SPORTING
Sunday, April 7, 2024
Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. CT
Children’s Mercy Park (Kansas City, KS)
MLS Regular Season Game 7
Sporting Kansas City
2-1-3, 9 points (1-1-1 home; 1-0-2 away)
6th in MLS Western Conference
Portland Timbers
2-3-1, 7 points (1-1-1
SPORTING KANSAS CITY PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
2024 REGULAR SEASON TEAM STATS
2024 REGULAR SEASON INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
SPORTING KANSAS CITY 2024 NUMERICAL ROSTER
SPORTING KANSAS CITY 2024
#SKCvPOR: HEAD-TO-HEAD
Sporting Kansas City (2-1-3, 9 pts.) returns home this weekend to take on the Portland Timbers (2-3-1, 7 pts.) at Children’s Mercy Park this Sunday afternoon coming off an excellent 3-1 victory over Toronto FC at BMO Field last Saturday.
Sporting is 9-7-6 all-time against the Timbers in the regular season, and have lost just five of their last 18 matches in all competitions Portland, however Sporting are also 2-4-2 in their last eight against the Timbers.
The two teams split the season series in 2023, with Sporting first opening the campaign with a postponed match in Portland that saw the club take a 1-0 loss at Providence Park. Originally scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 25, the game was postponed to Monday, Feb. 27 following severe weather in Oregon. Despite dominating much of the contest, Juan Mosquera’s early goal was enough to sink Sporting on opening night.
Sporting returned the favor in the next meeting at Children’s Mercy Park on May 28, 2023, cruising to a 4-1 victory. Franck Boli gave the Timbers an early lead but Erik Thommy’s thunderous effort leveled the score before halftime. Daniel Salloi, Felipe Hernandez and an own goal in the second half propelled Peter Vermes’ side to victory on the day.
#SKCvPOR: Recent Meetings (SKC leads 9-7-6 in regular season)
Date Score Result Details
05/28/2023
02/27/2023
08/21/2022
05/14/2022
08/18/2021
KC 4 vs POR 1 W Thommy, Salloi and Hernandez on target in dominant win
KC 0 at POR 1 L Mosquera scores early goal in postponed match
KC 4 vs POR 1 W Agada brace along with Fontas and Thommy strikes lead SKC
KC 2 at POR 7 L Russell & Tzionis score consolations in humiliating road defeat
KC 1 vs POR 1 T Salloi bags late equalizer following Mora’s first-half opener
#SKCvPOR: PLAYER HISTORY
• Forward Daniel Salloi leads the team with four goals and two assists against Portland, notching his first MLS goal in the 1-1 home draw on July 1, 2017. He added an assist in the 3-0 home win on August 18, 2018 and another in the 2-1 road loss on Sept. 7, 2019, before scoring again in the 2-2 home draw on Sept. 29, 2019. Salloi scored a late equalizer in the 1-1 home draw on Aug. 18, 2021 and the game-winner in the 4-1 home win on May 28, 2023.
• Winger Johnny Russell has two goals and one assist against the Timbers. He tallied the final goal of the 3-0 home win on August 18, 2018 and set up the first SKC goal in a 2-2 home draw on Sept. 29, 2019, before scoring in the 7-2 road loss on May 14, 2022.
• Forward Willy Agada has two goals and one assist against Portland, with all three coming in the 4-1 home win on Aug. 21, 2022.
• Midfielder Erik Thommy has tallied twice versus Portland, coming in 4-1 home wins on Aug. 21, 2022 and May 28, 2023.
• Forward Marinos Tzionis has one goal and one assist against Portland, tallying his first MLS goal for the club in the 7-2 road loss on May 14, 2022 and his first MLS assist in the 4-1 home win on May 28, 2023.
• Midfielder Felipe Hernandez has a goal and two assists against the Timbers, tallying both assists in the 7-2 road loss on May 14, 2022 before scoring in the 4-1 home win on May 28, 2023.
• Defender Andreu Fontas has one goal against the Timbers, scoring the winner in the 4-1 home win on Aug. 21, 2022.
• Forward Alan Pulido has one assist against the Timbers, setting up Daniel Salloi’s late equalizer in the 1-1 home draw on Aug. 18, 2021.
• Midfielder Remi Walter has recorded one assist against the Timbers, coming in the 4-1 home win on Aug. 21, 2022.
• Defender Tim Leibold has one assist against Portland, coming in the 4-1 home win on May 28, 2023.
• Goalkeeper Tim Melia is 3-4-5 all-time against Portland, posting a 1.67 goals against average, posting five shutouts. They came in a 0-0 draw on Sept. 8, 2015, a 1-0 win on Oct. 3, 2015, a 1-0 win on April 15, 2017 and during a 0-0 draw on June 9, 2018. He recorded his first home clean sheet against the Timbers in the 3-0 win on August 18, 2018.
• Goalkeeper John Pulskamp is 1-1-0 against Portland, with the win coming in a four-save performance in the 4-1 home win on Aug. 21, 2022.
#SKCvPOR: PLAYER/COACH CONNECTIONS
• Goalkeeper Tim Melia played with Portland Technical Director Ned Grabavoy at Real Salt Lake from 2010-2011. Grababoy also played with Sporting forward Khiry Shelton at New York City FC in 2015.
• Defender Zorhan Bassong was teammates with Timbers center back Kamal Miller and goalkeeper James Pantemis at CF Montreal from 2021-2022.
• Defender Robert Castellanos played alongside Portland defender Eric Miller at Nashville SC from 2021-2022.
#SKCvPOR: BY THE NUMBERS
Sporting KC Team Notes
• Last Saturday’s win over Toronto was the eighth regular season match in Sporting history with multiple Kansas City goal scorers under the age of 23 (Jake Davis 22, Alenis Vargas 20). It was the first such time since Oct 17, 2018 when Daniel Salloi (age 22) and Gianluca Busio (age 16) scored in a 4-1 win at Vancouver.
• Last Saturday, Sporting scored three second-half goals in a regular season away match for the first time since the 4-1 at Vancouver on Oct. 17, 2018.
• Sporting have scored first in 22 of the club’s last 32 matches in all competitions dating back to 2023.
• Sporting have trailed for a total of 17 minutes this season, second fewest in MLS (six minutes for Montreal).
• Sporting have outscored opponents 8-1 through the 68th minute and been outscored 6-1 from the 69th minute onward this season.
• Sporting are one of five MLS teams that have yet to trail at halftime this season (Cincinnati, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver)
• Sporting rank third in MLS with 6.0 shots on target per match.
• Sporting have played 161 successful long balls this season, 29 more than any other team, and rank second in MLS in long ball accuracy at 57.1%.
• Sporting’s average shot distance of 20.3 yards is the second longest in MLS.
• Sporting rank third in MLS with 64 interceptions.
Sporting KC Player Notes
• Defender Jake Davis recorded his first career MLS goal and also added an assist in last weekend’s win over Torotno. It marked just the sixth time since 2014 that a Sporting player under the age of 23 recorded one goal and one assist for the club in a regular season match.
• In last Saturday’s win, midfielder Remi Walter scored his ninth goal for Sporting in all competitions since joining the club in 2021. Four of those nine goals have come in his last 10 MLS appearances (including playoffs) dating back to Oct. 21, 2023.
• Forward Alenis Vargas scored his first career MLS goal in the win over Toronto. Vargas, who last month joined the Honduras Men’s National Team for the first time, scored six goals for Sporting KC II during the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro campaign.
• Forward Willy Agada has scored or assisted in each of SKC’s last two matches.
Portland Timbers Team Notes
• Portland has lost three straight matches after opening the season with a 2-0-1 record. Only Dallas has a longer active MLS losing streak (four matches).
• Portland is looking to avoid its first four-match regular season losing skid since April 2019 when it lost five straight away from home.
• Portland has trailed at halftime in each of its last four matches since March 9.
• Portland’s six MLS matches have produced 22 total goals at a clip of 3.67 goals per match, tied for the most in MLS.
• Portland is one of two MLS teams (St. Louis) with at least 11 goals scored and 11 goals conceded this season.
• Portland is one of seven MLS teams without a clean sheet this season.
• Portland is fifth in MLS in goals per match (1.83) and ranks second in the league in assists (16).
• Portland leads MLS with 17 fouls suffered per match. The team’s +32 discrepancy in fouls suffered to fouls committed is the second largest in MLS.
• Portland ranks second in MLS with an aerial duel success rate of 59.6%.
Portland Timbers Player Notes
• Forward Santiago Moreno has four assists in 2024, one shy of the MLS lead. Moreno is tied for fourth in MLS with 14 key passes, while midfielder Evander is one behind with 13. Portland is the only team to have two players (Moreno and Evander) with 13 key passes this season.
• Defender Zac McGraw is sixth in MLS with 22 clearances.
NOTEWORTHY MILESTONES
• Forward Daniel Salloi has appeared in 58 straight regular season matches since June 2022, the fifth longest streak in club history
SPORTING KC SOCIAL PROPERTIES
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VictoryKC.org @VictoryKC Facebook.com/VictoryProjectKC
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SportingAthletics.com @SportingKC_PR TikTok: @SportingKC
NoOtherPubKC.com @NoOtherPub Facebook.com/NoOtherPub
SportingClubEventsKC.com @SportingKCSTM Facebook.com/SKCSeasonTicketMembers
CompassMineralsNPC.com @SoySporting YouTube.com/SportingKansasCity
SPORTING KANSAS CITY NEWS AND NOTES
IMMEDIATE BOUNCE BACK
Sporting Kansas City bounced back from the club’s first defeat of the 2024 season with an impressive 3-1 victory over Toronto FC at BMO Field last Saturday night. Just a week after letting a 2-0 lead slip to fall 3-2 to the Galaxy at home, Sporting put those demons to rest with a dominant performance against TFC and now enters a stretch of three consecutive home matches from April 7-20 as the squad looks to surge up the standings.
The result was made all the more impressive since Toronto had conceded just two goals in their first five matches this season before Sporting fired three into the Canadian’s net in the second half. The result extended a remarkable streak where the club has not lost at BMO Field since April 26, 2009, when Peter Vermes had not yet become Kansas City’s manager. Since 2010, Sporting is 5-0-4 at the stadium with their only loss up north coming on March 9, 2013 in a match played at Rogers Centre.
With 22-year-old Jake Davis and 20-year-old Alenis Vargas on the scoresheet, Saturday marked the eighth regular-season match in club history with multiple SKC goalscorers under the age of 23 and the first time since October 17, 2018 when Daniel Salloi (age 22) and Gianluca Busio (age 16) scored in a 4-1 win at Vancouver.
TUSSLING WITH THE TIMBERS
Sporting Kansas City returns home this weekend to host the Portland Timbers at Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday afternoon coming off a bounce back victory over Toronto FC at BMO Field on Saturday night. The Timbers on the other hand started the season with two wins and a draw but have now lost three straight heading into Sunday’s encounter.
Sporting and Portland split the season series in 2023, first opening the campaign with a 1-0 loss at Providence Park on Monday, Feb. 27. Originally schedule for Saturday, Feb. 25, the game was postponed two days following severe weather in Oregon. Sporting dominated much of that match but were undone by an early goal from Portland’s Juan Mosquera that was enough to seal all three points for the hosts.
Sporting claimed a home win of their own on May 28, 2023, producing a resounding 4-1 come-from-behind victory after Franck Boli had given the Timbers an early lead. Erik Thommy equalized with the club’s Goal of the Year before halftime before Daniel Salloi, an own goal and Felipe Hernandez sealed the points in the second half.
Sporting leads the all-time regular-season series with the Timbers 9-7-6, including a 5-1-4 mark at Children’s Mercy Park where Portland hasn’t won in the regular-season since 2013.
WALTER SCORES STUNNER ON MILESTONE NIGHT
Sporting Kansas City midfielder Remi Walter marked a special personal milestone with a brilliant goal during Saturday night’s 3-1 victory over Toronto FC at BMO Fieldculminating with a spot on the bench of the MLS Team of the Matchday.
Walter fired home the opening goal with a stunning strike from 25 yards in the 57th minute of the contest. The goal came on a night where Walter reached 100 regularseason appearances for Sporting KC, becoming the 41st player in club history and sixth on the active roster to make a century of appearances in the regular season.
Player Regular-Season Apps
Tim Melia 238
Daniel Salloi 185
Johnny Russell 171
Khiry Shelton 119
Andreu Fontas 110
Remi Walter 100
DAVIS STRIKES FOR FIRST MLS GOAL
Sporting Kansas City Homegrown defender Jake Davis enjoyed a momentous night in his burgeoning career on Saturday, tallying his first MLS goal with what would turn out to be the game-winner in the 3-1 victory over Toronto FC at BMO Field.
Davis received a pass from Willy Agada 25 yards from goal, took a clean first touch out of his feet and slammed a swerving effort beyond the reach of TFC goalkeeper Luka Gavran to make the score 2-0 in the 64th minute of the match.
Davis scored his first goal for Sporting in his 46th competitive appearance for the club, while he became the eighth Sporting KC Academy product to score in a competitive match for the first team joining Kevin Ellis, Daniel Salloi, Gianluca Busio, Jaylin Lindsey, Wan Kuzain, Cam Duke and Felipe Hernandez.
The 22-year-old - who also tallied his team-leading third assist of the 2024 campaign in the win - was named to the MLS Team of the Matchday and also nominated for MLS Player of the Matchday and Goal of the Matchday.
VARGAS OFF THE MARK FOR THE FIRST TEAM
Sporting Kansas City youngster Alenis Vargas put a bow on the club’s impressive 3-1 victory over Toronto FC at BMO Field last Saturday night, bagging the third and final goal of the night in the 83rd minute.
Vargas received a pass from Jake Davis before knocking the ball around TFC defender Shane O’Neill, burning him for pace and slotting low beyond Luka Gavran for his first MLS goal for the club.
Vargas, who joined the Honduras National Team for the first time last month, scored six goals and added five assists for SKC II in MLS NEXT Pro last season while on loan from Costa Rican club Futbol Consultants Desamparados before signing with the first team on a permanent deal in the offseason.
AGADA CONTINUES REMARKABLE PRODUCTION UP FRONT
Sporting Kansas City forward Willy Agada continued his fine recent form this past weekend, bagging the game-winning assist in the club’s 3-1 victory over Toronto FC at BMO Field on Saturday night.
Agada, who battled the three-man TFC backline all 78 minutes he was on the field, received a pass from Daniel Salloi and laid it off to an onrushing Jake Davis who fired home the team’s second goal in the 64th minute of the match.
The assist was Agada’s first of the season and third in Sporting Blue, having last provided an assist in a 2-2 road draw with the LA Galaxy on Sept. 4, 2022. The assist came off the back of his first goal of the 2024 campaign the previous week, when he scored in the 3-2 loss against the Galaxy on March 23 while making his first start of the season.
The Nigerian frontman has now recorded 16 goal contributions (13 goals and three assists) in just 19 starts across all competitions for the club since August of 2022, averaging a goal contribution every 119 minutes.
VERMES NAMED COACH OF THE MATCHDAY
Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes was honored as the coach of the MLS Team of the Matchday this previous week after guiding his side to a comprehensive 3-1 victory on the road against Toronto FC at BMO Field.
Prior to Saturday night, Toronto had conceded just two goals in their first five matches of the season before Sporting more than doubled that in the second half. Vermes now has a 12-1-6 regular season record against Toronto with the lone loss coming on March 9, 2013 at Rogers Centre.
QUOTES: #TORvSKC
Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes
Thoughts on the game...
“I think the first half, we played very well, to be honest with you. I thought we created great, great chances in transition. Easily should have been 2-0 up at halftime, but the mentality to defend – because a few guys on their team came back from injury which they inserted at different times of the game which posed some challenges through the run of play, and it was like we called timeout and made some adjustments and I thought that the players within the game were very adaptable and dealt with the game really well. I’m a little bit upset with the fact that we didn’t get a shutout. We deserved a shutout. But to get three goals on the road to a team that’s been playing as well as they have, they were big points for us and then obviously they’re bonus points because they’re out of conference, so that was huge.”
On bouncing back from last week...
“I think the guys feel confident in the things that they’re doing and, and I think they were, easily said, they were a little bit, I guess, embarrassed. We were all embarrassed with the result last week because we should have finished that game out 2-0 or even more. We know that we missed some chances and we also took our foot off the gas pedal when they scored their goal. So it was great. As I said this before, the mentality of the group is pretty good and strong and it was a tremendous result away from home, like I said, against a team that I think has been playing very well and their coach has done a good job in turning around the team in regards to their mentality and attitude.”
On Alenis Vargas’ performance…
“It’s the thing that we talked about in preseason and we’ve been talking with him – it was a shame that he had to go away with the national team and not really play because we could’ve used him here – but I think all these experiences are great for him. Today he showed what he can do against teams because if he wants to get out there and go, he can. He has a good nose for the goal as well.”
SPORTING KANSAS CITY TRANSACTION TRACKER
Players In Players Out
DEF - Zorhan Bassong (Signed as Free Agent - Dec. 12, 2023)
FWD - Alenis Vargas (Acquired from Futbol Consultants Desamparados - Dec. 15, 2023)
MID - Memo Rodriguez (Signed as Free Agent - Feb. 1, 2024)
GK - Ryan Schewe (MLS SuperDraft Selection - Feb. 5, 2024)
GK - Kendall McIntosh (Out of Contract - Dec. 1, 2023)
DEF - Kortne Ford (Option Declined - Dec. 1, 2023)
DEF - Graham Zusi (Option Declined - Dec. 1, 2023)
MID - Cam Duke (Out of Contract - Dec. 1, 2023)
MID - Roger Espinoza (Option Declined - Dec. 1, 2023)
MID - Felipe Gutierrez (Option Declined / Retired - Dec. 1, 2023)
MID - Gadi Kinda (Out of Contract - Dec. 1, 2023)
DATE IN/OUT DETAILS
SPORTING KANSAS CITY TRANSACTION TIMELINE
Dec. 1: OUT Sporting KC declines options on defenders Kortne Ford and Graham Zusi along with midfielders Roger Espinoza and Felipe Gutierrez. In addition, goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh and midfielders Cam Duke and Gadi Kinda are out of contract.
Dec. 12: IN Sporting KC signs free agent defender Zorhan Bassong, most recently with Farul Constanta (Romania).
Dec. 15: IN Sporting KC acquires forward Alenis Vargas in a transfer from Futbol Consultants Desamparados (Costa Rica). Vargas had spent the 2023 season on loan with Sporting KC II (MLS NEXT Pro).
Feb. 1: IN Sporting KC signs free agent midfielder Memo Rodriguez, most recently with Austin FC (MLS).
Feb. 5: IN Sporting KC signs goalkeeper Ryan Schewe, the club’s first round pick (22nd overall) in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft out of Georgetown.
CONSTRUCTING SPORTING KANSAS CITY
Johnny Russell (1/31/18)
Andreu Fontas (8/8/18)
2020 Khiry Shelton (12/9/19)
2021
2022
2023 Stephen Afrifa (1st Round - #8)
Chris Rindov (2nd Round - #37)
2024 Ryan Schewe (1st Round - #22)
Alan Pulido (12/10/19)
Remi Walter (12/22/20)
Logan Ndenbe (1/14/22)
Robert Voloder (1/19/22)
Marinos Tzionis (1/24/22)
Willy Agada (6/23/22)
Erik Thommy (6/23/22)
Nemanja Radoja (10/26/22)
Tim Leibold (1/12/23)
Robert Castellanos (2/17/23)
Dany Rosero (3/2/23)
Zorhan Bassong (12/12/23)
Alenis Vargas (12/15/23)
Danny Flores (1/13/23)
Memo Rodriguez (2/1/24)
Felipe Hernandez (8/30/19)
John Pulskamp (2/24/20)
Ozzie Cisneros (1/20/21)
Kayden Pierre (5/4/21)
Jake Davis (8/19/21)
SPORTING KANSAS CITY 2024 SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
2024 REFEREE LOG (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
Feb.
2024 VIDEO ASSISTANT REFEREE LOG (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
Brad Smith heads the ball into the bottom corner off a cross from Coco Carrasquilla. After reviewing the play, referee Jaime Herrera overturns his original decision and disallows the goal because Carrasquilla was offside in the build-up.
March 16, 2024 vs. SJ Amin Hadzic
Ian Anderson SJ Goal Overturned - No Goal
Rodrigues fires the ball home from close range after a free kick is deflected into his path. After reviewing the play, referee Amin Hadzic overturns his original decision and disallows the goal due to handball because the ball came off the arm of Vitor Costa.
March 23, 2024 vs. LA Aleksandar Zhelyazkov
Shawn Tehini LA No Goal Overturned - Goal
Marky Delgado fires home at the far post after the ball had been tipped into his path, but the flag goes up for offside. After reviewing the play, referee Aleksandar Zhelyazkov overturns his original decision and allows the goal because Delgado was onside.
SPORTING KC MISCELLANEOUS STATS
2024 Regular-Season Record When...
Regular Season Team-By-Team (in 2024)
vs. Atlanta United FC
vs. Austin FC
vs. Charlotte FC
vs. Chicago Fire FC
(0-0-0)
(0-0-0)
(0-0-0)
SPORTING KC IN 2024 (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
Game-winning goals after 75’...
Game-tying goals after 75’...
Game-winning goals against after 75’... Mark Delgado (3/23 vs. LA) - 80th Minute
Game-tying goals against after 75’... Alejandro Bedoya (3/2 vs. PHI) - 95+ Minute
Red Cards...
Red Cards Against...
Penalty Kicks...
Penalty Kicks Earned...
Penalty Kicks Against...
Youngest Goalscorer... Alenis Vargas (3/30 at TOR) - 20 years and 117 days
Oldest Goalscorer... Alan Pulido (3/16 vs. SJ) - 33 years and 8 days
Youngest Starter...
Youngest to play in a game...
Oldest Starter...
Oldest to play in a game...
Jake Davis (2/24 at HOU) - 22 years and 52 days
Alenis Vargas (2/24 at HOU) - 20 years and 82 days
Tim Melia (3/30 at TOR) - 37 years and 320 days
Tim Melia (3/30 at TOR) - 37 years
Feb. 24, 2024: Houston Dynamo 1-1 Sporting KC
MLS Regular Season | Shell Energy Stadium | Houston, TX Attendance: 18,818
Sporting KC Houston Dynamo FC
GK Melia GK Clark (C)
D Davis D Dorsey
D Rosero D Sviatchenko
D Fontas D Micael
D Leibold (Bassong 74’) D Schmitt
M Radoja M Artur
M Thommy (Rodriguez 74’) M Carrasquilla
M Walter M Raines (Gregus 67’)
F Russell (C) (Afrifa 59’) F Kowalczyk
F Pulido (Agada 59’) F Aliyu
F Salloi (Vargas 86’) F Smith (Segal 67’)
Subs not used: Subs not used:
Pulskamp (GK) Tarbell (GK)
Castellanos Awodesu
Voloder Sargeant
Hernandez Steres Gonzalez Sylla Gyamfi
Scoring Summary:
SKC - Erik Thommy 1 (Unassisted) 61’
HOU - Gabe Segal 1 (Ibrahim Aliyu 1, Coco Carrasquilla 1) 69’
Misconduct Summary:
SKC - Johnny Russell (Yellow Card; Dissent) 57’
SKC - Erik Thommy (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 67’
HOU - Ben Olsen (Yellow Card; Dissent) 89’
Stats
(6)
March 16, 2024:
Sporting KC San Jose
GK Melia
D Davis
GK Daniel
D Marie (Thompson 85’)
D Rosero D Wilson
D Voloder D Rodrigues
D Leibold D Costa
M Radoja M Espinoza
M Thommy M Yueill (C)
M Rodriguez (Walter 46’) M Gruezo (Morales 72’)
F Russell (C) (Afrifa 53’) M Pellegrino (Skahan 64’)
F Pulido (Agada 87’) F Ebobisse (Kikanovic 63’)
F Salloi (Vargas 88’) F Judd (Bouda 64’)
Subs not used: Subs not used:
Pulskamp (GK) Yarbrough (GK)
Bassong Beason
Castellanos Munie
Pierre Baldisimo
Hernandez
Scoring Summary:
SJ - Vitor Costa 1 (Cristian Espinoza 1) 11’
SKC - Dany Rosero 1 (Memo Rodriguez 1) 18’
SKC - Alan Pulido 1 (Johnny Russell 1, Jake Davis 1) 29’
Misconduct Summary:
SKC - Dany Rosero (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 35’
SJ - Ousseni Bouda (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 66’
SJ - Cristian Espinoza (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 81’
SKC - Daniel Salloi (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 82’
SKC - Erik Thommy (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 91+
Stats Summary
March 2, 2024: Sporting KC 1-1 Philadelphia Union
MLS Regular Season | Children’s Mercy Park | Kansas City, KS Attendance:
D Davis D Mbaizo (Wagner 46’)
D Rosero D Elliott (C)
D Fontas D Lowe
D Leibold D Harriel
M Radoja
M Martinez (Bedoya 46’)
M Thommy (Rodriguez 80’) M Bueno
M Walter
F Russell (C)
F Pulido (Agada 80’)
F Salloi (Afrifa 87’)
M McGlynn (Anderson 82’)
M Rafanello (Gazdag 46’)
F Donovan (Uhre 57’)
F Sullivan
Subs not used: Subs not used:
Pulskamp (GK)
Rick (GK)
Bassong Glesnes
Castellanos Real Voloder Baribo
Hernandez
Vargas
Scoring Summary:
SKC - Remi Walter 1 (Unassisted) 19’
PHI - Alejandro Bedoya 1 (Unassisted) 95+
Misconduct Summary:
March 23, 2024: Sporting KC 2-3 LA Galaxy
MLS Regular Season | Children’s Mercy Park | Kansas City, KS Attendance: 18,102
Weather: 46 degrees and overcast
Sporting KC LA Galaxy
GK Melia GK McCarthy
D Davis
D Rosero
D Yamane
D Zavaleta
D Voloder D Yoshida (C)
D Leibold
D Aude
M Walter M Delgado
M Radoja M Cerrillo (Brugman 62’)
M Thommy M Painstil
M Pulido (C) M Puig
M Salloi (Afrifa 83’)
M Pec (Fagundez 83’)
F Agada F Joveljic (Berry 83’)
Subs not used: Subs not used:
Pulskamp (GK) Micovic (GK)
Bassong Cuevas
Castellanos Nelson
Pierre Aguirre
Rindov Perez
Flores
Hernandez
Tzionis
Scoring Summary:
Vivi
SKC - Nemanja Radoja 1 (Daniel Salloi 1) 34’
SKC - Willy Agada 1 (Unassisted) 48+
LA - Eriq Zavaleta 1 (Unassisted) 72’
LA - Dejan Joveljic 5 (Riqui Puig 1, Gaston Brugman 2) 75’
LA - Mark Delgado 1 (Unassisted) 80’
Misconduct Summary:
SKC - Erik Thommy (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 53’
SKC - Tim Leibold (Yellow Card; Time Wasting) 69’
LA - Gaston Brugman (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 88’
March
D Davis D O’Neill
D Rosero D Long
D Voloder D Rosted (Thompson 68’)
D Leibold M Marshall-Rutty
M Radoja M Longstaff (Kerr 68’)
M Walter M Coello (Flores 59’)
M Rodriguez (Hernandez 78’) M Spicer
F Thommy (Afrifa 96+)
F Agada (Vargas 78’)
M Bernardeschi
M Osorio (C)
F Salloi (C) F Owusu (Akinola 86’)
Subs not used:
Subs not used:
Pulskamp (GK) Ranjitsingh (GK)
Bassong Franklin
Castellanos Mabika
Pierre Mailula
Tzionis Perruzza
Scoring Summary:
SKC - Remi Walter 2 (Unassisted) 57’
SKC - Jake Davis 1 (Willy Agada 1) 64’
SKC - Alenis Vargas 1 (Jake Davis 2) 83’
TOR - Jonathan Osorio 1 (Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty 1) 97+
Misconduct Summary:
SKC - Jake Davis (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 44’
TOR - Alonso Coello (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 57’
SKC - Tim Leibold (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 71’
TOR - Jonathan Osorio (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 85’
SKC SJ
Shots (on goal) 5 (3) 13 (6)
Saves 5
Stats Summary SKC TOR
Shots (on goal) 17 (10) 12 (2)
Saves
Fouls
Offside
Corner Kicks
SPORTING KC STARTERS BY POSITION (2024 REGULAR SEASON)
Formation: 4-2-3-1 (1 game)
Center
NOTE: Charts do not account for players interchanging and/ or switching positions over the course of a match. Substitute players are not listed.
A leading independent children’s health organization dedicated to holistic care, translational research, educating caregivers and breakthrough innovation to create a world of well-being for all children, Children’s Mercy Kansas City began a 10-year partnership with Sporting KC in 2016. Children’s Mercy provides the highest level of care for children from birth through the age of 21. U.S. News & World Report has repeatedly ranked Children’s Mercy as one of “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals.”
The comprehensive partnership between Sporting KC and Children’s Mercy Kansas City – which includes naming rights to Sporting KC’s world-class stadium, Children’s Mercy Park, as well as the Sporting KC II and Sporting KC Academy complex at Swope Soccer Village – is also at the forefront of Sporting’s state-of-the-art training ground at Compass Minerals National Performance Center. In a first-of-its-kind collaboration between a professional sports team, a national sports federation and a sports medicine provider, the facility opened in 2018 and features the Children’s Mercy Sports Medicine Center alongside Sporting Kansas City and U.S. Soccer.
Children’s Mercy Kansas City is also the official health care and sports medicine provider for the Sporting Kansas City Academy and Compass Minerals National Performance Center as part of a multi-faceted partnership that focuses on the following three components to impact the local community:
1. Strengthening community
• The partnership directly supports The Victory Project, Sporting’s foundation to help children - including those with cancer and disabilities – through all of life’s challenges.
• Sporting KC players and staff engage with, encourage and inspire Children’s Mercy patients throughout the year during hospital visits and special events.
• FLEET, an innovative team of remote experience robots operated via an iPad, regularly attends Sporting KC home matches to provide an all-access interactive experience for patients at Children’s Mercy. Manufactured by Double Robotics, the robot allows users to enjoy two-way live audio and video captured from a 150-degree wide-angle lens while navigating to control their own VIP behind-the-scenes journey.
• Launched in 2018, the RED CARD campaign addresses one of the most significant social issues impacting children nationwide by empowering youth and adults to prevent and intervene in bullying. Through school assemblies and community-wide messaging, the RED CARD initiative aims to reach children, parents, teachers and coaches who have daily opportunities to create supportive environments and stop bullying in its tracks. In 2023 and 2024, Sporting and Children’s Mercy teamed up to provide 90 students at 30 local elementary and middle schools with SKC jerseys on National Random Acts of Kindness Day as part of a Kindness In The Schools (K.I.T.S.) initiative.
2. Improving access to pediatric-trained sports medicine
• The Children’s Mercy Sports Medicine Center at Village West is located inside Compass Minerals National Performance Center and offers a full range of sports medicine services, resources and programming for youth athletes. More than two million high-school athletes and 3.5 million children under age 14 are injured each year in the U.S. playing sports. Only a small percentage are treated by pediatric-trained sports medicine specialists who truly understand the youth’s growing body, developing brain and unique psychosocial stressors.
3. Protecting youth athletes and educating parents and coaches
• The partnership provides athletic training, rehabilitation and conditioning programs for the Sporting KC Academy’s six teams at Swope Soccer Village, which hosts Sporting KC II home matches as well as year-round athletic leagues, tournaments and other marquee events.
April 7 vs. Portland Timbers
April 13 vs. Inter Miami CF
April 20 vs. St. Louis
April 27 at Minnesoota United FC
May 4 at Real Salt Lake
May 11 vs. Houston Dynamo FC
May 18 at Austin FC
May 25 at Portland Timbers
May 29 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC
June 1 at Minnesota United FC
June 8 vs. Seattle Sounders FC
June 15 at LA Galaxy
June 19 vs. Real Salt Lake
June 22 at Columbus Crew
June 29 vs. Austin FC
July 4 at Colorado Rapids
July 7 vs. FC Dallas
July 13 at San Jose
PLAYER @HOU PHI @LAFC SJ LA @TOR POR MIA STL @MIN @RSL HOU @ATX @POR VAN @MIN SEA
AFRIFA SUB-31 SUB-3 DNP SUB-37 SUB-7 SUB-1
AGADA SUB-31 SUB-10 DNP SUB-3 CF-90 CF-78
BASSONG SUB-16 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
CASTELLANOS DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
CISNEROS INJ UNAV SKCII INJ UNAV UNAV
DAVIS RB-90 RB-90 RB-90 RB-90 RB-90 RB-90
FLORES INJ SKCII SKCII SKCII DNP SKCII
FONTAS CB-90 CB-90 CB-90 INJ INJ INJ
HERNANDEZ DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP SUB-12
LEIBOLD LB-74 LB-90 LB-90 LB-90 LB-90 LB-90
MELIA GK-90 GK-90 GK-90 GK-90 GK-90 GK-90
NDENBE INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ
PIERRE SKCII SKCII DNP DNP DNP DNP
PULIDO CF-59 CF-80 CF-90 CF-87 AM-90 INJ
PULSKAMP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
RADOJA DM-90 DM-90 DM-90 DM-90 DM-90 DM-90
RINDOV SKCII SKCII SKCII SKCII DNP SKCII
RODRIGUEZ SUB-16 SUB-10 CM-90 CM-45 INJ CM-78
ROSERO CB-90 CB-90 CB-90 CB-90 CB-90 CB-90
RUSSELL RW-59 RW-90 RW-90 RW-53 INJ INJ
SALLOI LW-86 LW-87 LW-90 LW-88 LW-83 LW-90
SCHEWE SKCII SKCII SKCII SKCII SKCII SKCII
SHELTON INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ
THOMMY CM-74 CM-80 CM-90 CM-90 RW-90 RW-89
TZIONIS SKCII UNAV SKCII UNAV DNP DNP
VARGAS SUB-4 DNP DNP SUB-2 INTL SUB-12
VOLODER DNP DNP DNP CB-90 CB-90 CB-90
WALTER CM-90 CM-90 INJ SUB-45 DM-90 CM-90
AFRIFA
AGADA
BASSONG
CASTELLANOS
CISNEROS
DAVIS FLORES
FONTAS
HERNANDEZ LEIBOLD
MELIA
NDENBE PIERRE PULIDO PULSKAMP
RADOJA
RINDOV
RODRIGUEZ ROSERO RUSSELL
SALLOI SCHEWE SHELTON
THOMMY
TZIONIS VARGAS
VOLODER
WALTER
MANAGER & SPORTING DIRECTOR | PETER VERMES
Peter Vermes is in his 16th season as Sporting Kansas City Manager in 2024 and is the longest-tenured active head coach in MLS. He is the team’s longest-serving manager and his 240 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 regularseason standings in 2011 and 2012, as well as the Western Conference in 2018 and 2020. 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 197 regular-season wins top the club’s all-time chart and rank third 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.
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 MLS Sporting Executive of the Year by his peers in 2018. Vermes has coached 565 total games during his Kansas City coaching career, most in club history.
With over 15 years of service at Sporting KC, Vermes is one of the longest serving managers in world soccer. Among all leagues with an average attendance of 10,000+, Vermes ranks second, only behind Bundesliga side FC Heidenheim’s Frank Schmidt (Sept. 17, 2007 – present). Among the top 126 leagues in the world as denoted by the CIES Football Observatory in March 2022, Vermes’ tenure at ranks as the fifth longest active run.
Vermes oversees all soccer operations for Sporting KC, including the active roster, Sporting Kansas City II (MLS NEXT Pro) 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.
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 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 Figueres of the Spanish Second Division.
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.
Vermes joined Kansas City in 2000 for what would be the most successful season 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.
ASSISTANT COACH | KERRY ZAVAGNIN
Kerry Zavagnin currently holds the MLS record as he enters his 25th season with one club as a player or coach. 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. He started his professional career with the MetroStars, where he played in 39 games over two seasons. After spending one season with the Lehigh Valley Steam (USL-1), Zavagnin came to KC in 2000. He played 237 games and logged 20,516 minutes for Kansas City, setting team records in both categories before being overtaken by Matt Besler early in 2018. He scored eight goals and added 22 assists in his nine seasons in KC. Zavagnin was named Team Defender of the Year in 2001. On top of his club success in Kansas City, Zavagnin also appeared 21 times for the U.S. Men’s National Team. He recorded one assist for the U.S., who went 15-2-4 when Zavagnin featured.
ASSISTANT COACH | ZORAN SAVIC
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. 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.
ASSISTANT COACH | ASH WALLACE
Ash Wallace has served on Sporting Kansas City’s technical staff since 2012, aiding the first team coaching staff in a variety of roles. Wallace, originally from England, helps scout and develop game plans for upcoming opponents, assists in planning and executing training sessions and provides valuable analysis for coaches and players regarding strategy. Wallace holds a U.S. Soccer A License. Wallace’s first involvement with the club came in August 2012 when he was contracted to produce a detailed scouting report on Seattle Sounders FC ahead of the U.S. Open Cup Final, helping Sporting claim their first of four major titles during a trophy-laden decade. Prior to joining Sporting KC, Wallace was a member of the Preston North End coaching staff and also served as an opposition scout for Fleetwood Town in his native England. Earlier in his career, he worked with Preston North End’s women’s academy teams and Penwortham Boys academy teams while earning a Degree in Sports Coaching from the University of Central Lancashire.
GOALKEEPER COACH | ALEC DUFTY
Alec Dufty is in his ninth season with Sporting Kansas City having been introduced to the organization as the Sporting KC II goalkeeper coach in the side’s inaugural season in 2016. In his first season working with the Sporting KC first team, starting goalkeeper Tim Melia enjoyed a recordbreaking season where he was named the 2017 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. 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. 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 Championship season.
DIRECTOR, SPORTS PERFORMANCE & SCIENCE | JOEY HARTY
Joey Harty was named Sporting Kansas City’s Director of Sports Performance and Science ahead of the 2020 season, stepping up from his role as assistant fitness coach which he held from 2018-2019. Harty manages all aspects of the club’s performance department from the academy to the senior team. He oversees day-to-day training plans on and off the field, including work in the weight room, soccer session planning, onfield movement training, data analysis and more, aiming to optimize player health and performance. Harty joined Sporting’s organization in January 2016, serving as a fitness coach for the Sporting Kansas City Academy before spending the 2017 season as head fitness coach for Sporting KC II. The Colorado native then transitioned to assistant fitness coach for Sporting’s first team in January 2018 before landing his current role with the club. Prior to arriving in Kansas City, Harty worked for Phoenix Rising FC and Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. Harty attended Grand Canyon from 2010-2014, played for the men’s soccer team from 2010-2012 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. In addition to holding several professional licenses and certifications in athletic performance, Harty is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Height: 5-10
Weight: 155
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
College: Florida International University
Regular
Fouls
Last Regular Season... Appearance March 30, 2024, KC at TOR
Birthday: 2/19/2001
Acquired: 2023 MLS SuperDraft 1st Round (#8)
Forward Stephen Afrifa was selected by Sporting Kansas City as the eighth overall pick of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft before signing with the team at the conclusion of his senior year in April. He enjoyed a standout career at Florida International, where he amassed 23 goals and 11 assists in 63 appearances from 2019-2022. He made his debut for Sporting on May 17, 2023 at LAFC before earning his first start at Austin on July 15, 2023. Capable of playing as a striker or a winger, Afrifa began his professional journey on the heels of a phenomenal campaign in 2022 that yielded a team-high 10 goals, four assists and United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American honors. He guided the Panthers to the 2022 American Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles and was
named the AAC Championship Most Outstanding Offensive Player. Afrifa ended his senior season as a 2022 MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist and a member of the USC All-East Region Team.
As a freshman, Afrifa tallied three goals and three assists, and added two goals and an assist during his COVID-shortened sophomore year. As a junior, Afrifa helped FIU make its first of two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances with a team-best eight goals and three assists. Afrifa competed for USL League Two side One Knoxville SC in 2022, scoring 10 goals and leading the club to a first-place finish in the South Central Division and a run to the national quarterfinals.
Height: 5-9
Weight: 185
Hometown: Bauchi, Nigeria
Last Club: Hapoel Jerusalem (Israel)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 6/23/2022 #23
Birthday: 9/17/1999
Willy Agada joined Sporting KC in a transfer from Israeli side Hapoel Jerusalem in June 2022. A native of Nigeria, Agada scored 37 goals across four seasons in Israel before heading to the United States. Agada enjoyed an incredible start to his Sporting KC career, tallying eight goals and two assists in just 12 appearances to close out 2022 - placing him among the best goalscorers by a per-game basis in the league.
Agada turned professional as an 18-year-old and bagged eight goals during his first season with Hapoel Jerusalem in 2018-2019. He doubled his goal haul the following year, scoring a team-best 15 times across 36 appearances in the Israeli second division.
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals
Last Regular Season...
Appearance March 30, 2024, KC at TOR
Goal Sept. 30, 2023, KC at STL
Assist March 30, 2024, KC at TOR 2024 Record when: he starts 1-1-0 he scores 0-1-0
Agada’s excellent 2019-2020 campaign paved the way for a loan to Hapoel Haifa in the Israeli Premier League where he finished second on the team with six goals in 20202021. The 2021-2022 season saw Agada return to Hapoel Jerusalem, which had gained promotion to the Premier League and led the team with eight goals.
#22 | D | ZORHAN BASSONG | @BassongZ
Height: 5-10
Weight: 175 Birthday: 5/7/1999
Hometown: Montreal, Canada
Last Club: Farul Constanta (Romania)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 12/12/2023
Sporting Kansas City added left back Zorhan Bassong ahead of the 2024 campaign. The Canadian has previously spent time in France, Belgium, Romania and Major League Soccer, including 43 matches in all competitions with CF Montreal. He played two MLS seasons in Montreal from 2021-2022 before spending 2023 in Romania with Arges Pitesti and Farul Constanta.
Born in Toronto and raised in Montreal, Bassong moved to Belgium in 2013 to join the Mouscron academy. Bassong furthered his development in the heralded academy systems at Belgian side Anderlecht and French club Lille, beginning his professional career at the latter in 2016.
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 0
Assists 1, May 29, 2021, MTL at CHI (w/ MTL)
Shots on Goal 1, July 31, 2021, MTL at MIA (w/ MTL)
Shots 1, 7 times, last: May 22, 2022, MTL vs. RSL (w/
Last Regular Season... Appearance Feb. 24, 2024, KC at HOU Goal N/A Assist May 29, 2021, MTL at CHI (w/ MTL) 2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
He joined Belgian outfit Cercle Brugge in January 2019 and left the club in July 2020. Bassong enjoyed a two-year MLS stint with CF Montreal that began in early 2021. Following his time with Montreal, Bassong spent 2023 with two Romanian clubs, Arges Pitesti and Farul Constanta.
On the international stage, Bassong represented the Belgium U-19s for two friendlies in 2017 before switching his allegiance to Canada. He earned two caps for Canada’s senior national team in January 2020, including a 90-minute outing in a 4-1 friendly win over Barbados. In March 2021, Bassong played three matches for Canada at the 2020 Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship in Mexico, reaching the semifinals.
#19 | D | ROBERT CASTELLANOS | @rc4official
Height: 6-1
Weight: 195
Hometown: Palmdale, California
Last Club: KuPS (Finland)
Birthday: 5/11/1998
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 2/17/2023
Center back Robert Castellanos signed with Sporting Kansas City ahead of the 2023 campaign following a brief stint playing abroad with KuPS in Finland. Castellanos turned professional in 2017 and has had stints in the USL Championship, MLS and Finland. Castellanos made his debut for the club in Philadelphia on April 1, 2023 and scored his first goal for Sporting in the 4-1 home win over Austin FC on June 10, 2023.
Castellanos developed at the youth level with Nomads SC in San Diego before joining Liga MX club Atlas’ academy in 2016. He launched his professional career in early 2017, signing for LA Galaxy II and started 15 of 16 appearances in his debut USL Championship season. Castellanos spent the next three years at RGVFC, where he played 37 matches
and scored two goals. Castellanos jumped to MLS by signing for Nashville in February 2021 where he scored an equalizing goal in a 1-1 draw at Toronto FC in his lone appearance for the club. Nashville loaned Castellanos to the Tampa Bay Rowdies for the 2022 season where he played 13 matches, including starts in all three playoff games as the Rowdies reached the Conference Final. Castellanos then ventured abroad by joining KuPS, where he started three matches before leaving the club.
Castellanos is a former U.S. youth international, having made two appearances for the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team in 2016.
Height: 5-5
Weight: 140
Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska
Last Club: Sporting KC Academy
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals
Birthday: 3/13/2004
Acquired: Signed as Homegrown Player on 1/20/2021
Forward Ozzie Cisneros, who has competed for the Sporting KC Academy at the U-13 through U-19 levels, became the fourth-youngest signing in club history when he inked an MLS contract at age 16 in early 2021. He scored his first professional goal for Sporting KC II against Louisville City FC on July 28, 2021 before making his debut for Sporting KC in a Leagues Cup match against Club Leon on Aug. 10, 2021.
A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Cisneros joined the Sporting KC Academy as a 12-year-old in 2016. That summer, he led Sporting to a fourth-place finish at the Concacaf U-13 Champions League in Mexico City. Cisneros went on to play almost 70 matches for Sporting in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, scoring 15 goals and climbing to the
U-19 ranks by the time he was 15. He helped the U-17s reach the 2019 Development Academy Playoffs and split time between the U-17s and U-19s during the first half of the 2019-20 campaign. Cisneros and the SKC Academy returned to action in September 2020 in MLS Next play, with Cisneros striking twice during the abbreviated fall season - once for the U-17s and once for the U-19s.
On the international stage, Cisneros notably starred at the 2019 Concacaf U-15 Championship in Bradenton, Florida, scoring both goals in a 2-0 quarterfinal win over Costa Rica, and also found the back of the net at the 2019 Torneo delle Nazioni in Italy.
Height: 5-9
Weight: 160
Hometown: Rochester, Michigan
Birthday: 1/3/2002
Last Club: Sporting KC II (USL Championship)
Acquired: Signed as Homegrown Player on 8/19/2021
Sporting Kansas City signed defender Jake Davis as a Homegrown Player in August 2021 as the 19th Homegrown Player to emerge from the Sporting Kansas City Academy. He made his first-team debut in the 4-0 victory over Minnesota United on Sept. 15, 2021 and earned his first MLS start on April 29, 2023 in a home match against Montreal. Davis scored his first goal for Sporting with the game-winner in a 3-1 win at Toronto on March 30, 2024.
Davis spent significant time developing with Sporting KC II under former Sporting greats Paulo Nagamura and Benny Feilhaber from 2019-2022 before breaking out with the first
team in early 2023, switching from central midfield to right back and helping the team post a 12-7-5 record in the 24 regular-season matches he started.
A native of Rochester, Michigan, Davis moved to Kansas City in 2017 at age 15 to join the Sporting KC Academy. He represented Sporting at the U-17 and U-19 levels, amassing eight goals across 54 appearances in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.
Davis earned international recognition in November 2019 when he was selected to the United States U-17 National Team for the 19th annual Nike International Friendlies.
Height: 5-9
Weight: 150 Birthday: 4/6/2002
Hometown: Half Moon Bay, CA
College: Virginia Tech
Last Club: Oakland Roots (USL Championship) Acquired:
Sporting Kansas City added Danny Flores off MLS waivers in January 2023. Flores began his MLS career after a two-year college stint at Virginia Tech, while he also boasts three seasons of play in the USL Championship, representing Philadelphia Union II from 2019-2020 and Oakland Roots SC in 2021. Flores spent the 2023 season primarily with SKC II, tallying two goals and two assists in 21 MLS NEXT Pro appearances while he also made his first-team debut on March 25 against Seattle.
Flores made his USL Championship debut in September 2019 for Union II and was an ever-present fixture for the club the following year by playing in all 16 matches. Flores returned to California in 2021 as he moved cross-country to join Oakland Roots SC for the
Regular
Last Regular Season... Appearance
March 25, 2023, KC vs. SEA Goal N/A Assist N/A
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
club’s inaugural USL Championship campaign, starting 10 of 12 matches. Following his successful spell in Oakland, Flores began his collegiate career in Virginia Tech’s midfield. He started all 19 matches during his first season and was named the No. 3 freshman in the country by Top Drawer Soccer and earned ACC All-Freshman Team accolades. Flores continued to lead the Hokies in 2022, scoring a team-best four goals and adding two assists.
Flores has represented the U.S. U-17 National Team, where he competed alongside SKC Academy products Gianluca Busio and Tyler Freeman. Flores starred for two clubs at the Academy level, first with Shattuck St. Mary’s and later with the Philadelphia Union.
Height: 6-2 Weight: 200 Birthday: 11/14/1989
Hometown: Banyoles, Spain
Last Club: Celta Vigo (Spain)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 8/8/2018
Andreu Fontas joined Sporting KC midway through the 2018 season following a 10-year career with more than 200 appearances in his native Spain. Fontas underwent Achilles surgery in late 2019, keeping him out for the majority of the 2020 season before returning as an MLS Defender of the Year contender in 2021. Fontas has made 129 appearances in all competitions for Sporting KC, tallying three goals and two assists.
Fontas spent five seasons from 2013-2018 with Celta Vigo in Spain’s top-flight La Liga, where he played alongside current Sporting midfielder Nemanja Radoja and started 100 of 105 league appearances, helping the club to the semifinals of the 2016-17 UEFA
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, 3 times, last: Aug. 21, 2022, KC vs. POR
Assists
2 times, last: July 8, 2023, KC at HOU
Last Regular Season...
Appearance March 9, 2024, KC at LAFC
Goal Aug. 21, 2022, KC vs. POR
Assist July 8, 2023, KC at HOU 2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-3 he scores 0-0-0
Europa League. The defender developed in FC Barcelona’s famed La Masia youth academy, playing nearly 100 matches combined for FC Barcelona B and FC Barcelona from 2008-2012. Fontas advanced from Barcelona’s 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. Fontas spent the 2012-13 season on loan at Mallorca before signing with Celta Vigo in June 2013.
Internationally, Fontas has represented Spain at the Under-19, Under-20 and Under-21 levels and has also played for the Catalonia National Team.
Height: 5-7
Weight: 140
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Birthday: 6/8/1998
Last Club: Sporting Kansas City II (USL Championship)
Acquired: Signed as Homegrown Player on 8/30/2019
Felipe Hernandez signed with Sporting KC as a Homegrown Player in August 2019. Hernandez is the first Sporting player to progress from an Academy Affiliate club to the SKC Academy to Sporting KC II before signing with the senior team. He signed with the first team following a breakout 2019 with SKC II in the USL Championship, where he started 24 of 26 appearances, scored a team-best eight goals and recorded four assists.
Hernandez scored his first MLS goal for the club in a June 23, 2021 victory over the Colorado Rapids and also tallied the opener against his hometown club Nashville SC in a 2-1 Sporting victory on June 19, 2022.
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, 4 times, last: May 28, 2023, KC vs. POR
Assists 2, May 14, 2022, KC at POR
Shots on Goal 2, May 28, 2023, KC vs. POR
Shots 4, 4 times, last: Sept. 10, 2022, KC at HOU
Fouls Committed 3, 4 times, last: July 23, 2022, KC vs. LAFC
Fouls Suffered 4, 2 times, last: April 8, 2023, KC vs. COL
Last Regular Season...
Appearance March 30, 2024, KC at TOR
Goal May 28, 2023, KC vs. POR
Assist May 14, 2022, KC at POR
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
Hernandez played for Sporting Nashville Heroes, a former Academy Affiliate, and moved to Kansas City in the summer of 2014 to join the Academy. At age 16, Hernandez earned a preseason training stint with the first team in January 2015, before signing an Academy contract with SKC II in August 2016, two months prior to earning Bob Gansler Academy Player of the Year honors that then led to a professional SKC II contract in early 2017.
On the international stage, Hernandez played for the U.S. U-19 and U-20 National Teams in 2016 and 2017.
Height: 5-9
Weight: 170
Hometown: Friolzheim, Germany
Last Club: Hamburger SV (Germany)
Regular Season Game Highs:
Last Regular Season...
Birthday: 11/30/1993
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 1/12/2023
Tim Leibold joined Sporting Kansas City in January 2023 having amassed more than 20 goals and 40 assists in nearly 300 professional appearances in his native Germany. Leibold is the third German newcomer at Sporting since the start of 2022, following center back Robert Voloder and midfielder Erik Thommy. Since joining the club, Leibold has tallied three assists in 27 appearances across all competitions.
Leibold spent eight seasons across Germany’s top two divisions from 2015-2022. He starred at Nurnberg from 2015-2019 before moving to Hamburg, where he served as club captain during the 2020-21 campaign. Leibold developed in youth academies at VfB Stuttgart, TSF Ditzingen and SGV Freiberg before turning professional with Freiberg at
age 18 in 2012. Leibold enjoyed a breakthrough in 2015 by joining 2. Bundesliga side Nurnburg and solidifying his place as a regular starter. The 2018-19 campaign saw Leibold lead Nurnburg with 32 Bundesliga starts while also assisting three goals. Competing in one of the world’s best leagues, he led the team in key passes, tackles, recoveries and touches while placing second in minutes played.
Leibold then returned to the 2. Bundesliga with a move to Hamburg, where he had his best professional season to date in 2019-20. He played every minute of all 34 league matches and led the 2. Bundesliga with 16 assists. At the international level, Leibold played five matches for the Germany U-20s in 2013.
Height: 6-1
Weight: 215
Hometown: Great River, New York
College: Lynn University
Last Club: Chivas USA (MLS)
Birthday: 5/15/1986
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 12/23/2014
Tim Melia leads Sporting KC in regular-season wins (102), shutouts (67) and saves (690), and has also played the most games (238) of any goalkeeper in club history. Melia claimed the 2017 Goalkeeper of the Year crown with career-highs in wins (12), shutouts (10), saves (91), starts (31) and minutes (2,759) before surpassing each of those stats in 2018.
Melia has an unbelievable knack for saving penalty kicks, having only conceded 19 of the 34 he has faced for Sporting while also guiding the team to penalty shootout victories in the 2015 U.S. Open Cup Final, the 2017 U.S. Open Cup Semifinal, the 2020 MLS is Back Round of 16, the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs Quarterfinal and the 2023 Wild Card Game.
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. During his breakout campaign in 2015, he was named MLS Comeback Player of the Year.
After a four-year college career with NCAA DIII program Lynn University, 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 call-ups from Sporting KC, FC Dallas and D.C. United.
Height: 5-8 Weight: 180 Birthday: 2/9/2000
Hometown: La Louviere, Belgium
Last Club: EA Guingamp (France)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 1/14/2022
Logan Ndenbe joined Sporting in a transfer from French team EA Guingamp in January 2022. Ndenbe arrived in Kansas City after spending his first five professional seasons in Europe with Belgian top-flight side KV Oostende and Guingamp.
Ndenbe has made 50 appearances for the club in all competitions, tallying two goals and two assists with both goals coming in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs series against St. Louis. Ndenbe suffered a torn ACL in the second match against St. Louis on Nov. 5, 2023 and is set to be out until the summer of 2024.
Regular
Last Regular Season...
Appearance Oct. 21, 2023, KC vs. MIN
Goal N/A
Assist Oct. 7, 2023, KC at RSL
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
Ndenbe developed in the Royal Excel Mouscron academy before joining KV Oostende as a 17-year-old in 2017. Ndenbe left Belgium in July 2020, signing for Guingamp to mark the start of a successful stint in the French Ligue 2.
On the youth international stage, Ndenbe rose through the Belgian U-17 and U-18 teams before earning his Belgium U-21 debut in June 2021 for his first of six matches in 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying. He started in four games during qualifying, helping the team go 3-0-1.
Height: 5-9
Weight: 155
Hometown: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Last Club: Sporting KC Academy
Birthday: 2/16/2003
Acquired: Signed as Homegrown Player on 5/4/2021
Kayden Pierre signed with Sporting as a Homegrown player early in the 2021 season after impressing at preseason camp in Arizona with the Sporting KC first team. He made his debut for the club against Club Leon in the Leagues Cup on Aug. 10, 2021 before making his MLS debut at Colorado on March 12, 2022. He enjoyed a breakout spell over the summer of 2022 with senior right back Graham Zusi sidelined through injury, as Pierre made 12 of his 19 appearances on the season between June 25-Sept. 17.
Pierre joined the Sporting KC Academy in 2018 from Vardar SC in his native Michigan. He represented Sporting at the U-15, U-17 and U-19 levels and helped guide the U-17s to
the Academy Playoffs in 2019. Capable of playing at left back and right back, Pierre gained his first professional experience in 2020 when he signed an amateur academy contract with SKC II. Pierre enjoyed a breakout season for Sporting in 2022, making 22 appearances in all competitions.
On the international stage, Pierre has competed for the U.S. U-14, U-16 and U-20 national teams.
#9 | F | ALAN PULIDO | @alanpulido
Height: 5-10 Weight: 170 Birthday: 3/8/1991
Hometown: Ciudad Victoria, Mexico
Last Club: C.D. Guadalajara (Mexico)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 12/10/2019
Mexican star Alan Pulido signed with Sporting KC as a Designated Player in a club-record transfer from Chivas Guadalajara in December 2019. Pulido has scored over 100 combined goals for club and country during a decorated career highlighted by five domestic championships and the 2018 Concacaf Champions League title.
Pulido tallied 15 goals and eight assists in 36 games in his first two seasons in MLS and was named Sporting’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2020. Pulido missed the entire 2022 season following knee surgery, returning to the field on April 1, 2023 and was named MLS Comeback Player of the Year after tallying 14 goals on his return in 2023. Pulido has tallied 31 goals and 14 assists in 75 appearances across all competitions for the club.
Pulido developed in the Tigres UANL youth academy before breaking into the first team in 2009 as an 18-year-old. He helped Tigres to the 2009 SuperLiga title and two years later,
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 2, 6 times, last: Sept. 2, 2023, KC vs. STL
Assists 2, July 22, 2020, KC at RSL
Shots on Goal 6, Oct. 24, 2020, KC vs. COL
Shots 8, May 22, 2021, KC at SJ
Fouls Committed 3, June 19, 2021, KC at POR
Suffered
Last Regular Season...
Appearance March 23, 2024, KC vs. LA
Goal March 16, 2024, KC vs. SJ
Assist June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
2024 Record when: he starts 1-1-3 he scores 1-0-0
Pulido scored in the second leg of the 2011 Liga MX Apertura Final as Tigres won its first league championship since 1982. Pulido enjoyed a breakout 2013-14 campaign with 25 goals in all competitions during his final season at Tigres, scoring in the 2014 Copa MX Clausura Final to finish as the tournament’s top scorer. Pulido then signed for Greek outfit Levadiakos before heading to Greek powerhouse Olympiacos. Pulido returned to Liga MX in August 2016, joining Chivas on a club-record transfer fee. His first full season with Chivas yielded 14 goals, helping his side to a double-winning campaign that ended with his first Liga MX Best XI selection. In 2018, he led Chivas to the Concacaf Champions League title and the club’s first continental championship in 56 years.
At the international level, Pulido has bagged five goals in 20 caps for Mexico’s senior team and was part of the El Tri squad at the 2011 Copa America and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Height: 6-4
Weight: 210
Hometown: Bakersfield, California
Birthday: 4/19/2001
Last Club: Sporting Kansas City II (USL Championship)
Acquired: Signed as a Homegrown Player on 2/24/2020
John Pulskamp joined Sporting KC as a Homegrown Player ahead of the 2020 season after acquiring his Homegrown rights from the LA Galaxy where he spent two seasons in the club’s Academy. He made his MLS debut in the 2021 season opener, helping the side to a 2-1 victory at the New York Red Bulls.
Pulskamp became the youngest goalkeeper in Sporting KC history to record a shutout following a 2-0 win over the LA Galaxy on Oct. 27, 2021 at the age of 20 years and 191 days. He enjoyed a breakout year in 2022 when he deputized for an injured Tim Melia to make 15 starts in all competitions, posting an 8-3-4 record.
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals Allowed 4, 2 times, last: March 25, 2023, KC vs. SEA Saves 7, July 17, 2022, KC at RSL
Last Regular Season...
Appearance March 25, 2023, KC vs. SEA Shutout March 11, 2023, KC vs. LA 2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-0
Pulskamp joined the MLS ranks on the heels of a breakout 2019 USL Championship season with SKC II. Pulskamp arrived in Kansas City in April 2019 after a two-year stint in the LA Galaxy Academy. He also spent time on trial with English Premier League outfit AFC Bournemouth in the summer of 2018. Prior to joining the Galaxy, he represented youth sides Real So Cal and Central California Aztecs.
Pulskamp was called in to a U.S. Men’s National Team training camp in December 2021. At the youth international level, Pulskamp has represented the U.S. at the U-18 and U-20 levels.
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175 Birthday: 2/6/1993
Hometown: Novi Sad, Serbia
Last Club: Levante (Spain)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 10/26/2022
Nemanja Radoja signed with Sporting KC ahead of the 2023 campaign, having spent most of the last decade in the Spanish La Liga with Celta Vigo and Levante. Radoja played nearly 300 matches across the top divisions of Serbia and Spain and also boasts experience in the UEFA Europa League with Vojvodina and Celta Vigo. Radoja has tallied one goal and three assists in 36 appearances across all competitions since joining SKC.
Radoja began his professional career with Serbian club Vojvodina before embarking on an eight-year journey in La Liga. He logged 181 La Liga appearances from 2014-2022, playing alongside Sporting defender Andreu Fontas at Celta Vigo from 2014-2018 and spent three seasons with Levante from 2019-2022. Radoja developed in Vojvodina’s youth academy and joined the club’s senior team in 2011 prior to brief loan spells in Serbia. Celta Vigo acquired Radoja via transfer in August 2014 and he took little time
Regular
Last Regular Season...
Appearance March 30, 2024, KC at TOR
Goal March 23, 2024, KC vs. LA
Assist Aug. 26, 2023, KC vs. SJ
2024 Record when: he starts 2-1-3 he scores 0-1-0
settling in as a key figure for Celta, regularly competing in tandem with Fontas for a team that finished eighth in 2014-15. Radoja and Celta improved upon their fortunes in 2015-16 leading to a sixth-place league finish. Celta Vigo’s 2016-17 campaign was highlighted by runs to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey and UEFA Europa League, where they fell to eventual champions Manchester United. Radoja moved to Levante ahead of the 2019-20 campaign. His first year at the club was highlighted by scoring in a 3-1 upset win over European powerhouse FC Barcelona.
On the international stage, Radoja has two caps for the Serbia Men’s National Team. He earned his senior debut in a friendly match at Ukraine in November 2016 and made one appearance in Serbia’s successful qualifying campaign ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. As a youth, Radoja represented Serbia at the U-18 through U-21 levels.
Height: 6-2
Weight: 185
Hometown: Rockville, Maryland
College: Maryland
Birthday: 10/8/2001
Acquired: 2023 MLS SuperDraft 2nd Round (#37)
Sporting Kansas City singed center back Chris Rindov ahead of the 2023 season after selecting the defender in the Second Round (37th overall) of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft out of Maryland. Rindov became Sporting’s first MLS SuperDraft selection to sign for the first team since 2018. Rindov made his MLS debut as a late substitute on April 22, 2023 at New England.
Rindov was a defensive mainstay for perennial powerhouse Maryland, starting in each of the program’s 38 matches over his final two seasons and finishing his college career with four goals and five assists in 58 appearances. Rising from freshman walk-on to team captain as a senior, he had a banner year in 2022 as an All-Big Ten First Team honoree
Last Regular Season...
Appearance April 22, 2023, KC at NE Goal
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
and an MLS College Showcase participant. Rindov played every minute in all 20 matches for the Terrapins in 2022, pushing Maryland to the Big Ten regular season title with an unbeaten 4-0-4 conference record. A two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, Rindov guided the Terps to their 22nd consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance in the fall of 2022.
Rindov won four consecutive state championships at Rockville High School. He also played for youth club OBGC, where he competed at two national championships and won an Eastern Regional title in 2018.
Height: 5-8
Weight: 155
Hometown: El Campo, Texas
Last Club: Austin FC (MLS)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 2/1/2024 #8
Birthday: 12/27/1995
Sporting Kansas City signed midfielder Memo Rodriguez ahead of the 2024 MLS campaign. Prior to joining Sporting, Rodriguez scored 34 goals in 227 professional club appearances since joining Houston Dynamo FC as a homegrown player in late 2014. He spent seven MLS seasons in Houston, notably winning the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, prior to representing both LA Galaxy and Austin FC in 2023.
Born in Wharton, Texas, and raised in nearby El Campo, Rodriguez entered the Houston Dynamo Academy in 2011. He was named its Academy Player of the Year in 2012 and 2013 before launching his MLS career at age 18, inking a Homegrown Player deal with the Dynamo ahead of the 2015 season. He spent most of his debut campaign on loan
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 2, 2 times, last: July 13, 2020, HOU at LAFC (w/ HOU)
Assists 1, 17 times, last: March 16, 2024, KC vs. SJ
Shots on Goal 3, 3 times, last: July 24, 2021, HOU at SJ (w/ HOU)
Shots 7, 2 times, last: April 16, 2021, HOU vs. SJ (w/ HOU)
Fouls Committed 5, June 18, 2022, HOU at ORL (w/ HOU) Fouls Suffered 5, 2 times, last: June 29, 2022, HOU at POR (w/ HOU)
Last Regular Season...
Appearance
March 30, 2024, KC at TOR
Goal May 31, 2023, LA at RSL (w/ LA)
Assist March 16, 2024, KC vs. SJ
2024 Record when: he starts 2-0-1 he scores 0-0-0
with the Charleston Battery in the USL Championship before joining the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros, Houston’s then-USL affiliate, for a breakout 2016 season. Rodriguez rejoined Houston in 2017 and made his MLS debut on April 8, 2017. In 2018, Rodriguez and Houston collected silverware as champions of the prestigious U.S. Open Cup before being named the Dynamo Young Player of the Year in 2019.
The Galaxy signed Rodriguez as a free agent in January 2023. He scored his first goal for the club in a thrilling 3-2 road win over Real Salt Lake on May 31 before moving to Austin FC in a trade on Aug. 1. He played nine MLS matches for Austin and finished the year with 21 league appearances, notching one goal and two assists.
Height: 6-2
Weight: 205
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Last Club: Atletico Junior (Colombia)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 3/2/2023
Birthday: 10/6/1993
Sporting Kansas City acquired center back Dany Rosero in a transfer from Colombian side Atletico Junior in March 2023. Rosero eclipsed 300 professional appearances across Argentina and his native Colombia, scoring 20 goals and competing in the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana. Beginning his career at Argentine club Arsenal de Sarandi as a teenager, the defender spent seven seasons in the Colombian top-flight Categoria Primera A with Patriotas Boyacá, Deportivo Cali and Junior. To date, Rosero has tallied four goals in 39 appearances across all competitions for Sporting KC. Born in Colombia, Rosero moved to Argentina to join Arsenal’s youth academy and began his professional career with the club in 2012. He enjoyed a pair of early breakthroughs by helping Arsenal win the 2013 Copa Argentina and by appearing in the 2014 Copa Libertadores. Rosero returned to his home country in 2016 with Patriotas Boyacá where
strong performances paved the way for Rosero to join Colombian powerhouse Deportivo Cali in 2017. Rosero delivered his most dominant season to date in 2019, scoring seven goals and starting 55 games in all competitions, with Deportivo Cali finishing as Copa Colombia runners-up.
In 2020, Rosero signed for Colombian heavyweights Junior and played in both the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, making 11 starts across the two tournaments. The following season, Rosero made seven appearances in the Copa Libertadores and one in the Copa Sudamericana while scoring three goals in 33 Primera A matches as Junior finished fifth in the aggregate league table. Rosero remained one of the Colombian first division’s best center backs in 2022, starting 36 league games and propelling Junior to the Copa Colombia finals.
#7 | F | JOHNNY RUSSELL
Height: 5-9
Weight: 175
Hometown: Glasgow, Scotland
Last Club: Derby County FC (England)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 1/31/2018
Birthday: 4/8/1990
Scottish winger Johnny Russell joined Sporting KC in a transfer from English club Derby County FC in January 2018. A cult-hero at the club, Russell has tallied 62 goals and 44 assists in 200 appearances for Sporting KC since the start of 2018. He was named club captain ahead of the 2021 season.
In 2021, Russell scored in eight consecutive games as part of a run where he tallied 15 goals in 19 matches over the second half of the campaign. Russell was named the club’s MVP in 2020 and 2022 as well as Offensive Player of the Year in 2018, 2019 and 2021.
Russell previously scored 93 goals during a 12-year professional career in England and his native Scotland. Russell developed in the Dundee United Academy in Scotland before
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 3, 2 times, last: May 26, 2019, KC vs. SEA
Assists 2, 3 times, last: Sept. 15, 2021, KC vs. MIN
Shots on Goal 4, 4 times, last: Aug. 28, 2021, KC vs. COL
Shots 8, Sept. 2, 2020, KC vs. DAL
Fouls Committed 5, April 30, 2022, KC vs. DAL
Fouls Suffered 6, 2 times, last: April 8, 2023, KC vs. COL
Last Regular Season...
Appearance March 16, 2024, KC vs. SJ
Goal Oct. 21, 2023, KC vs. MIN
Assist March 16, 2024, KC vs. SJ
2024 Record when: he starts 1-0-3 he scores 0-0-0
making his professional debut for the top-flight Scottish Premiership club in May 2007 at age 17. He spent most of the following three seasons out on loan and marked his first Dundee United start with a goal in the 2009 Scottish FA Cup. After scoring 23 goals from 2010-2012, Russell’s final season at Dundee saw him produce a team-best 20 goals. Russell joined Derby County in the summer of 2013 and marked his debut for the Rams with his first of nine goals in the 2013-14 English Championship as Derby fell just short of promotion to the EPL. He totaled 18 goals over the next two seasons.
Russell has 13 career caps for Scotland and scored his first international goal during a European Championship Qualifier in San Marino on March 24, 2019. He has also represented Scotland at the U-19 and U-21 levels.
Height: 6-1
Weight: 160
Hometown: Budapest, Hungary
Last Club: Sporting KC Academy
Birthday: 7/19/1996
Acquired: Signed as Homegrown Player on 1/13/2016
Daniel Salloi signed with Sporting KC as a Homegrown Player in early 2016 and made his Sporting KC debut on April 9, 2017. After enjoying a breakout campaign in 2018 where he tallied 16 goals and seven assists in all competitions, Salloi rebounded from a few lean years to be named an MLS All-Star and an MLS MVP finalist in 2021 after recording 16 goals and 10 assists in all competitions, tying the club record for most non-penalty goals in a single MLS regular season. His 16 game-winning goals are the most in club history. Salloi, who signed a new four-year contract in late 2022, enjoyed another productive year in 2023 by leading the team with 22 goal contributions (10 goals, 12 assists) and has recorded 58 goals and 38 assists in 220 appearances across all competitions. Salloi scored on his first start for the club - a 4-0 win over Minnesota United in the U.S. Open Cup on June 14, 2017 - and added his first MLS goal vs. Portland on July 1, 2017 before scoring the winning goal in the 2017 U.S. Open Cup Final against the Red Bulls.
Salloi moved to the U.S. in 2014 as an AFS exchange student and attended Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas, joining the SKC Academy. Salloi briefly returned to his former Hungarian Academy side Ujpest FC in July 2015 where he made his pro debut on July 18, 2015 before returning to Kansas City in 2016. He split the 2016 season on loan with SKC II and Gyirmot SE in Hungary before joining the Sporting KC first team full-time in 2017.
Salloi has four caps for the senior Hungary National Team, having made his debut in a World Cup Qualifier against England on Sept. 2, 2021. He previously played for the Hungary Under-21 National Team.
Height: 6-3 Weight: 195
Hometown: Marietta, Georgia
College: Georgetown
Birthday: 3/8/2002
Acquired: 2024 MLS SuperDraft 1st Round (#22)
Sporting Kansas City selected goalkeeper Ryan Schewe as the 22nd overall pick in the first round of MLS SuperDraft 2024. In two outstanding seasons as a starter at Georgetown University from 2022-2023, Schewe posted a 20-4-4 record with a 0.79 goals against average, 12 clean sheets and 86 saves. He enjoyed a breakout season as a junior in 2022, landing Second Team All-BIG EAST recognition after leading the conference in save percentage (.838) and shutouts (seven) en route to an 11-2-1 record.
During his senior year in 2023, Schewe propelled the Hoyas to the BIG EAST regular season championship with a 9-2-3 record and led the conference with the lowest goals against average (0.84) and the most shutouts (five). He punctuated his final college
campaign with BIG East Goalkeeper of the Year and First Team All-BIG EAST honors while also receiving United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-East Region accolades.
In addition to playing for Georgetown, Schewe competed as an amateur for Georgia club Apotheos FC of the National Premier Soccer League in 2022 and the New York-based Westchester Flames of USL League Two in 2023. At the youth level, the Georgia native spent three years each with the Atlanta United Academy and United Football Academy in his home state.
Height: 6-3 Weight: 190 Birthday: 6/26/1993
Hometown: Austin, Texas College: Oregon State
Last Club: SC Paderborn 07 (Germany)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 12/9/2019
Khiry Shelton is in the midst of his second stint with Sporting Kansas City, having initially helped the club to a first place in the Western Conference and a record-breaking scoring season in 2018, before departing to play in Germany with SC Paderborn 07 for one season in 2019. He returned to the club ahead of the 2020 season and has tallied 15 goals and 17 assists across 138 appearances for the club.
Shelton was selected second overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by expansion side New York City FC and spent three seasons with the club before initially arriving in KC via trade ahead of the 2018 season.
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, 18 times, last: June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
Assists 3, Sept. 23, 2016, NYC vs. CHI (w/ NYC)
Shots on Goal 4, July 17, 2020, KC vs. COL
Shots 6, May 5, 2018, KC vs. COL
Fouls Committed 4, 2 times, last: Oct. 21, 2018, KC at FCD
Fouls Suffered 4, April 11, 2015, NYC at PHI (w/ NYC)
Last Regular Season...
Appearance Oct. 21, 2023, KC vs. MIN
Goal June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
Assist July 9, 2022, KC at MTL
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
He was NYCFC’s first-ever SuperDraft pick and played a total of 54 regular-season games for the club, notching six goals and 10 assists across just 23 starts.
In college, Shelton attended Oregon State University where he was an NSCAA All-America Second Team selection; Pac-12 Player of the Year; All-Far West Region First Team as he helped lead the Beavers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2003 during his senior year. Shelton was a member of the U.S. U-18 National Team as a youth player.
Height: 5-8 Weight: 155 Birthday: 8/20/1994
Hometown: Wettenhausen, Germany
Last Club: VfB Stuttgart (Germany)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 6/23/2022 #26
Erik Thommy, a German Bundesliga veteran, signed with Sporting KC in June 2022. Thommy previously recorded 42 goals and 33 assists across nine seasons in his native Germany - including nine goals, 14 assists and 96 appearances in the top-flight Bundesliga. He scored his first goal for Sporting in the 4-2 victory over the LA Galaxy on Aug. 6, 2022 and has tallied nine goals and 15 assists across 61 appearances across all competitions for the club.
Capable of playing in an advanced midfield role or on the wing, Thommy launched his professional career with FC Augsburg in 2014 before going on loan to FC Kaiserslautern
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, 9 times, last: Feb. 24, 2024, KC at HOU Assists 2, Sept. 2, 2023, KC vs. STL
Shots on Goal 4, 2 times, last: March 11, 2023, KC vs. LA
Shots 8, March 11, 2023, KC vs. LA
Fouls Committed 3, 4 times, last: March 30, 2024, KC at TOR
Fouls Suffered 5, 2 times, last: Oct. 21, 2023, KC vs. MIN
Last Regular Season... Appearance March 30, 2024, KC at TOR
Goal Feb. 24, 2024, KC at HOU
Assist Oct. 7, 2023, KC at RSL
2024 Record when: he starts 2-1-3 he scores 0-0-1
(2014-2016) and Jahn Regensburg (2016-2017). Thommy joined VfB Stuttgart in 2017, starred for Fortuna Dusseldorf during a successful loan spell in 2019-2020, and ended his time at Stuttgart in the Spring of 2022 by appearing in each of the club’s last six matches of the 2021-2022 campaign.
Thommy developed in academies at SV Kleinbeuren (2000-2002), SSV Ulm (2002-2009) and TSG Thannhausen (2009-2010) before moving to FC Augsburg. He signed for FC Augsburg II in 2013 and made his Bundesliga debut with Augsburg’s senior team as a 19-year-old in February 2014.
Height: 5-7
Weight: 155
Hometown: Nicosia, Cyprus
Last Club: Omonia Nicosia (Cyprus)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 1/24/2022
Birthday: 7/16/2001
Marinos Tzionis signed with Sporting KC in a transfer from Omonia Nicosia in Cyprus in late January 2022. Tzionis scored 15 goals in 88 appearances for hometown club Omonia Nicosia since turning professional as a 15-year-old in 2017. Appearing mostly as a substitute during his time with Sporting, Tzionis has tallied three goals and one assists in 53 appearances across all competitions.
Tzionis scored his first goal for the club with a last-gasp equalizer in the 98th minute of the club’s U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 clash with FC Dallas on May 10, 2022 and scored his first MLS goal four days later in a loss at Portland.
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals
Assists
1, May 14, 2022, KC at POR
1, May 28, 2023, KC vs. POR
Shots on Goal 2, 2 times, last: Sept. 10, 2022, KC at HOU
Shots 3, 3 times, last: Aug. 26, 2023, KC vs. SJ
Fouls Committed 2, 5 times, last: Sept. 20, 2023, KC vs. NSH
Fouls Suffered 5, April 17, 2022, KC at LAFC
Last Regular Season...
Appearance Oct. 7, 2023, KC at RSL
Goal May 14, 2022, KC at POR
Assist May 28, 2023, KC vs. POR
2024 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
Tzionis developed in Omonia Nicosia’s academy, signed for the first team in 2017 and made his senior debut for the club in May 2018. In a breakout 2020-21 campaign, Tzionis guided Omonia to the club’s first league title in 11 years by tallying seven goals in 43 games. He landed his UEFA Champions League debut in the qualifying rounds and started all six of Omonia’s games in the UEFA Europa League group stage.
Tzionis represented Cyprus at the U-17 and U-19 youth levels, before breaking into the senior national team in September 2020. To date, Tzionis has two goals in 25 caps for the Cyprus National Team, scoring his first goal in a 2-0 win over Estonia on March 29, 2022.
Height: 6-1
Weight: 160
Hometown: San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Birthday: 12/4/2003
Last Club: Futbol Consultants Desamparados (Costa Rica)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 12/15/2023
Sporting Kansas City acquired forward Alenis Vargas in a transfer from Costa Rican side Futbol Consultants Desamparados ahead of the 2024 season. Vargas spent the 2023 season on loan with SKC II and enjoyed an excellent campaign in MLS NEXT Pro. In 21 appearances, Vargas recorded six goals and five assists while drawing three penalty kicks and helping the team reach the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs with a third-place finish in the Western Conference.
A native of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Vargas did not begin playing competitive soccer until he was 16. He developed in the Leones Academy from 2019-2020 before joining the
reserve team at Honduran powerhouse C.D. Olimpia in December 2020 at age 17. Vargas left his home country in 2022, signing for Futbol Consultants in Costa Rica’s second division. During the latter half of the year, he trained with reigning top-flight champion Cartaginés, where he was coached by former striker and Costa Rican World Cup veteran Paulo Wanchope.
Vargas excelled on loan with SKC II in 2023, scoring a sensational scissor-kick goal to spark a 4-0 home win over first-place Colorado Rapids 2 before scoring a hat trick in a 6-1 win over Portland Timbers 2 in Aug. 13, 2023.
#4 | D | ROBERT VOLODER
Height: 6-0
Weight: 170 Birthday: 5/9/2001
Hometown: Frankfurt, Germany
Last Club: NK Maribor (Slovenia)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 1/19/2022
Robert Voloder arrived in Kansas City in a transfer from NK Maribor in the Slovenian first division ahead of the 2022 MLS season. Voloder had played every minute for Slovenian powerhouse Maribor during the 2021-22 season before making the move to MLS. Since joining Sporting KC, Voloder has made 33 appearances in all competitions and tallied his first MLS goal against D.C. United on Sept. 13, 2022.
Prior to joining Maribor, Voloder began his professional career at heralded German side FC Cologne. He developed in the club’s academy from 2016-2020 before being selected to Cologne’s first team squad for three German Bundesliga matches at the end of the
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, Sept. 13, 2022, KC vs. DC
Assists 1, June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
Shots on Goal 1, Sept. 13, 2022, KC vs. DC
Shots 1, 4 times, last: June 3, 2023, KC at VAN
Fouls Committed 2, 2 times, last: June 10, 2023, KC vs.
Last Regular Season...
Appearance March 30, 2024, KC at TOR
Goal Sept. 13, 2022, KC vs. DC
Assist June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
2024 Record when: he starts 2-1-0 he scores 0-0-0
2019-20 campaign. Voloder featured regularly for FC Cologne II in 2020-21, starting all 26 appearances.
On the youth international stage, Voloder represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at the U-17 through U-19 levels from 2017-2019 before switching his national team allegiance to Germany in September 2019, debuting for the country’s U-19s in a friendly against England. He played his first of five matches for the German U-20s in the fall of 2020 and recently captained the team in an Under 20 Elite League matchup against Norway on Sept. 6, 2021.
Height: 5-8
Weight: 165
Hometown: Essey-les-Nancy, France
Last Club: Yeni Malatyaspor (Turkey)
Birthday: 4/26/1995
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 12/22/2020
Remi Walter signed with Sporting KC in December 2020, having amassed nearly 200 professional appearances since 2012 while playing in his native France and one season in Turkey. Walter has been an integral part of the Sporting KC squad since 2021, tallying nine goals and nine assists in 116 appearances, and was the only Sporting player to start all 34 regular-season matches in 2022.
Walter developed in Nancy’s youth academy before joining the first team as an 18-year-old in 2013. He became a regular starter in the early stages of the 2013-14 season and spent the next two and a half years as an integral midfield contributor for the side before being transferred to French title contender Nice in early 2016. Walter helped
Last Regular Season...
Appearance March 30, 2024, KC at TOR
Goal March 30, 2024, KC at TOR
the club to a fourth-place finish as well as qualification to the 2016-17 UEFA Europa League. The following season, Walter and Nice took another step forward by placing third in Ligue 1 and booking a spot in the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League. Walter split the 2017-18 campaign between Nice and Troyes on loan, before returning to Nice in the summer of 2018. Walter transferred to Turkish first division outfit Yeni Malatyaspor in January of 2020 before departing later that summer.
On the international stage, Walter was a French youth international who participated in a number of high-profile tournaments, namely the 2012 UEFA U-17 Championship in Slovenia and qualifying for the 2017 UEFA U-21 Championship in Poland.
SINGLE SEASON RECORDS (GOALKEEPERS) SINGLE
SPORTING KANSAS CITY INDIVIDUAL SINGLE-SEASON CHARTS (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
SPORTING KANSAS CITY INDIVIDUAL HIGHS (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
GOALS
Career: 71 Preki
Season: 22 Dom Dwyer (2014)
Game: 3 10 times
Half: 3 Vitalis Takawira (05/16/1998 at NE, 2nd)
Half: 3 Eddie Johnson (06/02/2007 vs. NY, 2nd)
Half: 3 Gerso Fernandes (05/17/2017 vs. SEA, 2nd)
ASSISTS
Career: 98 Preki
Season: 17 Preki (1997)
Season: 17 Preki (2003)
Game: 4 Chris Henderson (06/20/1999 vs. MET)
Half: 3 Chris Henderson (06/20/1999 vs. MET, 1st)
Half: 3 Preki (06/21/2003 vs. CHI, 1st)
SHOTS
Career: 693 Preki
Season: 140 Preki (1996)
Game: 12 Preki (04/12/1997 at TB)
Half: 8 Preki (04/12/1997 at TB, 2nd)
Half: 8 Onandi Lowe (08/12/2001 at COL, 2nd)
Half: 8 Preki (07/06/2002 vs. DAL, 2nd)
GOALS
Season: 65 in 2018
Game: 7 03/30/2019 vs. MTL
2-Tms: 10 05/02/1996 vs. CLB
Half: 5 05/02/1996 vs. CLB (2nd)
Half: 5 06/21/1997 vs. DC (2nd)
ASSISTS
Season: 69 in 2018
Game: 10 06/20/1999 vs. MET
2-Tms: 12 07/04/2001 vs. CHI
Half: 8 06/20/1999 vs. MET (1st)
SHOTS
Season: 583 in 2018
Game: 34 05/15/2016 vs. ORL
Game: 34 04/20/2018 vs. VAN
Game: 34 10/06/2018 vs. LA
2-Tms: 44 4 times
Half: 23 04/20/2018 vs. VAN (2nd)
SHOTS ON GOAL
Career: 283 Preki
Season: 61 Preki (1996)
Game: 6 Preki (05/19/1996 at LA)
Game: 6 Eddie Johnson (06/02/2007 vs. NY)
Game: 6 Alan Pulido (10/24/2020 vs. COL)
Half: 4 10 times
FOULS COMMITTED
Career: 517 Roger Espinoza
Season: 79 Chris Henderson (2000)
Game: 8 Davy Arnaud (05/29/2010 at RSL)
Game: 8 Oriol Rosell (07/27/2013 at MTL)
Half: 7 Scott Uderitz (05/11/1996 vs. DAL, 1st)
FOULS SUFFERED
Career: 528 Davy Arnaud
Season: 111 Davy Arnaud (2004)
Game: 10 Davy Arnaud (10/14/2006 at NY)
Half: 6 8 times
CORNER KICKS
Career: 800 Graham Zusi
Season: 150 Graham Zusi (2012)
Game: 12 Alex Zotinca (07/22/2006 at NY)
Half: 8 Chris Henderson (04/10/1999 vs. SJ, 2nd)
Half: 8 Chris Henderson (05/20/2000 vs. SJ, 1st)
Half: 8 Johnny Russell (08/14/2019 at ORL, 2nd)
GOALS ALLOWED
Career: 301 Tim Melia
Season: 60 Tim Melia (2019)
Game: 7 Bo Oshoniyi (07/04/2001 vs. CHI)
Game: 7 Tim Melia (09/15/2019 at LA)
Game: 7 Tim Melia (05/14/2022 at POR)
Half: 6 Tim Melia (09/15/2019 at LA, 2nd)
Half: 6 Tim Melia (05/14/2022 at POR, 2nd)
SAVES
Career: 690 Tim Melia
Season: 129 Tony Meola (2000)
Game: 10 Tim Melia (04/08/2018 at LA)
Half: 7 4 times
SPORTING KANSAS CITY TEAM HIGHS (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
SHOTS ON GOAL
Season: 250 in 1996
Game: 14 08/23/1998 vs. MIA
Game: 14 06/21/2003 vs. CHI
Game: 14 04/20/2018 vs. VAN
2-Tms: 22 05/02/1996 vs. CLB
2-Tms: 22 04/18/1997 vs. DAL
Half: 11 08/23/1998 vs. MIA (1st)
FOULS COMMITTED
Season: 511 in 2013
Game: 27 07/04/1997 at CLB
2-Tms: 52 05/17/2000 vs. DC
Half: 16 04/05/1997 vs. LA (1st)
Half: 16 07/04/1997 at CLB (2nd)
Half: 16 03/08/2014 at SEA (1st)
FOULS SUFFERED
Season: 541 in 2000
Game: 30 08/16/2003 at DAL
2-Tms: 51 05/17/2000 vs. DC
Half: 20 07/27/1996 vs. NE (2nd)
CORNER KICKS
Season: 207 in 2021
Game: 15 04/10/1999 vs. SJ
2-Tms: 22 08/14/1999 at MET
Half: 10 04/10/1999 vs. SJ (2nd)
GOALS ALLOWED
Season: 67 in 2019
Game: 7 07/04/2001 vs. CHI
Game: 7 09/15/2019 at LA
Game: 7 05/14/2022 at POR
2-Tms: 10 05/02/1996 vs. CLB
Half: 6 09/15/2019 at LA (2nd)
Half: 6 05/14/2022 at POR (2nd)
SAVES
Season: 133 in 1999
Game: 10 04/08/2018 at LA
2-Tms: 18 04/18/1997 vs. DAL
2-Tms: 18 09/02/2000 vs. TB
Half: 7 4 times