.S. at the 2016 Copa America Centenario, scoring on June 7 in a 4-0 win over Costa Rica. He recently made four appearances as the U.S. won the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
252
212
19500
28
63
383
124
200
293
31
791
20
1
8
27
KC - Postseason
18
18
1739
0
6
31
3
25
30
1
69
2
0
0
3
MLS - TOTAL
270
230
21239
28
69
414
127
225
33
32
860
22
1
8
30
23