SPORTING KANSAS CITY vs. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
Saturday, July 1, 2023
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. CT
T-11th in MLS Western Conference
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
6-5-7, 25 points
(5-1-4 home; 1-4-3 away)
T-8th in MLS Western Conference
KS)
22
Apple TV: MLS Season Pass
English Radio: Sports Radio 810 WHB
Spanish Radio: La Grande 1340 AM
Referee: Malik Badawi
Assistant ref: Cameron Blanchard
Assistant ref: Ian McKay
4th official: Mark Allatin
VAR: Pierre Luc-Lauziere
SPORTING KANSAS CITY PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
2023 REGULAR SEASON TEAM STATS
SPORTING
2023 MLS REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS
QUESTIONABLE
PLAYER AVAILABILITY REPORT
As of Wednesday, June 28
• DEF - Logan Ndenbe (Hamstring Injury)
• DEF - Kayden Pierre (Hamstring Injury)
OUT
• GK - Tim Melia (Quad Injury)
• DEF - Kortne Ford (Achilles Surgery)
• DEF - Graham Zusi (Hamstring Injury)
• FWD - Willy Agada (Tibia Stress Fracture)
1
No. Pos. Name Pronunciation 1 GK John Pulskamp 3 DEF Andreu Fontas ahn-DRAY-oo 4 DEF Robert Voloder VOLO-derr 5 DEF Dany Rosero danny roh-CERO 6 MID Nemanja Radoja nem-AHN-ya RAHD-oy-ah 7 FWD Johnny Russell 8 DEF Graham Zusi gram ZOO-see 9 FWD Alan Pulido AH-lahn pooh-LEE-doh 10 MID Gadi Kinda GAH-dee KINN-dah 11 FWD Khiry Shelton KY-ree 12 DEF Kortne Ford COURT-knee 14 DEF Tim Leibold LIE-bold 15 DEF Roger Espinoza 17 MID Jake Davis 18 DEF Logan Ndenbe en-DEN-bay 19 DEF Robert Castellanos CASS-tee-YAH-nos 20 FWD Daniel Salloi shallow-EE 21 MID Felipe Hernandez feh-LEE-pay 22 GK Kendall McIntosh MACK-in-tosh 23 FWD Willy Agada ah-GAH-dah 24 DEF Kayden Pierre 25 FWD Ozzie Cisneros sis-NAIR-oce 26 MID Erik Thommy tommy 28 MID Cam Duke 29 GK Tim Melia MEE-lia 30 FWD Stephen Afrifa uh-FREE-fuh 31 MID Danny Flores 54 MID Remi Walter vault-AIR 77 FWD Marinos Tzionis ma-REE-noss JOHN-eese 82 DEF Chris Rindov rin-DOVE
WWW.SPORTINGKC.COM/MEDIA-GUIDE
21 points (4-5-1 home; 1-5-5
Children’s Mercy Park (Kansas City,
MLS Regular Season Game
Sporting Kansas City 5-10-6,
away)
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS 6-5-7 (25 pts.) 1.39 18 T-8th in West 30 1.67 22 23 1.28 +7 261 (91) 34.9% 220 175 42 0 RECORD POINTS PER GAME GAMES PLAYED CONFERENCE POSITION GOALS GOALS/GAME ASSISTS GOALS ALLOWED ALLOWED/GAME GOAL DIFFERENTIAL SHOTS (ON GOAL) ON GOAL % FOULS COMMITTED FOULS SUFFERED CAUTIONS EJECTIONS 5-10-6 (21 pts.) 1.00 21 T-11th in West 23 1.10 23 30 1.43 -7 288 (105) 36.5% 206 254 35 3
SEASON
LEADERS SPORTING KANSAS CITY VANCOUVER WHITECAPS 7 Brian White 5 Julian Gressel 52 Brian White 23 Brian White 3 Brian White 1 Four Players 38 Andres Cubas 16 Cubas, Vite 4 Three Players 0 N/A 1530 Yohei Takaoka 1.18 Yohei Takaoka 6 Yohei Takaoka 5 Yohei Takaoka 48 Yohei Takaoka GOALS ASSISTS SHOTS SHOTS ON GOAL GAME-WINNING GOALS GAME-WINNING ASSISTS FOULS COMMITTED FOULS SUFFERED CAUTIONS EJECTIONS GK MINUTES PLAYED GOALS AGAINST AVG. WINS SHUTOUTS SAVES Alan Pulido 7 Erik Thommy 5 Erik Thommy 57 Daniel Salloi 22 Daniel Salloi 2 Erik Thommy 2 Erik Thommy 22 Erik Thommy 35 Rosero, Thommy 5 Three Players 1 Kendall McIntosh 831 Tim Melia 1.33 Kendall McIntosh 3 John Pulskamp 2 Kendall McIntosh 22
- REGULAR SEASON PETER VERMES VANNI SARTINI 3rd season 25-22-19 (.523) 3rd season 25-22-19 (.523) MLS EXPERIENCE MLS RECORD YEAR WITH TEAM RECORD WITH TEAM 15th season (.534) 188-157-113 15th season (.534) 188-157-113 Eastern Conference Pts W L T GD GP 1. FC Cincinnati 43 13 2 4 +11 19 2. New England Revolution 36 10 3 6 +10 19 3. Nashville SC 35 10 5 5 +12 20 4. Philadelphia Union 34 10 5 4 +14 19 5. Columbus Crew 31 9 6 4 +12 19 6. Atlanta United FC 29 7 5 8 +2 20 7. Orlando City SC 28 7 5 7 +3 19 8. CF Montreal 26 8 9 2 -7 19 9. D.C. United 26 7 8 5 +3 20 10. Charlotte FC 24 6 8 6 -8 20 11. New York Red Bulls 23 5 6 8 -1 19 12. Chicago Fire FC 23 5 6 8 -3 19 13. New York City FC 21 4 7 8 -5 20 14. Toronto FC 19 3 7 10 -8 20 15. Inter Miami CF 15 5 13 0 -11 18 Western Conference Pts W L T GD GP 1. st. louis city sc 32 10 7 2 +13 19 2. Los Angeles FC 32 9 4 5 +9 18 3. Seattle Sounders FC 29 8 7 5 +6 20 4. Houston Dynamo FC 27 8 8 3 -1 19 5. San Jose Earthquakes 27 7 7 6 -3 20 6. Real Salt Lake 27 7 7 6 -6 20 7. FC Dallas 26 7 7 5 -1 19 8. Austin FC 25 7 8 4 -3 19 9. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 25 6 5 7 +7 18 10. Portland Timbers 22 5 8 7 -5 20 11. Sporting Kansas City 21 5 10 6 -7 21 12. Minnesota United FC 21 5 7 6 -7 18 13. LA Galaxy 15 3 9 6 -13 18 14. Colorado Rapids 14 2 9 8 -13 19
KANSAS CITY
2023 REGULAR
INDIVIDUAL
COACHES
SPORTING KANSAS CITY 2023 NUMERICAL ROSTER
SPORTING KANSAS CITY 2023
ROSTER
2 NO. PLAYER PRONUNCIATION POS. HT. WT. BIRTHDATE (AGE) HOMETOWN LAST CLUB 1 John Pulskamp GK 6-4 205 04/19/2001 (22) Bakersfield, CA Sporting KC II (USL Championship) 3 Andreu Fontas ahn-DRAY-oo DEF 6-2 200 11/14/1989 (33) Banyoles, Spain Celta Vigo (Spain) 4 Robert Voloder VOLO-derr DEF 6-0 175 05/09/2001 (22) Frankfurt, Germany NK Maribor (Slovenia) 5 Dany Rosero danny roh-CERO DEF 6-2 190 10/06/1993 (29) Bogota, Colombia Atletico Junior (Colombia) 6 Nemanja Radoja nem-AHN-ya RAHD-oy-ya MID 6-0 175 02/06/1993 (30) Novi Sad, Serbia Levante (Spain) 7 Johnny Russell FWD 5-9 170 04/08/1990 (33) Glasgow, Scotland Derby County FC (England) 8 Graham Zusi ZOO-see DEF 5-10 160 08/18/1986 (36) Orlando, FL 9 Alan Pulido AH-lahn pooh-LEE-doh FWD 5-10 180 03/08/1991 (32) Ciudad Victoria, Mexico Chivas Guadalajara (Mexico) 10 Gadi Kinda GAH-dee KINN-dah MID 5-7 155 03/23/1994 (29) Ashdod, Israel Beitar Jerusalem (Israel) 11 Khiry Shelton KY-ree FWD 6-3 180 06/26/1993 (30) Austin, TX SC Paderborn 07 (Germany) 12 Kortne Ford COURT-knee DEF 6-2 180 01/26/1996 (27) Olathe, KS Colorado Rapids (MLS) 14 Tim Leibold LIE-bold DEF 5-9 165 11/30/1993 (29) Friolzheim, Germany Hamburger SV (Germany) 15 Roger Espinoza MID 5-10 190 10/25/1986 (36) Denver, CO Wigan Athletic (England) 17 Jake Davis MID 5-9 160 01/03/2002 (21) Rochester, MI Sporting KC II (USL Championship) 18 Logan Ndenbe en-DEN-bay DEF 5-8 180 02/09/2000 (23) La Louviere, Belgium EA Guingamp (France) 19 Robert Castellanos CASS-tee-YAH-nos DEF 6-1 190 05/11/1998 (25) Palmdale, CA KuPS (Finland) 20 Daniel Salloi shallow-EE FWD 6-1 165 07/19/1996 (26) Budapest, Hungary Sporting KC Academy 21 Felipe Hernandez feh-LEE-pay MID 5-7 140 06/08/1998 (25) Nashville, TN Sporting KC II (USL Championship) 22 Kendall McIntosh MACK-in-tosh GK 5-11 180 01/24/1994 (29) Santa Rosa, CA New York Red Bulls (MLS) 23 Willy Agada ah-GAH-dah FWD 5-9 180 09/17/1999 (23) Bauchi, Nigeria Hapoel Jerusalem (Israel) 24 Kayden Pierre DEF 5-9 150 02/16/2003 (20) Bloomfield Hills, MI Sporting KC Academy 25 Ozzie Cisneros sis-NAIR-oce FWD 5-5 145 03/13/2004 (19) Omaha, NE Sporting KC Academy 26 Erik Thommy tommy MID 5-8 160 08/20/1994 (28) Wettenhausen, Germany VfB Stuttgart (Germany) 28 Cam Duke MID 5-6 130 02/13/2001 (22) Overland Park, KS Sporting KC Academy 29 Tim Melia MEE-lia GK 6-1 210 05/15/1986 (37) Great River, NY Chivas USA (MLS) 30 Stephen Afrifa uh-FREE-fuh FWD 5-10 150 02/19/2001 (22) Toronto, Canada 31 Danny Flores MID 5-9 145 04/06/2002 (21) Half Moon Bay, CA Oakland Roots (USL Championship) 54 Remi Walter vault-AIR MID 5-8 160 04/26/1995 (28) Essey-les-Nancy, France Yeni Malatyaspor (Turkey) 77 Marinos Tzionis ma-REE-noss JOHN-eese FWD 5-7 150 07/16/2001 (21) Nicosia, Cyprus Omonia Nicosia (Cyprus) 82 Chris Rindov rin-DOVE DEF 6-2 185 10/08/2001 (21) Rockville, MD
NO. PLAYER PRONUNCIATION POS. HT. WT. BIRTHDATE (AGE) BIRTHPLACE COLLEGE 30 Stephen Afrifa uh-FREE-fuh FWD 5-10 150 02/19/2001 (22) Toronto, Canada Florida International University 23 Willy Agada ah-GAH-dah FWD 5-9 180 09/17/1999 (23) Bauchi, Nigeria 19 Robert Castellanos CASS-tee-YAH-nos DEF 6-1 190 05/11/1998 (25) Palmdale, CA 25 Ozzie Cisneros sis-NAIR-oce FWD 5-5 145 03/13/2004 (19) Omaha, NE 17 Jake Davis MID 5-9 160 01/03/2002 (21) Rochester, MI 28 Cam Duke MID 5-6 130 02/13/2001 (22) Overland Park, KS 15 Roger Espinoza MID 5-10 190 10/25/1986 (36) Puerto Cortes, Honduras Ohio State University 31 Danny Flores MID 5-9 145 04/06/2002 (21) Burlingame, CA Virginia Tech 3 Andreu Fontas ahn-DRAY-oo DEF 6-2 200 11/14/1989 (33) Banyoles, Spain 12 Kortne Ford COURT-knee DEF 6-2 180 01/26/1996 (27) Olathe, KS University of Denver 21 Felipe Hernandez feh-LEE-pay MID 5-7 140 06/08/1998 (25) Ibague, Colombia 10 Gadi Kinda GAH-dee KINN-dah MID 5-7 155 03/23/1994 (29) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 14 Tim Leibold LIE-bold DEF 5-9 165 11/30/1993 (29) Boblingen, Germany 22 Kendall McIntosh MACK-in-tosh GK 5-11 180 01/24/1994 (29) Oakland, CA Santa Clara University 29 Tim Melia MEE-lia GK 6-1 210 05/15/1986 (37) Great River, NY Lynn University 18 Logan Ndenbe en-DEN-bay DEF 5-8 180 02/09/2000 (23) La Louviere, Belgium 24 Kayden Pierre DEF 5-9 150 02/16/2003 (20) Rochester Hills, MI 9 Alan Pulido AH-lahn pooh-LEE-doh FWD 5-10 180 03/08/1991 (32) Ciudad Victoria, Mexico 1 John Pulskamp GK 6-4 205 04/19/2001 (22) Bakersfield, CA 6 Nemanja Radoja nem-AHN-ya RAHD-oy-ya MID 6-0 175 02/06/1993 (30) Novi Sad, Serbia 82 Chris Rindov rin-DOVE DEF 6-2 185 10/08/2001 (21) Silver Spring, MD University of Maryland 5 Dany Rosero danny roh-CERO DEF 6-2 190 10/06/1993 (29) Bogota, Colombia 7 Johnny Russell FWD 5-9 170 04/08/1990 (33) Glasgow, Scotland 20 Daniel Salloi shallow-EE FWD 6-1 165 07/19/1996 (26) Siofok, Hungary 11 Khiry Shelton KY-ree FWD 6-3 180 06/26/1993 (30) Colorado Springs, CO Oregon State University 26 Erik Thommy tommy MID 5-8 160 08/20/1994 (28) Ulm, Germany 77 Marinos Tzionis ma-REE-noss JOHN-eese FWD 5-7 150 07/16/2001 (21) Nicosia, Cyprus 4 Robert Voloder VOLO-derr DEF 6-0 175 05/09/2001 (22) Frankfurt, Germany 54 Remi Walter vault-AIR MID 5-8 160 04/26/1995 (28) Essey-les-Nancy, France 8 Graham Zusi ZOO-see DEF 5-10 160 08/18/1986 (36) Longwood, FL University of Maryland
Sporting KC Game Notes | July 1, 2023 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes
ALPHABETICAL
#SKCvVAN: HEAD-TO-HEAD
Sporting Kansas City (5-10-6, 21 pts.) remains at home this weekend as the side prepares to face Vancouver Whitecaps FC (6-5-7, 25 pts.) at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night.
The two sides split the points when they met at BC Place in Canada a month ago on June 3, 2023. Alan Pulido headed Sporting into the lead midway through the first half, expertly redirecting Erik Thommy’s corner kick into the top corner. Sporting thought they’d held on for three points but Ryan Gauld salvaged a draw for the hosts when he converted from the penalty spot in the 88th minute after Robert Voloder’s foul on Deiber Caicedo.
Vancouver’s last visit to Children’s Mercy Park came on May 28, 2022 and walked away with another three points following another narrow 1-0 victory courtesy of Lucas Cavallini’s first-half penalty kick.
Sporting KC has a commanding 11-6-5 lead in the all-time regular-season series against Vancouver since the Whitecaps joined MLS in 2011, including a 6-2-2 mark at home. Sporting had won three straight in the regular-season series but are now winless in the last three.
#SKCvVAN: Recent Meetings (SKC leads 11-6-5 in regular season)
Date Score Result Details
06/03/2023 KC 1 at VAN 1 T Pulido opens scoring before Gauld tallies late penalty
05/28/2022 KC 0 vs VAN 1 L Cavallini scores first-half penalty to claim all three points
04/02/2022 KC 0 at VAN 1 L Raposo scores winner in 73rd minute for the hosts
10/17/2021 KC 1 at VAN 2 L Gauld and Teibert tally before Russell pulls one back
05/16/2021 KC 3 vs VAN 0 W Salloi opens scoring before Pulido bags a brace
#SKCvVAN: PLAYER HISTORY
• Winger Johnny Russell leads the team with four goals and two assists against Vancouver, having scored a hat trick in the 6-0 home win on April 20, 2018 before recording an assists in the 4-1 road win on Oct. 17, 2018 and the 3-0 road win on July 13, 2019. He also tallied in Sporting’s 2-1 road loss to the Whitecaps on Oct. 17, 2021.
• Forward Daniel Salloi has recorded three goals and two assists versus Vancouver. Two goals came in a 4-1 road win on Oct. 17, 2018, before adding another with the game-winner in the 3-0 home win on May 16, 2021. His assists came on Jimmy Medranda’s goal in the 6-0 home victory on April 20, 2018 and Johnny Russell’s goal in the 2-1 road loss on Oct. 17, 2021.
• Forward Alan Pulido has scored four goals against Vancouver, including his first goal for Sporting KC on his debut - a 3-1 road win on Feb. 29, 2020. He also tallied a brace in the 3-0 home win on May 16, 2021 and the opener in the 1-1 road draw on June 3, 2023.
• Midfielder Gadi Kinda scored his first goal for Sporting KC on his debut - a 3-1 road win on Feb. 29, 2020. He also added an assist in the 3-0 home win on May 16, 2021.
• Defender Graham Zusi has four assists against the Whitecaps, setting up game-winners in 2-1 wins on June 25, 2011, March 12, 2016, and the 6-0 win on April 20, 2018. His most recent assist came in the 4-1 road win on Oct. 17, 2018.
• Midfielder Roger Espinoza has three assists against the Whitecaps, setting up Teal Bunbury’s first goal in a 3-3 draw on April 2, 2011 before adding two assists in the 6-0 home win on April 20, 2018.
• Forward Khiry Shelton has three assists against Vancouver. He notched his first in a 3-2 home win for NYCFC on April 30, 2016 before tallying two assists - including the game-winning assist - in Sporting’s 4-1 road win on Oct. 17, 2018.
• Midfielder Erik Thommy has tallied one assist against the Whitecaps, coming in the 1-1 road draw on June 3, 2023.
• Goalkeeper Tim Melia is 8-5-1 against Vancouver with a 1.00 goals against average, while he has four shutouts coming in a 1-0 win on the road on July 12, 2015, a 6-0 home victory on April 20, 2018, a 3-0 road win on July 13, 2019 and a 3-0 home win on May 16, 2021.
• Goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh is 0-0-1 against the Whitecaps with a 1.00 goals against average following the 1-1 road draw on June 3, 2023.
#SKCvVAN: PLAYER/COACH CONNECTIONS
• Vancouver left back Luis Martins spent three seasons with Sporting KC from 2019-2021, tallying one goal and six assists across 60 appearances in all competitions for the club.
• Forward Johnny Russell played alongside fellow Scotsman Ryan Gauld at Dundee United from 2012-2013.
• Goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh was teammates with Vancouver striker Brian White at the New York Red Bulls in 2020.
• Midfielder Nemanja Radoja and Vancouver defender Ranko Veselinovic were both born in Novi Sad, Serbia and developed at Serbian club FK Vojvodina.
• Defender Dany Rosero was teammates with Vancouver winger Deiber Caicedo at Colombian side Deportivo Cali from 2018-2019.
• Vancouver forward Simon Becher was born in Topeka, Kansas.
#SKCvVAN: BY THE NUMBERS
Sporting KC Team Notes
• Since the start of May, Sporting lead the Western Conference in wins (five) and points (18).
• Since the start of May, Sporting are tied for the MLS lead with 20 goals scored (Philadelphia Union).
• In all competitions this season, Sporting are 6-0-1 when scoring multiple goals and 0-11-5 when scoring one or fewer.
• Sporting have conceded five penalty kicks this season, tied with the San Jose Earthquakes for the most in MLS.
• Sporting have committed 9.8 fouls per match, the second fewest in MLS. Sporting rank second in MLS with 3.1 fouls suffered in the attacking third.
• Sporting have used 19 different lineups in 23 matches this season across all competitions. In 2022, Sporting used 32 different lineups in 38 matches across all competitions.
• A total of 29 different players have earned minutes and 25 different players have started for Sporting in 2023. Those are second most in MLS this year and more than Sporting have used in any of the past three seasons in their entirety.
• Sporting are the only team in MLS to have played on every matchday in 2023.
• Sporting have conceded the second most goals in the Western Conference this season (30) and have one shutout in their last 15 regular season matches since April 8.
• Sporting are tied for the MLS lead with 10 goals scored in the first 30 minutes of matches this season.
• Sporting’s eight goals conceded in the first 30 minutes of matches are also tied for most in MLS.
Sporting KC Player Notes
• Sporting striker Alan Pulido leads Sporting this season in both MLS goals (seven) and goals across all competitions (eight). Pulido leads MLS with seven total goal contributions since the start of June (six goals, one assist) and leads Sporting with 11 goal contributions in all competitions this season (eight goals, three assists).
• Forward Daniel Salloi is second on Sporting KC with 10 goal contributions this season in all competitions (five goals, five assists). He leads MLS in progressive carries (81), ranks second in successful crosses from open play (17), sixth in expected assists (4.8) and eighth in chances created (38).
• Midfielder Remi Walter leads MLS field players with 154 recoveries this season.
Vancouver Whitecaps Team Notes
• Vancouver defeated reigning MLS Cup champion LAFC by a 3-2 scoreline last Saturday to record their first regular season road win of the year (1-4-3 record) and their first-ever victory at BMO Stadium.
• Vancouver rank second in the Western Conference in goals (30) and goals per game (1.67) as well as and third in the West in goal differential (+7).
• Vancouver’s 443-minute shutout streak from March 25 to April 29 remains the longest in MLS this season.
• Vancouver have suffered two losses when leading at halftime this season, tied for the most in MLS (3-2-0 record).
Vancouver Whitecaps Player Notes
• Midfielder Ryan Gauld has scored in four straight MLS appearances since May 31 after failing to score in his first 12 league games of the season. Gauld, who has seven goal contributions (four goals, three assists) during that four-game stretch, leads the team with 37 key passes this season.
• Forward Brian White leads Vancouver with seven regular season goals and is tied for fifth in MLS with 21 shots on target.
• Midfielder Julian Gressel has a team-high five assists and ranks eighth in MLS in expected assists (4.8).
• Midfielder Andres Cubas leads Vancouver in interceptions (33), tackles won (28), recoveries (135).
NOTEWORTHY MILESTONES
SPORTING KC SOCIAL PROPERTIES
Web Twitter Other Social Media
SportingKC.com @SportingKC Facebook.com/SportingKC
SportingKC.com/News @SKCMatchday Instagram.com/SportingKC
SportingKC.com/Videos @SportingKCII Facebook.com/SportingKCII
SportingKC.com/Media @CMPark Instagram.com/SportingKCII
SportingKCAcademy.com @SKCAcademy Instagram.com/SKCAcademy
SportingKCYouth.com @SportingKCYouth Facebook.com/SportingKCYouth
VictoryKC.org @VictoryKC Facebook.com/VictoryProjectKC
SportingStyle.com @SportingStyle Instagram.com/SportingStyle
SportingAthletics.com @SportingGaming TikTok: @SportingKC NoOtherPubKC.com @NoOtherPub Facebook.com/NoOtherPub
SportingClubEventsKC.com @SportingKCSTM Facebook.com/SKCSeasonTicketMembers CompassMineralsNPC.com @SoySporting YouTube.com/SportingKansasCity
3 Sporting KC Game Notes | July 1, 2023 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes
• Forward Alan Pulido is one shy of his 50th MLS regular season appearance for Sporting KC.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY NEWS AND NOTES BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD
ROSERO RETURNS FROM SUSPENSION
Sporting Kansas City suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Chicago Fire FC at Children’s Mercy Park and has seen the club’s excellent record from the start of May to early June come to a grinding halt with a 0-2-1 record over the last three matches.
After starting the season 0-3-1 at home, Sporting clawed their way back to bring their home record above .500 with four conescutive home wins from May 13 to June 10. With an opportunity to build on that form, Sporting instead has now lost back-to-back home matches against Los Angeles FC on June 17 and Chicago on June 24 with a 2-2 draw on the road at the LA Galaxy sandwiched between.
However, Sporting has gone 5-3-3 since the start of May and still leads the Western Conference in wins (five) and points (18) during that time period. The team is also tied for the MLS lead in goals (20) over the past month two months, alongside the Philadelphia Union.
Sporting will be hoping to get back to winning ways as soon as possible since the club has played the most games of anyone in MLS to date (21), having played on every Matchday so far in 2023.
VANQUISHING VANCOUVER
Sporting Kansas City remains at home this weekend to host Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Children’s Mercy Park. The match will bring Sporting level with 11 games played both at home and away, marking the first time those stats have been even all season.
Sporting and Vancouver met just under a month ago on June 3, 2023 at BC Place in Canada, playing out a 1-1 draw. Alan Pulido headed Sporting into the lead midway through the first half off Erik Thommy’s corner, but the Whitecaps stole a point late as Ryan Gauld converted from the penalty spot after Robert Voloder had brought down Deiber Caicedo in the area.
Sporting last hosted Vancouver 13 months ago on May 28, 2022, suffering a 1-0 defeat at Children’s Mercy Park. Lucas Cavallini scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot after a foul from Uri Rosell, and Sporting were unable to claw a goal back despite seeing Nicolas Isimat-Mirin’s header cleared off the line in second-half stoppage time.
Sporting leads the all-time series with Vancouver 11-6-5, including a dominant 6-2-2 mark at home. Sporting have gone 2-1-1 in their last four regular-season home matches against Vancouver, and also topped the ‘Caps at home in the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs.
PULIDO BEST IN MLS THROUGHOUT JUNE
Sporting Kansas City forward and Designated Player Alan Pulido enjoyed a brilliant run of form in the month of June, leading all MLS players with six goals and seven goal contributions as he fully recovers his form and fitness from the knee surgery that saw him miss all of the 2022 campaign.
JUNE 2023 - MLS REGULAR SEASON
5
Christian Ramirez 4 1 5
Earlier in June, Pulido scored in four straight league matches for the first time in his professional career, while he has six goals in the past five games. Pulido not only leads MLS with seven total goal contributions throughout June (six goals, one assist), he also leads Sporting with 11 goal contributions in all competitions this season (eight goals, three assists).
Among players with 20 career regular season goals for the club, Pulido’s .52 goals per 90 minutes is the best rate in club history and Pulido’s .43 goals per game rate is second best in club history.
WALTER REMAINS DEPENDABLE
Sporting Kansas City midfielder Remi Walter remains as dependable as ever, having become a virtually ever-present figure in the team over the last two years.
Walter was the only Sporting player to appear in all 34 regular-season matches in 2022, and recently saw his 56-game streak of consecutive starts come to an end during Sporting’s 4-1 victory over the Portland Timbers on May 28, 2023.
The Frenchman, who leads MLS with 154 recoveries this season, has tallied four goals and seven assists in 91 appearances across all competitions since joining the club ahead of the 2021 campaign. Walter has played in 22 of Sporting’s 23 games in 2023.
Sporting Kansas City center back Dany Rosero will be available for selection this Saturday when the team hosts Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Children’s Mercy Park after serving a one-game suspension in the home loss to Chicago last weekend.
Rosero has been a key cog for Sporting since arriving in a transfer from Colombian side Atletico Junior in March. After adapting to the league, Rosero has started four of Sporting’s five victories this season and struck up a fruitful partnership with Fontas at the back for the club.
Due to injury, the team’s backline has seen constant change throughout the year and Saturday’s back four had never started together prior to the match. In addition, Sporting has used 19 different lineups in 23 matches across all competitions in 2023.
SALLOI THE IRONMAN
Sporting Kansas City Homegrown forward Daniel Salloi is Sporting’s lone ironman in 2023, appearing in all 23 of the club’s matches across all competitions, starting 22 of them across MLS regular season and U.S. Open Cup play.
The only match that Salloi did not start was the 1-0 loss in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 on the road at Houston Dynamo FC. He has started all 21 MLS regular season matches, tallying four goals and four assists from the left wing, while he also added a goal and an assist in the Open Cup.
Last season, only Remi Walter played in all 34 of the club’s regular-season matches, and Salloi is more than halfway to the same feat in 2023. Now in his eighth season with Sporting’s first team after graduating from the SKC Academy, Salloi has become a fan favorite and key member of the club’s attack, tallying 53 goals and 30 assists in 195 appearances across all competitions.
SKC ACADEMY SEASON WRAPS UP
The Sporting KC Academy wrapped up the 2022-23 MLS NEXT season last week, competing at the 2023 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs and Showcase at the Toyota Soccer Center in Frisco, Texas. After a resilient effort in the final month of the regular season, Sporting’s U-17s earned a spot in the Playoffs, while a long and taxing season for the U-19s and U-15s culminated in a spot in the Showcase for the two sides.
The U-17s drew the San Jose Earthquakes in the first round of the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs. After Sporting defeated the Quakes at MLS NEXT Fest in May, San Jose exacted revenge in the opening round of the playoffs, claiming a 3-1 win. The U-17s went 1-1-0 in the subsequent Showcase.
The Sporting KC U-19s started off their Showcase with a bang, taking down Sacramento United 3-2 before playing to a 1-1 draw with RSL Arizona. On the final day, the U-19s suffered a 1-0 defeat to Queen City Mutiny. The U-15s fell to South Florida Football Academy to open the Showcase but bounced back on matchday two, erasing a one-goal deficit to win 2-1 against Beadling SC. The final day saw SKC earn a 2-2 draw against TSF Academy.
POSTGAME: #SKCvCHI
Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes
On how much the travel and heat impacted the game for both sides… “I think, no doubt, that it’s a factor in the game, but it’s what this league is about. You have to be able to mentally fight through that piece. Whether you’re playing the midweek game or not, it’s going to be hot and you have to manage the game, you have to be good with the ball. There’s different things that you can do to save yourself in that regard. In the first half, I don’t think that we were good enough with that part of it. I’m talking about measuring ourselves to what our standard would be. I don’t think that we did well with the ball in the first half like we can. I think that was a part of the game that wound up being the result at the end for us. I also think what it does is that when you don’t have the ball and you have to defend, you waste energy. When you have the ball, you make the other team waste energy and then they don’t have that energy to go forward. So, we just didn’t do a good enough job in the first half from that perspective. Start the second half, the goal comes off of a throw in. We over commit for no reason and then you now all of a sudden start to have a breakdown line by line by line and they get a deflection –but they caused it because at the end of the day they took advantage of the situation.”
On the team struggling to create clear-cut opportunities late on… “Look, we’ve done it ourselves. When you go up, you can pack it in and it can be really hard for a team to break you down and you see it time and time again – whether it’s us or anybody else in this league – the team goes up, you’re chasing the game. It’s a difficulty. They did a good job defending. They went to five in the back at the end, they did a good job, they handled it well. We had some chances here or there, but we weren’t close enough. The ball flicks off the guy’s head, goes to Daniel (Salloi) at the back post, but then he sees it late, just little things like that, but again, you’re chasing the game.”
4 Sporting KC Game Notes | July 1, 2023 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes
Player Goals Assists G+A Alan Pulido 6 1 7 Carles Gil 2 4 6 Ryan Gauld 3 2
CHILDREN’S MERCY PARK BY THE NUMBERS
ATTENDANCE RECORDS (full capacity games only)
5
1, 2023
SportingKC.com/Game-Notes
Sporting KC Game Notes | July
vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC |
TOTAL MLS SELLOUTS
205 MLS matches at full capacity since 2011 (including postseason)
KC MATCHES
SPORTING KC MATCHES WON 257 138 206 MLS regular season, 12 MLS postseason, 23 Open Cup, 11 International, 5 friendlies not including penalty shootout victories in 2012 U.S. Open Cup and 2013 MLS Cup
ALL-TIME AVERAGE MLS ATTENDANCE 19,253 205 MLS matches at full capacity since 2011 (including postseason) PERCENT CAPACITY IN MLS MATCHES 104.3 205 MLS matches at full capacity since 2011 Seating capacity: 18,467 SPORTING KC GOALS
in 257 matches
at the stadium
176
SPORTING
PLAYED
finals
SCORED 453
played
Road
15 GA) Date Score Result Location 04/02/2011 KC 3 at VAN 3 T Empire Field 06/25/2011 KC 2 vs VAN 1 W Livestrong Sporting Park 04/18/2012 KC 3 at VAN 1 W BC Place 07/03/2013 KC 1 vs VAN 1 T Sporting Park 08/10/2014 KC 0 at VAN 2 L BC Place 07/12/2015 KC 1 at VAN 0 W BC Place 08/15/2015 KC 4 vs VAN 3 W Sporting Park 03/12/2016 KC 2 vs VAN 1 W Children’s Mercy Park 04/27/2016 KC 1 at VAN 1 T BC Place 08/20/2016 KC 2 vs VAN 0 W Children’s Mercy Park 05/20/2017 KC 0 at VAN 0 L BC Place 09/30/2017 KC 0 vs VAN 1 L Children’s Mercy Park 04/20/2018 KC 6 vs VAN 0 W Children’s Mercy Park 10/17/2018 KC 4 at VAN 1 W BC Place 05/18/2019 KC 1 vs VAN 1 T Children’s Mercy Park 07/13/2019 KC 3 at VAN 0 W BC Place 02/29/2020 KC 3 at VAN 1 W BC Place 05/16/2021 KC 3 vs VAN 0 W Children’s Mercy Park 10/17/2021 KC 1 at VAN 2 L BC Place 04/02/2022 KC 0 at VAN 1 L BC Place 05/28/2022 KC 0 vs VAN 1 L Children’s Mercy Park 06/03/2023 KC 1 at VAN 1 T BC Place
REGULAR SEASON RESULTS VANCOUVER WHITECAPS Category 1 2 OT Total Goals 13 11 0 24 Shots 103 139 0 242 Shots on Goal 40 49 0 89 Fouls 135 133 0 268 Offsides 28 22 0 50 Corner Kicks 33 49 0 82 Category 1 2 OT Total Goals 20 21 0 41 Shots 163 195 0 358 Shots on Goal 49 66 0 115 Fouls 126 146 0 272 Offsides 20 17 0 37 Corner Kicks 54 66 0 120
REGULAR SEASON SERIES STATS SPORTING KANSAS CITY ALL-TIME REGULAR SEASON SERIES LEADERS SPORTING KANSAS CITY VANCOUVER WHITECAPS Camilo Sanvezzo 4 Four Players 2 Camilo Sanvezzo 19 Camilo Sanvezzo 9 Kendall Waston 14 Gershon Koffie 15 David Ousted 2 David Ousted 4 David Ousted 2 Stefan Marinovic 18 Marinovic, Ousted 10 GOALS ASSISTS SHOTS SHOTS ON GOAL FOULS COMMITTED FOULS SUFFERED WINS LOSSES SHUTOUTS SAVES GOALS ALLOWED 4 Pulido, Russell 4 Graham Zusi 28 Daniel Salloi 11 Daniel Salloi 30 Roger Espinoza 23 Roger Espinoza 8 Tim Melia 5 Tim Melia 4 Tim Melia 40 Tim Melia 14 Tim Melia ALL-TIME REGULAR SEASON GAME HIGHS SPORTING KANSAS CITY VANCOUVER WHITECAPS Manneh, Sanvezzo 2 Three Players 2 (4/2/11) Camilo Sanvezzo 9 (4/2/11) Camilo Sanvezzo 4 (3/12/16) Octavio Rivero 6 (8/10/14) Gershon Koffie 7 (7/13/19) Zac MacMath 8 (4/20/18) Stefan Marinovic 6 GOALS ASSISTS SHOTS SHOTS ON GOAL FOULS COMMITTED FOULS SUFFERED SAVES GOALS ALLOWED 3 Johnny Russell (4/20/18) 2 Four Players 8 Dom Dwyer (3/12/16) 5 Diego Rubio (9/30/17) 6 Benny Feilhaber (8/10/14) 5 Davis, Kinda 6 Three Players 3 Melia, Nielsen 1-15 16-30 31-45 46-60 61-75 76-90 OT Total KC 3 7 10 8 4 9 0 41 VAN 3 4 6 1 5 5 0 24 GOALS SCORED IN SERIES BY INTERVAL
Sporting KC
MLS record vs.
Vancouver
Whitecaps FC:
11-6-5 Home games: 6-2-2 (21 GF, 9 GA)
games: 5-4-3 (20 GF,
ALL-TIME
ALL-TIME
Sporting KC Game Notes | July 1, 2023 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes
DNP CB-90
CISNEROS UNAV SKCII UNAV SKCII
DAVIS RB-90 RB-76 RB-90 RB-84
DUKE DNP UNAV INJ INJ
ESPINOZA SUB-1 SUB-31SUB-14 DNP
FLORES DNP DNP DNP SKCII
FONTAS INJ INJ CB-90 CB-90
FORD INJ INJ INJ INJ
HERNANDEZ SUB-1 DNP DNP DNP
KINDA DNP CM-58 UNAV SUB-35
LEIBOLD LB-89 LB-59 LB-90 LB-90
MCINTOSH GK-90 GK-90 GK-90 GK-90
MELIA INJ INJ INJ INJ
NDENBE INJ INJ INJ INJ
PIERRE INJ INJ INJ INJ
PULIDO CF-77 CF-90 CF-90 CF-90
PULSKAMP DNP DNP DNP DNP
RADOJA DM-90 DM-90 DM-90 DM-90
RINDOV DNP SKCII UNAV DNP
ROSERO INJ CB-90 CB-90 SUS
RUSSELL INJ SUB-14SUB-25 RW-55
SALLOI LW-90 LW-90 LW-90 LW-90
SHELTON SUB-13 SUB-32 RW-65 SUB-6
THOMMY CM-89 RW-90 CM-76 CM-55
TZIONIS RW-90 INTL INTL SUB-35
VOLODER CB-90 DNP DNP DNP
WALTER CM-90 CM-90 CM-90 CM-90
ZUSI INJ INJ INJ INJ
17
SPORTING KC 2023 PARTICIPATION CHART (MLS
2/25 3/4 3/11 3/18 3/25 4/1 4/8 4/15 4/22 4/29 5/7 5/13 5/17 5/20 5/28 5/31 6/3 PLAYER @POR @COL LA @DAL SEA @PHI COL @SJ @NE MTL @SEA MIN @LAFC @STL POR DAL @VAN AFRIFA UNAV DNP DNP SUB-1 DNP DNP DNP DNP AGADA CF-90 CF-90 CF-90 CF-90 CF-84 CF-63 SUB-25 SUB-45 INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ CASTELLANOS DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP CB-90 CB-90 CB-38 SUS SUB-45 DNP DNP UNAV SKCII DNP SUB-27 CB-90 CISNEROS UNAV UNAV UNAV UNAV SKCII SKCII SKCII SKCII UNAV SKCII SKCII SKCII UNAV SKCII UNAV UNAV SKCII DAVIS DNP DNP UNAV DNP SUB-7 DNP DNP SKCII DNP RB-90 RB-90 RB-90 RB-60 SUB-27 RB-45 RB-45 RB-90 DUKE DNP SUB-2 DNP DNP SUB-20 DNP DNP SUB-20 RB-90 DNP UNAV DNP UNAV SKCII UNAV UNAV DNP ESPINOZA CM-70 CM-72 CM-67 CM-67 CM-45 SUB-56 DNP DNP CM-67 CM-90 SUB-14 UNAV DNP SUB-13 SUB-28 DNP SUB-1 FLORES UNAV UNAV UNAV UNAV SUB-6 SKCII SKCII SKCII DNP SKCII SKCII SKCII UNAV SKCII UNAV UNAV SKCII FONTAS CB-90 CB-90 CB-90 CB-90 CB-90 DNP DNP CB-49 CB-61 SUS CB-90 CB-90 CB-90 CB-90 CB-90 CB-90 CB-45 FORD INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ HERNANDEZ SUB-20 SUB-18 DNP SUB-23 SUB-45 DNP CM-79 CM-45 SUB-23 DNP SUB-45 SUB-4 DNP DNP SUB-13 DNP DNP KINDA INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ DNP SUB-28 CM-45 SUB-28 SUB-29 CM-45 CM-62 CM-63 SUB-18 LEIBOLD SUB-17 SUB-8 LB-77 INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ DNP LB-45 SUB-28 SUB-26 SUB-48 MCINTOSH DNP DNP DNP DNP SKCII UNAV SKCII UNAV UNAV SKCII UNAV SUB-21 GK-90 GK-90 GK-90 GK-90 GK-90 MELIA UNAV UNAV UNAV UNAV DNP GK-90 GK-90 GK-90 GK-90 GK-90 GK-90 GK-69 INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ NDENBE INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ DNP LB-64 LB-90 LB-90 LB-90 LB-90 SUB-45 LB-62 LB-64 LB-42 PIERRE DNP DNP DNP SUB-4 INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ PULIDO INJ INJ INJ INJ DNP SUB-27 CF-65 CF-41 CF-64 CF-90 CF-85 CF-90 CF-89 CF-90 CF-77 CF-90 CF-72 PULSKAMP GK-90 GK-90 GK-90 GK-90 GK-90 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP UNAV DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP RADOJA UNAV UNAV SUB-23 SUB-15 INJ DM-34 INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ DM-62 DM-90 DM-90 DM-90 DM-90 DM-90 RINDOV DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP SKCII DNP SUB-4 DNP SKCII DNP DNP DNP DNP UNAV SKCII ROSERO UNAV UNAV UNAV UNAV CB-90 CB-90 CB-90 CB-90 CB-90 CB-90 CB-90 CB-90 CB-90 CB-90 CB-63 UNAV RUSSELL INJ INJ INJ INJ SUB-29 RW-62 RW-90 RW-70 RW-90 RW-90 RW-90 RW-86 RW-83 RW-77 INJ INJ INJ SALLOI LW-90 LW-90 LW-90 LW-90 LW-90 LW-90 LW-90 LW-70 LW-86 LW-90 LW-79 LW-90 LW-90 LW-90 LW-90 LW-90 LW-90 SHELTON RW-90 SUB-18 RW-63 RW-85 RW-61 SUB-28 DNP SUB-20 SUB-26 DNP SUB-11 INJ INJ INJ SUB-13 SUB-19 SUB-19 SWEAT LB-73 LB-82 SUB-13 LB-86 LB-63 SUS THOMMY CM-71 CM-88 CM-90 CM-75 CM-70 CM-90 CM-90 CM-90 CM-86 CM-62 CM-76 CM-86 CM-61 SUB-45 CM-77 CM-90 CM-89 TZIONIS SUB-19 RW-72 SUB-27 SUB-5 INTL UNAV SUB-11 SUB-20 SUB-4 DNP DNP DNP SUB-7 SUB-13 RW-90 RW-90 RW-71 VOLODER CB-90 CB-90 CB-90 CB-90 CB-90 LB-90 LB-90 LB-90 SUB-26 CB-45 DNP UNAV UNAV SKCII UNAV UNAV SUB-45 WALTER DM-90 DM-90 DM-90 DM-90 DM-90 CM-90 DM-90 DM-90 DM-90 DM-90 DM-90 CM-90 CM-90 CM-77 INJ SUB-27 CM-90 ZUSI RB-90 RB-90 RB-90 RB-90 RB-83 RB-90 RB-90 RB-70 INJ INJ SUB-5 SUB-4 SUB-30 RB-63 SUB-28 SUB-26 INJ 6/10 6/17 6/21 6/24 7/1 7/8 7/12 7/15 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/20 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/21 PLAYER ATX LAFC @LA CHI VAN @HOU RSL @ATX SJ STL @MIA @MIN NSH HOU @STL @RSL MIN AFRIFA DNP DNP DNP DNP AGADA INJ INJ INJ INJ CASTELLANOS CB-90 CB-90
REGULAR SEASON)
KEY Position-Minutes - Starting Position-Minutes Played DNP - Unused Substitute INJ - Injured SKCII - Sporting Kansas City II SUB-Minutes - Substitute-Minutes played UNAV - Unavailable For Selection SUS - Suspended INTL - International Duty LOAN - Out on Loan ACD - Sporting KC Academy
MANAGER & SPORTING DIRECTOR | PETER VERMES
Peter Vermes is in his 15th season as Sporting Kansas City Manager in 2023 with a new five-year extension and is the longest-tenured active head coach in MLS. He is the team’s longest-serving manager and his 228 coaching victories in all competitions are the most club history. During his tenure, he has won four major trophies – the 2012, 2015 and 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups and the 2013 MLS Cup championship – and finished atop the Eastern Conference regular-season standings in 2011 and 2012, as well as the Western Conference in 2018 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 188 regularseason wins top the club’s all-time chart and rank fourth 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 539 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 18 leagues with an average attendance of 10,000+, Vermes ranks second, only behind 2. 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, Vermes’ tenure at Sporting KC ranks as the sixth 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.
PETER VERMES HEAD COACHING RECORD AT SPORTING KC
ASSISTANT COACH | KERRY ZAVAGNIN
In 2023, Kerry Zavagnin breaks the MLS record as he enters his 24th 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 eighth 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.
18 Sporting KC Game Notes | July 1, 2023 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes
Year MLS Playoffs MIB
Open Cup Intl. Total 2009 3-6-3 3-6-3 2010 11-13-6 0-1-0 11-14-6 2011 13-9-12 2-1-0 3-1-0 18-11-12 2012 18-7-9 1-1-0 4-0-1 23-8-10 2013 17-10-7 2-1-2 1-1-0 2-0-2 22-12-11 2014 14-13-7 0-1-0 1-1-0 3-2-1 18-17-8 2015 14-11-9 0-0-1 4-0-1 18-11-11 2016 13-13-8 0-1-0 1-1-0 1-2-1 15-17-9 2017 12-9-13 0-1-0 4-0-1 16-10-14 2018 18-8-8 1-1-2 2-1-0 21-10-10 2019 10-16-8 0-0-0 0-1-0 3-3-0 13-20-8 2020 12-6-3 0-1-1 0-1-1 12-8-5 2021 17-10-7 1-1-0 0-1-0 18-12-7 2022 11-16-7 3-0-1 14-16-8 2023 5-10-6 0-0-0 1-1-0 0-0-0 6-11-6 TOTAL 188-157-113 7-9-6 0-1-1 24-8-4 9-8-4 228-183-128
KO
Height: 5-10
Weight: 150 Birthday: 2/19/2001
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
College: Florida International University
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. The Canadian forward enjoyed a standout four-year career at Florida International, where he amassed 23 goals and 11 assists in 63 appearances from 2019-2022.
Capable of playing as a striker or a winger, Afrifa begins his professional journey on the heels of a phenomenal campaign last fall 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 United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Team. Afrifa made an instant impact as a freshman, tallying three goals and three assists, and added two goals and an assist during his COVID-shortened sophomore year in the spring of 2021. As a junior, Afrifa helped FIU make its first of two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances by scoring a team-best eight goals and recording three assists. He was a member of the United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region First Team and an All-Conference USA First Team honoree. Afrifa competed for USL League Two side One Knoxville SC in 2022, scoring 10 goals and leading the first-year club to a first-place finish in the South Central Division and a run to the national quarterfinals.
#23 | F | WILLY AGADA
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 2, 3 times, last: Sept. 17, 2022, KC vs. MIN Assists 1, 2 times, last: Sept. 4, 2022, KC at LA Shots on Goal 5, Oct. 2, 2022, KC vs. SEA Shots 7, Oct. 2, 2022, KC vs. SEA
Fouls Committed 5, Aug. 6, 2022, KC vs. LA
Fouls Suffered 3, 3 times, last: March 18, 2023, KC at DAL
Last Regular Season...
Appearance April 15, 2023, KC at SJ
Goal March 25, 2023, KC vs. SEA
Assist Sept. 4, 2022, KC at LA 2023 Record when: he starts 0-3-3 he scores 0-1-0
Height: 5-9 Weight: 180 Birthday: 9/17/1999
Hometown: Bauchi, Nigeria
Last Club: Hapoel Jerusalem (Israel)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 6/23/2022
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.
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.
19 Sporting KC Game Notes | July 1, 2023 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes
SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 20 16 1495 9 2 MLS Postseason 0 0 0 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 1 0 59 0 0 International 0 0 0 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 21 16 1554 9 2
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 20 16 1495 9 2 57 27 33 21 9 0 3 0 2 0 MLS - TOTAL 20 16 1495 9 2 57 27 33 21 9 0 3 0 2 0
#30 | F | STEPHEN
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 0 Assists 0 Shots on Goal 0 Shots 0 Fouls Committed 0 Fouls Suffered 0 Last Regular Season... Appearance May 17, 2023, KC at LAFC Goal N/A Assist N/A 2023 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0 SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 1 0 1 0 0 MLS Postseason 0 0 0 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 1 1 45 0 0 International 0 0 0 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 2 1 46 0 0
AFRIFA
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MLS - TOTAL 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
#19 | D | ROBERT CASTELLANOS | @rc4official
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, 2 times, last: June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
Assists 0
Shots on Goal 1, 2 times, last: June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
Shots 2, Aug. 1, 2021, NSH at TOR (w/ NSH)
Fouls Committed 3, April 1, 2023, KC at PHI
Fouls Suffered 2, June 17, 2023, KC vs. LAFC
Last Regular Season...
Appearance June 24, 2023, KC vs. CHI
Goal June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
Assist N/A
2023 Record when: he starts 1-4-2 he scores 1-0-0
Height: 6-1
Weight: 190 Birthday: 5/11/1998
Hometown: Palmdale, California
Last Club: KuPS (Finland)
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 has made 70 club appearances since turning professional in 2017, including stints in the USL Championship, MLS and Finland.
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. In his lone appearance for the club, Castellanos scored an equalizing goal in a 1-1 draw at Toronto FC. 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: 145 Birthday: 3/13/2004
Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska
Last Club: Sporting KC Academy Acquired: Signed as Homegrown Player on 1/20/2021
Midfielder 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.
20 Sporting KC Game Notes | July 1, 2023 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes
#25 | M | OZZIE CISNEROS | @OzzieCisner10 Regular Season Game Highs: Goals N/A Assists N/A Shots on Goal N/A Shots N/A Fouls Committed N/A Fouls Suffered N/A Last Regular Season... Appearance N/A Goal N/A Assist N/A 2023 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0 SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 0 0 0 0 0 MLS Postseason 0 0 0 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 1 1 18 0 0 International 1 1 90 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 2 2 108 0 0
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MLS - TOTAL 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0
SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 9 7 650 1 0 MLS Postseason 0 0 0 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 2 2 168 0 0 International 0 0 0 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 11 9 818 1 0
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 9 7 650 1 0 3 1 8 3 0 0 1 1 1 0 MLS - Regular Season 10 8 740 2 0 5 2 8 3 0 0 1 1 1 0 MLS - TOTAL 10 8 740 2 0 5 2 8 3 0 0 1 1 1 0
DAVIS | @jdavis_3211
Goal 1, March 25, 2023, KC vs. SEA Shots 1, 4 times, last: June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
Fouls Committed 3, May 13, 2023, KC vs. MIN
Fouls Suffered 2, May 20, 2023, KC at STL
Last Regular Season... Appearance June 24, 2023, KC vs. CHI
Height: 5-9
Weight: 160 Birthday: 1/3/2002
Hometown: Rochester, Michigan
Last Club: Sporting KC II (USL Championship)
Acquired: Signed as Homegrown Player on 8/19/2021
Sporting Kansas City signed midfielder 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.
A hard-nosed midfielder who can also play at right back, Davis has spent significant time developing with Sporting KC II under former Sporting greats Paulo Nagamura and Benny Feilhaber from 2019-2022. Davis moved to Kansas City in 2017 at age 15 to join the
Sporting KC Academy and represented Sporting at the U-17 and U-19 levels. 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.
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, 2 times, last: Sept. 15, 2021, KC vs. MIN
Assists 1, 3 times, last: May 22, 2022, KC at SJ
Shots on Goal 1, 7 times, last: July 13, 2022, KC at MIN
Shots 2, 4 times, last: July 13, 2022, KC at MIN
Fouls Committed 5, June 19, 2022, KC at NSH
Fouls Suffered 8, July 21, 2021, KC vs. SJ
Last Regular Season... Appearance April 22, 2023, KC at NE
Goal Sept. 15, 2021, KC vs. MIN
Assist May 22, 2022, KC at SJ
2023 Record when: he starts 0-1-0 he scores 0-0-0
Height: 5-6 Weight: 130 Birthday: 2/13/2001
Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas
Last Club: Sporting KC Academy
Acquired: Signed as Homegrown Player on 7/18/2019
Sporting Kansas City announced the signing of midfielder Cam Duke as a Homegrown Player midway through the 2019 season. The Overland Park, Kansas native was in the club’s Academy from 2012-2019, advancing from the Under-12 side to the Under-19s. He made his professional debut in the MLS is Back Quarterfinals against the Philadelphia Union on July 30, 2020 and scored his first goal in a 3-1 road win over Seattle on July 25, 2021 before scoring again in a Leagues Cup match vs. Club Leon on Aug. 10, 2021.
Duke capped an impressive Academy career by helping the SKC Academy U-19s reach the quarterfinals of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs in June 2019. After the U-19s secured the No. 4 overall seed with a 16-4-3 regular-season record, Duke
spearheaded a first-place finish in the group stage with a goal and an assist. Duke was the No. 1 prospect in the Heartland Region and the 20th-ranked player nationally at TopDrawerSoccer.com. Duke is the younger brother of former Sporting midfielder and SKC II captain Christian Duke, while his father, Chris Duke, played for the Kansas City Comets and Kansas City Attack in the early 1990s.
Duke represented the United States at the U-14 and U-15 level before guiding the U.S. U-16s to a third-place finish at the Val-de-Marne Tournament in France in 2016. Duke earned his first of several calls to the U.S. U-18s in November 2017 before returning to the team in 2018.
21 Sporting KC Game Notes | July 1, 2023 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes
#28 | M | CAM DUKE | @camduke20
SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 54 22 2226 2 3 MLS Postseason 0 0 0 0 0 MLS is Back KO Stage 1 0 6 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 3 2 282 0 0 International 1 0 45 1 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 59 24 2559 3 3
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 54 22 2226 2 3 21 7 39 66 0 0 6 1 0 0 MLS - TOTAL 54 22 2226 2 3 21 7 39 66 0 0 6 1 0 0
#17 | M | JAKE
Goals 0 Assists 0 Shots
Regular Season Game Highs:
on
Goal N/A Assist N/A 2023 Record when: he starts 5-3-3 he scores 0-0-0 SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 17 11 900 0 0 MLS Postseason 0 0 0 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 3 2 163 0 0 International 0 0 0 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 20 13 1063 0 0
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 17 11 900 0 0 4 1 14 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 MLS - TOTAL 17 11 900 0 0 4 1 14 6 0 0 0 0 0 0
#15 | M | ROGER ESPINOZA
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, 12 times, last: July 9, 2022, KC at MTL
Assists 2, 3 times, last: March 30, 2019, KC vs. MTL
Shots on Goal 2, 18 times, last: March 11, 2023, KC vs. LA
Shots 6, May 15, 2016, KC vs. ORL
Fouls Committed 5, 7 times, last: July 9, 2022, KC at MTL
Fouls Suffered 6, 3 times, last: Aug. 17, 2019, KC vs. SJ
Last Regular Season... Appearance June 21, 2023, KC at LA
Goal July 9, 2022, KC at MTL
Assist May 28, 2023, KC vs. POR
2023 Record when: he starts 0-5-2 he scores 0-0-0
Height: 5-10
Weight: 190 Birthday: 10/25/1986
Hometown: Denver, Colorado
College: Ohio State
Last Club: Wigan Athletic (England)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 1/6/2015
Roger Espinoza has enjoyed two spells with Sporting Kansas City, first from 2008-12 and again from 2015-present. After a two-year stint in the English Premier League and English Championship with Wigan Athletic, Espinoza returned to Sporting KC in 2015. In his two years at Wigan Athletic, he logged 57 appearances and started in the club’s 2013 FA Cup Final victory over Manchester City.
Espinoza was an MLS All-Star in 2012 and helped lead the club to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title that season. While he missed Sporting’s MLS Cup in 2013 while with Wigan in England, Espinoza helped guide the club to further Open Cup triumphs in both
2015 and 2017. Espinoza has made 385 appearances for the club in all competitions across the last 13 seasons, tallying 14 goals and 48 assists. “Red Card Roger”, as he’s affectionately known, is both the club’s all-time leader and the all-time MLS leader with 13 red cards.
Espinoza earned 51 caps for the Honduras Men’s National Team after debuting in 2009. He has competed in the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups as well as the 2012 Summer Olympics before retiring from international play in 2019.
Height: 5-9 Weight: 145 Birthday: 4/6/2002
Hometown: Half Moon Bay, CA College: Virginia Tech
Last Club: Oakland Roots (USL Championship)
Acquired: Signed off Waivers on 1/13/2023
Sporting Kansas City added Danny Flores off MLS waivers in January 2023. Flores is set to begin his MLS career after a two-year college stint at Virginia Tech. Prior to his collegiate experience, Flores also boasts three seasons of play in the USL Championship, representing Philadelphia Union II from 2019-2020 and Oakland Roots SC in 2021.
Flores recorded two goals and two assists in 32 USL Championship matches across three seasons. He made his league 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 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. He ended his time at Virginia Tech with five goals, five assists and starts in 31 of 33 career appearances.
Flores represented the U.S. U-17 Men’s 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.
22 Sporting KC Game Notes | July 1, 2023 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes
#31 | M | DANNY FLORES Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 0 Assists 0 Shots on Goal 0 Shots 0 Fouls Committed 0 Fouls Suffered 0 Last Regular
Appearance
Goal
Assist
2023
SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 1 0 6 0 0 MLS Postseason 0 0 0 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 0 0 0 0 0 International 0 0 0 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 1 0 6 0 0
Season...
March 25, 2023, KC vs. SEA
N/A
N/A
Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 1 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MLS - TOTAL 1 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 331 285 24631 12 44 MLS Postseason 17 14 1208 1 0 MLS is Back KO Stage 2 2 151 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 26 20 2259 0 3 International 9 8 727 1 1 ALL COMPETITIONS 385 330 28977 14 48
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 331 285 24631 12 44 363 102 512 401 20 16 77 13 2 11 KC - Postseason 17 14 1208 1 0 13 6 22 24 3 0 6 0 0 0 MLS - TOTAL 348 299 25839 13 44 366 108 534 425 23 16 83 13 2 11
#3 | D | ANDREU FONTAS | @AFontas3
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, 3 times, last: Aug. 21, 2022, KC vs. POR
Assists 1, June 23, 2021, KC vs. COL
Shots on Goal 1, 8 times, last: Aug. 21, 2022, KC vs. POR
Shots 2, 8 times, last: June 21, 2023, KC at LA
Fouls Committed 3, 3 times, last: March 26, 2022, KC vs. RSL
Fouls Suffered 2, 9 times, last: June 21, 2023, KC at LA
Last Regular Season... Appearance June 24, 2023, KC vs. CHI
Goal Aug. 21, 2022, KC vs. POR
Assist June 23, 2021, KC vs. COL
2023 Record when: he starts 4-5-5 he scores 0-0-0
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, a 10-year professional with more than 200 appearances in his native Spain, joined Sporting KC midway through the 2018 season. 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 107 appearances in all competitions for Sporting KC, tallying three goals and one assist.
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
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.
Last Regular Season...
Height: 6-2 Weight: 180 Birthday: 1/26/1996
Hometown: Olathe, Kansas College: University of Denver
Last Club: Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 1/14/2022
Kortne Ford returned to his hometown and signed with Sporting KC as a free agent ahead of the 2022 season. Ford began his professional career in 2017 with the Colorado Rapids, where he started 33 of 35 MLS appearances as a Homegrown Player. Following a five-year stint in Colorado, Ford spent the last three months of 2021 on loan with San Antonio FC in the USL Championship. Having dealt with a host of injury issues in Colorado, Ford made his first MLS appearance since 2018 in Sporting’s match at the Colorado Rapids on March 12, 2022.
Ford enjoyed a strong rookie campaign with the Rapids in 2017, starting 19 of 20 MLS appearances. He earned his MLS debut in a road loss to Sporting KC on April 9 at
Children’s Mercy Park and opened his professional scoring account against SKC in a 1-0 home win on May 27. Born in Olathe, Kansas, Ford played youth soccer in the Kansas City area before moving with his family to Colorado at age 12. He joined the Colorado Rapids Academy in 2012 and represented the club at the U-16 and U-18 levels. In three standout seasons at the University of Denver, Ford was a two-time All-Summit League First Team selection and a Top Drawer Soccer Second Team All-America honoree in 2016. He started in all 62 college appearances, notching five goals and three assists, and led the Pioneers to their first NCAA Men’s College Cup appearance as a junior in 2016.
23 Sporting KC Game Notes | July 1, 2023 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes
#12 | D | KORTNE
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, May 27, 2017, COL vs. SKC (w/ COL) Assists 0 Shots on Goal 2, May 27, 2017, COL vs. SKC (w/ COL) Shots 3, Sept. 9, 2017, COL at HOU (w/ COL) Fouls Committed 3, 10 times, last: May 28, 2022, KC vs. VAN Fouls Suffered 3, Aug. 11, 2018, COL vs. SJ (w/ COL)
FORD | @KortFord
Appearance Oct. 2, 2022, KC vs. SEA Goal May 27, 2017, COL vs. SKC (w/ COL) Assist N/A 2023 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0 SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 14 9 802 0 0 MLS Postseason 0 0 0 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 2 2 134 1 0 International 0 0 0 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 16 11 936 1 0
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 14 9 802 0 0 2 0 11 7 1 0 4 0 0 0 MLS - Regular Season 49 42 3670 1 0 17 4 52 24 1 0 15 0 1 0 MLS - TOTAL 49 42 3670 1 0 17 4 52 24 1 0 15 0 1 0
SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 95 89 8061 3 1 MLS Postseason 2 2 180 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 6 6 564 0 0 International 4 4 326 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 107 101 9131 3 1
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 95 89 8061 3 1 39 8 55 37 0 0 12 2 1 1 KC - Postseason 2 2 180 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MLS - TOTAL 97 91 8241 3 1 39 8 58 37 0 0 12 2 1 1
#21 | M | FELIPE HERNANDEZ | @Fe1ipe98
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 June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
Goal May 28, 2023, KC vs. POR
Assist May 14, 2022, KC at POR
2023 Record when: he starts 0-2-0 he scores 1-0-0
Height: 5-7
Weight: 140 Birthday: 6/8/1998
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
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 KC victory on June 19, 2022.
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 Sporting KC in January 2015, before signing an Academy contract with Sporting KC 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: 5-7 Weight: 155 Birthday: 3/23/1994
Hometown: Ashdod, Israel
Last Club: Beitar Jerusalem (Israel)
Acquired: Acquired in loan/transfer on 1/23/2020
Gadi Kinda joined Sporting KC ahead of the 2020 season from Israeli Premier League side Beitar Jerusalem. Kinda earned Sporting KC Newcomer of the Year honors in his first MLS season and has contributed 13 goals and 14 assists in 63 appearances across all competitions for Sporting. Kinda returned to the field in a U.S. Open Cup match on April 25, 2023 after missing the entire 2022 campaign following knee surgery.
Born in Ethiopia and raised in Israel, Kinda joined Beitar Jerusalem in February 2019 and started 30 of 31 appearances in all competitions. Kinda spent the first seven and a half years of his professional career at FC Ashdod. He developed as a youth in his hometown club’s academy prior to landing a top-flight debut in September 2011 as a 17-year-old.
Ashdod spent the 2015-16 season in Israel’s second division, but a strong bounce-back culminated with a Liga Leumit title as Kinda earned 27 appearances and helped his team finish atop the standings. Ashdod’s promotion saw Kinda tally seven goals and seven assists over the next two and a half seasons before his transfer to Beitar Jerusalem.
Kinda has five caps for the senior Israeli National Team, making his debut on June 5, 2021 when he scored the final goal in a 3-1 friendly win over Montenegro. He previously represented Israel at the U-18, U-19 and U-21 levels.
24 Sporting KC Game Notes | July 1, 2023 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes
| M |
Season Game Highs: Goals 1, 13 times, last: May 31, 2023, KC vs. DAL Assists 2, Oct. 27, 2021, KC vs. LA Shots on Goal 3, 2 times, last: Oct. 3, 2021, KC vs. HOU Shots 5, July 31, 2021, KC vs. DAL Fouls Committed 4, Feb. 29, 2020, KC at VAN Fouls Suffered 5, Oct. 17, 2021, KC at VAN
#10
GADI KINDA Regular
Appearance
Goal
2023,
vs. DAL Assist May 31, 2023, KC vs. DAL 2023 Record when: he starts 3-2-0 he scores 2-0-0 SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 54 45 3840 13 14 MLS Postseason 4 2 214 0 0 MLS is Back KO Stage 2 1 135 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 2 2 76 0 0 International 1 0 45 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 63 50 4310 13 14
Last Regular Season...
June 24, 2023, KC vs. CHI
May 31,
KC
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 54 45 3840 13 14 93 39 77 95 9 46 12 1 4 6 KC - Postseason 4 2 214 0 0 2 0 5 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 MLS - TOTAL 58 47 4054 13 14 95 39 82 101 9 46 12 1 4 6
SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 69 31 3370 4 6 MLS Postseason 2 0 42 0 0 MLS is Back KO Stage 1 0 26 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 6 5 505 2 1 International 0 0 0 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 78 36 3943 6 7
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 69 31 3370 4 6 64 13 49 57 3 52 3 0 0 1 KC - Postseason 2 0 42 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 MLS - TOTAL 71 31 3412 4 6 64 13 50 60 3 52 3 0 0 1
#14 |
LEIBOLD
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 0
Assists 1, 2 times, last: June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
Shots on Goal 1, 2 times, last: June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
Shots 1, 6 times, last: June 24, 2023, KC vs. CHI
Fouls Committed 3, June 21, 2023, KC at LA
Fouls Suffered 1, June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
Last Regular Season... Appearance June 24, 2023, KC vs. CHI Goal N/A Assist June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
2023 Record when: he starts 1-3-2 he scores 0-0-0
Height: 5-9 Weight: 165 Birthday: 11/30/1993
Hometown: Friolzheim, Germany
Last Club: Hamburger SV (Germany)
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 becomes the third German newcomer at Sporting since the start of 2022, following center back Robert Voloder and midfielder Erik Thommy.
Leibold spent the last eight seasons across Germany’s top two divisions. He starred at Nurnberg from 2015-2019 and has competed since then for Hamburg, including a one-year stint 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.
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals Allowed 4, May 20, 2023, KC at STL Saves 6, Oct. 9, 2022, KC at DAL
Last Regular Season... Appearance June 24, 2023, KC vs. CHI Shutout Sept. 13, 2022, KC vs. DC 2023 Record when: he starts 3-3-3
Height: 5-11 Weight: 180 Birthday: 1/24/1994
Hometown: Santa Rosa, California College: Santa Clara
Last Club: New York Red Bulls (MLS)
Acquired: Acquired in Re-Entry Draft on 12/17/2020
Sporting KC acquired goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh in Stage 1 of the MLS Re-Entry Process in late 2020. McIntosh spent the previous MLS campaign with the New York Red Bulls following a four-year stint in the Portland Timbers organization from 2016-2019. After seven years in MLS, McIntosh made his MLS debut in Sporting KC’s 3-0 home win over D.C. United on Sept. 13, 2022.
As a rookie in 2016, McIntosh competed for Timbers 2 of the USL Championship prior to signing his first MLS contract with Portland in January 2017. He played most of the next three years on loan with Timbers 2. In his lone appearance for Portland’s first team,
McIntosh secured a 2-0 shutout victory over San Jose in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 in 2018. Born in Oakland and raised in Santa Rosa, California, McIntosh was a member of the San Jose Earthquakes Academy as a youth before embarking on a four-year collegiate career at Santa Clara University. He was named the 2015 West Coast Conference Goalkeeper of the Year as a senior, leading Santa Clara to the WCC Championship.
On the international stage, McIntosh featured for the U.S. U-14, U-15, U-17 and U-20 National Teams, including a stint in residency with the U-17s in Bradenton, Florida.
25 Sporting KC Game Notes | July 1, 2023 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes
|
#22
GK | KENDALL MCINTOSH | @McIntoshKendall
SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 12 11 1011 0 0 MLS Postseason 0 0 0 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 0 0 0 0 0 International 0 0 0 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 12 11 1011 0 0
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN SHT SVS SO GA GAA PG PA C E W L T KC - Regular Season 12 11 1011 46 30 1 16 1.42 2 2 1 0 4 4 3 MLS - TOTAL 12 11 1011 46 30 1 16 1.42 2 2 1 0 4 4 3
D | TIM
SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 11 6 577 0 2 MLS Postseason 0 0 0 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 0 0 0 0 0 International 0 0 0 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 11 6 577 0 2
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 11 6 577 0 2 6 2 11 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 MLS - TOTAL 11 6 577 0 2 6 2 11 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals Allowed 7, 2 times, last: May 14, 2022, KC at POR
Saves 10, April 8, 2018, KC at LA
Last Regular Season...
Appearance May 13, 2023, KC vs. MIN
Shutout April 1, 2023, KC at PHI 2023 Record when: he starts 2-4-1
Height: 6-1
Weight: 210 Birthday: 5/15/1986
Hometown: Great River, New York
College: Lynn University
Last Club: Chivas USA (MLS)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 12/23/2014
Tim Melia leads Sporting KC in regular-season wins (94), shutouts (64) and saves (645), and has also played the most games (223) 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 17 of the 30 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 and the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs Quarterfinal.
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.
Last Regular Season... Appearance June 3, 2023, KC at VAN
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 made 25 appearances in all competitions for Sporting KC in his first season with the club, tallying one assist in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
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.
26
KC Game Notes | July 1, 2023 vs. Vancouver
| SportingKC.com/Game-Notes
Sporting
Whitecaps FC
#18 | D | LOGAN NDENBE | @Ndenbe22 Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 0 Assists 0 Shots on Goal 1, Aug. 27, 2022, KC vs.
Shots 3, April 30, 2022, KC vs. DAL Fouls Committed 3, May 18, 2022, KC vs. COL Fouls Suffered 4, 2 times, last: July 3, 2022, KC vs. NY
SJ
Goal N/A Assist N/A 2023 Record when: he starts 4-2-2 he scores 0-0-0 SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 31 27 2390 0 0 MLS Postseason 0 0 0 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 3 1 84 0 1 International 0 0 0 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 34 28 2474 0 1
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 31 27 2390 0 0 11 1 32 34 2 0 4 0 0 0 MLS - TOTAL 31 27 2390 0 0 11 1 32 34 2 0 4 0 0 0
#29 | GK | TIM MELIA | @TimMelia28
SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 223 223 19965 0 0 MLS Postseason 10 10 924 0 0 MLS is Back KO Stage 2 2 180 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 11 11 1080 0 0 International 6 6 540 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 252 252 22689 0 0
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN SHT SVS SO GA GAA PG PA C E W L T KC - Regular Season 223 223 19965 931 645 64 279 1.26 19 33 16 1 94 77 49 MLS - Regular Season 229 228 20404 964 663 64 293 1.29 20 34 16 2 94 81 50 KC - Postseason 10 10 924 49 31 1 17 1.66 1 1 0 0 2 4 3 MLS - TOTAL 239 238 21328 1013 694 65 310 1.31 21 35 16 2 96 85 53
MIN 2023 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
Height: 5-9
Weight: 150 Birthday: 2/16/2003
Hometown: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Last Club: Sporting KC Academy
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.
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 2, 4 times, last: June 21, 2023, KC at LA
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
Fouls Suffered 5, 2 times, last: Aug. 4, 2021, KC at LAFC
Last Regular Season...
Appearance June 24, 2023, KC vs. CHI
Goal June 21, 2023, KC at LA
Assist June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX 2023 Record when: he starts 5-7-3 he scores 2-1-2
Height: 5-10 Weight: 180 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 appearances 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 and returned to the field on April 1, 2023. Pulido has tallied 23 goals and 11 assists in 53 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, 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 and scored on his debut 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.
27 Sporting KC Game Notes | July 1, 2023 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes
#9 | F | ALAN PULIDO | @alanpulido
SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 49 41 3641 21 11 MLS Postseason 1 1 73 0 0 MLS is Back KO Stage 2 2 180 1 0 U.S. Open Cup 1 1 60 1 0 International 0 0 0 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 53 45 3954 23 11
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 49 41 3641 21 11 130 51 24 82 19 0 5 0 6 3 KC - Postseason 1 1 73 0 0 2 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 MLS - TOTAL 50 42 3714 21 11 132 52 24 84 19 0 5 0 6 3
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 0 Assists 1, July 13, 2022, KC at MIN Shots on Goal 0 Shots 1, Sept. 13, 2022, KC vs. DC Fouls Committed 3, Sept. 4,
KC at LA Fouls Suffered 4, July 3, 2022, KC vs. NY
#24 | D | KAYDEN PIERRE | @KaydenPierre5
2022,
Appearance March
Goal N/A Assist July 13, 2022, KC at
SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 20 9 953 0 1 MLS Postseason 0 0 0 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 3 2 190 0 0 International 1 0 75 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 24 11 1218 0 1
Last Regular Season...
18, 2023, KC at DAL
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 20 9 953 0 1 1 0 5 20 0 0 1 0 0 0 MLS - TOTAL 20 9 953 0 1 1 0 5 20 0 0 1 0 0 0
JOHN PULSKAMP | @john_pulskamp
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 2023 Record when: he starts 0-3-2
Height: 6-4
Weight: 205 Birthday: 4/19/2001
Hometown: Bakersfield, California
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.
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 has 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 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 spending each of the last three seasons with Levante. 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 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.
28 Sporting KC Game Notes | July 1, 2023 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes
#6 | M | NEMANJA RADOJA Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 0 Assists 0 Shots on Goal 1, May 31, 2023, KC vs. DAL Shots 2, 3 times, last: June 21, 2023, KC at LA Fouls Committed 3, June 17, 2023, KC vs. LAFC Fouls Suffered 3, May 20, 2023, KC at STL
Appearance June 24, 2023, KC vs. CHI Goal N/A Assist N/A 2023 Record when: he starts 4-3-4 he scores 0-0-0 SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 13 11 944 0 0 MLS Postseason 0 0 0 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 1 1 90 0 0 International 0 0 0 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 14 12 1034 0 0
Last Regular Season...
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 13 11 944 0 0 7 1 10 11 0 0 2 0 0 0 MLS - TOTAL 13 11 944 0 0 7 1 10 11 0 0 2 0 0 0
#1 | GK |
SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 23 22 2017 0 0 MLS Postseason 0 0 0 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 6 6 600 0 0 International 1 1 90 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 30 29 2707 0 0
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN SHT SVS SO GA GAA PG PA C E W L T KC - Regular Season 23 22 2017 90 58 6 32 1.43 2 3 0 0 8 9 6 MLS - TOTAL 23 22 2017 90 58 6 32 1.43 2 3 0 0 8 9 6
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 becomes Sporting’s first MLS SuperDraft selection to sign for the first team since 2018 and the second defender on Sporting’s active roster to join as a second-round draft pick out of Maryland, alongside Graham Zusi. Rindov made his MLS debut as a late sub 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 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.
ROSERO
Height: 6-2 Weight: 190 Birthday: 10/6/1993
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Last Club: Atletico Junior (Colombia)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 3/2/2023
Sporting Kansas City acquired center back Dany Rosero in a transfer from Colombian side Atletico Junior in March 2023. Rosero has 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 has spent the last seven seasons in the Colombian top-flight Categoria Primera A with Patriotas Boyacá, Deportivo Cali and Junior.
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 and made an immediate impact, scoring four goals and starting 35 of 37 league appearances with Patriotas
Boyacá. Strong performances with Patriotas 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.
29
KC Game Notes | July 1, 2023
Height: 6-2 Weight: 185 Birthday: 10/8/2001 Hometown: Rockville, Maryland College: Maryland Acquired: 2023 MLS SuperDraft 2nd Round (#37) #82 | D | CHRIS
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 0 Assists 0 Shots on Goal 0 Shots 0 Fouls Committed 0 Fouls Suffered 0 Last Regular Season... Appearance April 22, 2023, KC at NE Goal N/A Assist N/A 2023 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0 SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 1 0 4 0 0 MLS Postseason 0 0 0 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 1 1 90 0 0 International 0 0 0 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 2 1 94 0 0
Sporting
vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes
RINDOV | @ChrisRindov
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MLS - TOTAL 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
#5 |
Season Game Highs: Goals 1, May 13, 2023, KC vs. MIN Assists 0 Shots on Goal 1, 5 times, last: June 21, 2023, KC at LA Shots 3, April 1, 2023, KC at PHI Fouls Committed 3, June 17, 2023, KC vs. LAFC Fouls Suffered 2, 2 times, last: June 17, 2023, KC vs. LAFC
Regular Season... Appearance June 21, 2023, KC at LA Goal May 13, 2023, KC vs. MIN Assist N/A 2023 Record when: he starts 4-6-3 he scores 1-0-0 SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 13 13 1143 1 0 MLS Postseason 0 0 0 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 0 0 0 0 0 International 0 0 0 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 13 13 1143 1 0
D | DANY
Regular
Last
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 13 13 1143 1 0 14 5 15 13 0 0 5 0 1 0 MLS - TOTAL 13 13 1143 1 0 14 5 15 13 0 0 5 0 1 0
#7 | F | JOHNNY RUSSELL
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 June 24, 2023, KC vs. CHI
Goal May 17, 2023, KC at LAFC
Assist May 13, 2023, KC vs. MIN
2023 Record when: he starts 2-6-2 he scores 0-1-1
Height: 5-9
Weight: 170 Birthday: 4/8/1990
Hometown: Glasgow, Scotland
Last Club: Derby County FC (England)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 1/31/2018
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 55 goals and 40 assists in 178 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
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.
Last Regular Season...
Appearance June 24, 2023, KC vs. CHI
Goal May 31, 2023, KC vs. DAL Assist June 21, 2023, KC at LA
Height: 6-1 Weight: 165 Birthday: 7/19/1996
Hometown: Budapest, Hungary
Last Club: Gyirmot SE (Hungary) - Loan
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 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. Salloi’s 13 game-winning goals is tied for most in club history. Salloi, who signed a new four-year contract in late 2022, has recorded 53 goals and 30 assists in 195 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.
Salloi reached even greater heights by scoring the winning goal in the 2017 U.S. Open Cup Final against the New York 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 U-18s for the 2014-15 season.
Salloi returned to his former Hungarian Academy side Ujpest FC in July 2015. He made his pro debut in the OTP Bank Liga on July 18, 2015 the day before his 19th birthday.
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.
30 Sporting KC Game Notes | July 1, 2023 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes
#20 | F | DANIEL
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 2, 4 times, last: May 18, 2022, KC vs. COL Assists 2, 3 times, last: Aug. 6, 2022, KC vs. LA Shots on Goal 4, 3 times, last: July 13, 2019, KC at VAN Shots 8, May 5, 2018, KC vs. COL Fouls Committed 4, June 7, 2019, KC at TOR Fouls Suffered 5, July 31, 2021, KC vs.
SALLOI
DAL
SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 166 130 12010 42 27 MLS Postseason 7 6 577 3 2 MLS is Back KO Stage 2 1 74 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 14 8 943 8 1 International 6 3 197 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 195 148 13801 53 30
2023 Record when: he starts 5-10-6 he scores 3-1-0
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 166 130 12010 42 27 381 157 89 164 31 66 14 3 15 11 KC - Postseason 7 6 577 3 2 18 6 5 10 2 0 1 0 0 0 MLS - TOTAL 173 136 13307 45 29 399 163 94 174 33 66 15 3 15 11
SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 155 132 11616 50 33 MLS Postseason 8 8 735 1 2 MLS is Back KO Stage 2 2 157 0 1 U.S. Open Cup 7 5 508 4 2 International 6 5 422 0 2 ALL COMPETITIONS 178 152 13438 55 40
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 155 132 11616 50 33 329 131 94 235 19 364 13 0 10 6 KC - Postseason 8 8 735 1 2 16 6 10 19 1 25 1 0 0 0 MLS - TOTAL 163 140 12351 51 35 345 137 104 254 20 389 14 0 10 6
#11 | F | KHIRY SHELTON | @KhiryShelton
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 June 24, 2023, KC vs. CHI
Goal June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
Assist July 9, 2022, KC at MTL
2023 Record when: he starts 0-3-2 he scores 1-0-0
Height: 6-3
Weight: 180 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 16 assists across 125 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.
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.
#26
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, 5 times, last: May 28, 2023, KC vs. POR
Assists 1, 7 times, last: June 21, 2023, KC at LA
Shots on Goal 4, 2 times, last: March 11, 2023, KC vs. LA
Shots 8, March 11, 2023, KC vs. LA
Fouls Committed 3, April 8, 2023, KC vs. COL
Fouls Suffered 4, 3 times, last: June 3, 2023, KC at VAN
Last Regular Season...
Appearance June 24, 2023, KC vs. CHI
Goal May 28, 2023, KC vs. POR
Assist June 21, 2023, KC at LA
2023 Record when: he starts 5-9-6 he scores 2-0-0
Height: 5-8 Weight: 160 Birthday: 8/20/1994
Hometown: Wettenhausen, Germany
Last Club: VfB Stuttgart (Germany)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 6/23/2022
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 Bundesliga, one of the top leagues in the world. He scored his first goal for Sporting in the 4-2 victory over the LA Galaxy on Aug. 6, 2022 and finished the season with an impressive three goals and two assists in 13 appearances.
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
(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.
31 Sporting KC Game Notes | July 1, 2023 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes
| M | ERIK THOMMY | @erikthommy
SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 33 30 2533 5 7 MLS Postseason 0 0 0 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 2 1 113 0 1 International 0 0 0 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 35 31 2646 5 8
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 33 30 2533 5 7 95 39 32 56 2 87 6 0 1 2 MLS - TOTAL 33 30 2533 5 7 95 39 32 56 2 87 6 0 1 2
SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 111 77 7022 12 13 MLS Postseason 7 5 489 1 1 MLS is Back KO Stage 1 1 80 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 6 3 302 2 2 International 0 0 0 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 125 86 7893 15 16
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 111 77 7022 12 13 115 43 100 93 20 1 9 0 4 8 MLS - Regular Season 165 100 9508 18 23 151 55 125 124 23 1 9 0 4 11 KC - Postseason 7 5 489 1 1 6 2 8 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 MLS - Postseason 9 5 546 1 1 6 2 8 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 MLS - TOTAL 174 105 10057 19 24 157 57 133 129 25 1 9 0 4 11
#77 | F | MARINOS TZIONIS
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, May 14, 2022, KC at POR
Assists 1, May 28, 2023, KC vs. POR
Shots on Goal 2, 2 times, last: Sept. 10, 2022, KC at HOU
Shots 3, 2 times, last: May 31, 2023, KC vs. DAL
Fouls Committed 2, 4 times, last: June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
Fouls Suffered 5, April 17, 2022, KC at LAFC
Last Regular Season...
Appearance June 24, 2023, KC vs. CHI
Goal May 14, 2022, KC at POR
Assist May 28, 2023, KC vs. POR
2023 Record when: he starts 3-0-2 he scores 0-0-0
Height: 5-7
Weight: 150 Birthday: 7/16/2001
Hometown: Nicosia, Cyprus
Last Club: Omonia Nicosia (Cyprus)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 1/24/2022
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. In his debut season with Sporting KC, Tzionis tallied two goals in 29 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.
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 24 caps for the Cyprus National Team, scoring his first goal in a 2-0 win over Estonia on March 29, 2022.
#4 | D | ROBERT VOLODER
Regular
Last Regular Season...
Height: 6-0 Weight: 175 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 14 appearances for Sporting KC during the 2022 campaign and tallying 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
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.
32 Sporting KC Game Notes | July 1, 2023 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes
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. ATX Fouls Suffered 2, 2 times, last: June 3, 2023, KC at VAN
Season
Goal Sept. 13,
Assist June 10,
2023 Record when: he starts 1-6-3
0-0-0 SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 24 17 1642 1 1 MLS Postseason 0 0 0 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 4 1 135 0 0 International 0 0 0 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 28 18 1777 1 1
Appearance June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
2022, KC vs. DC
2023, KC vs. ATX
he scores
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 24 17 1642 1 1 4 1 13 13 0 0 3 1 0 0 MLS - TOTAL 24 17 1642 1 1 4 1 13 13 0 0 3 1 0 0
SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 41 11 1319 1 1 MLS Postseason 0 0 0 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 4 3 328 2 0 International 0 0 0 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 45 14 1647 3 1
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 41 11 1319 1 1 33 11 18 46 3 16 0 0 0 0 MLS - TOTAL 41 11 1319 1 1 33 11 18 46 3 16 0 0 0 0
Sporting KC Game Notes | July 1, 2023 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes
#54 | M | REMI WALTER | @remi_walter
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, 4 times, last: July 9, 2022, KC at MTL
Assists 1, 6 times, last: May 17, 2023, KC at LAFC
Shots on Goal 2, June 17, 2023, KC vs. LAFC
Shots 3, 4 times, last: June 17, 2023, KC vs. LAFC
Fouls Committed 3, March 5, 2022, KC vs. HOU
Fouls Suffered 3, Nov. 7, 2021, KC vs. RSL
Last Regular Season...
Appearance June 24, 2023, KC vs. CHI
Goal July 9, 2022, KC at MTL
Assist May 17, 2023, KC at LAFC
2023 Record when: he starts 3-10-6 he scores 0-0-0
Height: 5-8
Weight: 160 Birthday: 4/26/1995
Hometown: Essey-les-Nancy, France
Last Club: Yeni Malatyaspor (Turkey)
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 four goals and seven assists in 91 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
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.
#8 | D | GRAHAM ZUSI
3 times, last: Sept. 28, 2012, KC vs. CHI Assists
9 times, last: Aug. 21, 2022, KC vs. POR Shots on Goal
5 times, last: Aug. 18, 2018, KC vs. POR Shots
May 15, 2016, KC vs. ORL
Fouls Committed 4, 2 times, last: March 30, 2013, KC vs. MTL Fouls Suffered 6, Oct. 26, 2013, KC at PHI
Last Regular Season...
Appearance May 31, 2023, KC vs. DAL
Goal Oct. 9, 2022, KC at DAL
Assist May 28, 2023, KC vs. POR 2023 Record when: he starts 0-6-3 he scores 0-0-0
Height: 5-10 Weight: 160 Birthday: 8/18/1986
Hometown: Orlando, Florida College: Maryland
Acquired: 2009 MLS SuperDraft 2nd Round (#23)
Sporting’s all-time appearance and minutes leader, Graham Zusi has garnered MLS All-Star (2012-15, 2017-19), MLS Best XI (2012-13) & MLS Breakout Player of the Year (2011) accolades in addition to receiving a 2012 MLS MVP nomination. He earned Sporting KC MVP honors from 2012-14 and is the only player to appear in every All-Star Game from 2011-2014.
Zusi has recorded 35 goals and 90 assists in 410 appearances for Sporting KC across all competitions since being drafted in 2009 out of Maryland, where he won two national championships. He is second in club history with 87 total assists, while his 410 chances created from 2011-2015 (including postseason) ranked third in MLS. With his assist
against RSL on April 29, 2017, Zusi reached 50 regular-season assists and later moved into first in club history with 24 game-winning assists on Aug. 19, 2017 versus FC Dallas. Zusi earned 55 caps for the U.S. Men’s National Team after debuting in January 2012, recording five goals and seven assists. He played four matches at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, tallying two assists as the U.S. advanced out of the group stage. He played in his first CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2015, starting two matches, and scored in a World Cup qualifier against Guatemala on March 29, 2016. He played five games for the U.S. at the 2016 Copa America Centenario, scoring on June 7 in a 4-0 win over Costa Rica. He made four appearances as the U.S. won the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
33
2,
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals
2,
3,
6,
SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 355 305 27731 31 74 MLS Postseason 20 20 1919 1 7 MLS is Back KO Stage 2 2 180 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 20 18 1747 3 6 International 13 13 1140 0 3 ALL COMPETITIONS 410 358 32717 35 90
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 355 305 27732 31 74 483 144 283 388 34 800 32 1 10 29 KC - Postseason 20 20 1919 1 7 32 4 26 30 1 69 2 0 0 3 MLS - TOTAL 375 325 29651 32 81 515 148 309 418 35 869 34 1 10 32
SPORTING KC STATS GP GS MIN G A MLS Regular Season 82 76 6595 4 6 MLS Postseason 2 2 180 0 0 U.S. Open Cup 6 4 421 0 1 International 1 1 45 0 0 ALL COMPETITIONS 91 83 7241 4 7
MLS CAREER STATS GP GS MIN G A SHT SOG FC FS OFF CK C E GWG GWA KC - Regular Season 82 76 6595 4 6 56 17 52 53 0 39 7 1 2 2 KC - Postseason 2 2 180 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 MLS - TOTAL 84 78 6775 4 6 58 17 54 53 0 40 7 1 2 2
SINGLE SEASON RECORDS (FIELD PLAYERS)
(2011), Ilie Sanchez (2018), Graham Zusi (2018), Luis Martins (2021), Felipe
(2022), Remi Walter (2022)
ALL-TIME RECORDS (FIELD PLAYERS)
SINGLE SEASON RECORDS (GOALKEEPERS)
ALL-TIME RECORDS (GOALKEEPERS)
SINGLE
(FIELD PLAYERS)
Digital Takawira (1998), Preki (1998), Davy Arnaud (2004), Eddie Johnson (twice in 2007), Birahim Diop (2010), Gerso Fernandes (2017), Johnny Russell (2018), Krisztian Nemeth (2019), Johnny
SINGLE GAME RECORDS (GOALKEEPERS)
34
2023
Sporting KC Game Notes | July 1,
vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes
GAME
SINGLE SEASON TEAM RECORDS
RECORDS
Stat Player # Games C.J. Sapong
Hernandez
34 Minutes Ilie Sanchez (2018),
Zusi (2018) 3060 Goals Dom Dwyer (2014) 22 Assists Preki (1997 & 2003) 17 Shots Preki (1996) 140 Shots on goal Preki (1996) 61 Fouls Committed Chris Henderson (2000) 79 Fouls Suffered Davy Arnaud (2004) 111 Offsides Eddie Johnson (2007) 50 Corner Kicks Graham Zusi (2012) 150 Cautions Aurelien Collin (2013) 13 Ejections Davy Arnaud (2010), Roger Espinoza (2019) 3 Stat Player # Games Jimmy Nielsen (2012 & 2013), Tim Melia (2018) 34 Minutes Jimmy Nielsen (2012 & 2013), Tim Melia (2018) 3060 Wins Mike Ammann (1997) 21 Losses Mike Amman (1998) 16 Draws Bo Oshoniyi (2005) 12 Shutouts Tony Meola (2000) 16 Goals Against Average Tim Melia (2017) 0.78 Goals Allowed Tim Melia (2019) 56 Saves Tony Meola (2000) 129 Stat Player # Goals
Russell (2019) 3 Assists Chris Henderson (1999) 4 Shots Preki (1997) 12 Shots on goal Preki (1996), Eddie Johnson (2007) 6 Fouls Committed Davy Arnaud (2010), Oriol Rosell (2013) 8 Fouls Suffered Davy Arnaud (2006) 10 Offsides Alex Bunbury (1999) 7 Corner Kicks Alex Zotinca (2006) 12 Stat Year # Points Per Game 2020 1.857 Goals 2018 65 Assists 2018 69 Shots 2018 583 Shots on goal 1996 250 Fouls Committed 2013 511 Fouls Suffered 2000 541 Offsides 1997 117 Corner Kicks 2021 207 Cautions 2019 74 Ejections 2011 8 Points 2012 63 Wins 1997 21 Losses 1999 24 Ties 2017 13 Shutouts 2000 17 Goals Allowed 2019 67 Stat Player # Goals Allowed Bo Oshoniyi (2001), Tim Melia (2019), Tim Melia (2022) 7 Saves Tim Melia (2018) 10 Stat Player # Games Tim Melia* 223 Minutes Tim Melia* 19,965 Wins Tim Melia* 94 Losses Tim Melia* 77 Draws Tim Melia* 49 Shutouts Tim Melia* 64 Goals Allowed Tim Melia* 279 Saves Tim Melia* 645 Goals Against Avg. Jimmy Nielsen 0.99 Stat Player # Games Graham Zusi* 355 Minutes Graham Zusi* 27,731 Goals Preki 71 Assists Preki 98 Shots Preki 693 Shots on goal Preki 283 Fouls Committed Roger Espinoza* 512 Fouls Suffered Davy Arnaud 528 Offsides Vitalis Takawira 126 Corner Kicks Graham Zusi* 800 Cautions Roger Espinoza* 77 Ejections Roger Espinoza* 13
Graham
SPORTING KANSAS CITY INDIVIDUAL ALL-TIME CHARTS (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
GOALKEEPER
35
July 1, 2023
Sporting KC Game Notes |
vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes
player on current roster GAMES PLAYED Player GP 1. Graham Zusi* 355 2. Roger Espinoza* 331 3. Matt Besler 294 4. Davy Arnaud 240 5. Kerry Zavagnin 237 6. Nick Garcia 224 7. Tim Melia* 223 8. Preki 218 9. Seth Sinovic 210 10. Jimmy Conrad 204 GOALS Player GP G 1. Preki 218 71 2. Dom Dwyer 128 57 3. Johnny Russell* 155 50 4. Davy Arnaud 240 43 4. Josh Wolff 144 43 6. Daniel Salloi* 166 42 7. Chris Klein 200 39 8. Kei Kamara 113 38 9. Graham Zusi* 355 31 9. Benny Feilhaber 167 31 9. Mo Johnston 149 31 GAME-WINNING GOALS Player GP GWG 1. Daniel Salloi* 166 15 2. Dom Dwyer 128 13 2. Preki 218 13 4. Chris Klein 200 12 5. Kei Kamara 113 11 5. Josh Wolff 144 11 7. Johnny Russell* 155 10 7. Graham Zusi* 355 10 7. Davy Arnaud 240 10 10. Vitalis Takawira 103 8 GAME-WINNING ASSISTS Player GP GWA 1. Graham Zusi* 355 29 2. Preki 218 23 3. Chris Klein 200 16 4. Benny Feilhaber 167 13 5. Roger Espinoza* 331 11 5. Daniel Salloi* 166 11 7. Davy Arnaud 240 10 7. Josh Wolff 144 10 9. Khiry Shelton* 111 8 9. Jack Jewsbury 195 8 9. Mo Johnston 149 8 9. Kei Kamara 113 8 9. Chance Myers 147 8 9. Kerry Zavagnin 237 8 MULTI-GOAL GAMES Player GP MGG 1. Dom Dwyer 128 10 2. Vitalis Takawira 103 8 3. Preki 218 7 4. Johnny Russell* 155 6 5. Felipe Gutierrez 52 5 5. Kei Kamara 113 5 5. Scott Sealy 88 5 5. Josh Wolff 144 5 9. Daniel Salloi* 166 4 9. Alan Pulido* 49 4 9. Mo Johnston 149 4 9. Chris Klein 200 4 PENALTY KICK GOALS Player GP PKG 1. Preki 218 21 2. Benny Feilhaber 167 12 3. Johnny Russell* 155 7 3. Dom Dwyer 128 7 5. Alan Pulido* 49 5 5. Ilie Sanchez 144 5 5. Felipe Gutierrez 52 5 5. Kei Kamara 113 5 9. Claudio Lopez 57 4 10. Claudio Bieler 41 3 10. Jose Burciaga Jr. 115 3 10. Jack Jewsbury 195 3 10. Josh Wolff 144 3 GOALS PER GAME Player GP GLS AVG 1. Dom Dwyer 128 57 0.45 2. Alan Pulido* 49 21 0.43 3. Kei Kamara 113 38 0.34 4. Preki 218 71 0.33 5. Johnny Russell* 155 50 0.32 5. Scott Sealy 88 28 0.32 7. Josh Wolff 144 43 0.30 8. Vitalis Takawira 103 28 0.27 9. Daniel Salloi* 166 42 0.25 10. Mark Chung 94 20 0.21 *Minimum 20 goals
Player GP A 1. Preki 218 98 2. Graham Zusi* 355 74 3. Chris Klein 200 45 4. Roger Espinoza* 331 44 5. Benny Feilhaber 167 43 6. Davy Arnaud 240 35 7. Johnny Russell* 155 33 8. Mo Johnston 149 28 9. Daniel Salloi* 166 27 10.Josh Wolff 144 26 SHOTS Player GP SH 1. Preki 218 693 2. Graham Zusi* 355 483 3. Davy Arnaud 240 452 4. Dom Dwyer 128 401 5. Daniel Salloi* 166 381 6. Kei Kamara 113 370 7. Roger Espinoza* 331 363 8. Johnny Russell* 155 328 9. Chris Klein 200 312 10. Mo Johnston 149 274 SHOTS ON GOAL Player GP SOG 1. Preki 218 283 2. Davy Arnaud 240 176 3. Dom Dwyer 128 161 4. Daniel Salloi* 166 157 5. Graham Zusi* 355 144 6. Mo Johnston 149 138 6. Chris Klein 200 138 6. Josh Wolff 144 138 9. Johnny Russell* 155 131 10. Kei Kamara 113 126 FOULS COMMITTED Player GP FC 1. Roger Espinoza* 331 512 2. Davy Arnaud 240 329 3. Kerry Zavagnin 237 326 4. Matt McKeon 144 309 5. Graham Zusi* 355 283 6. Matt Besler 294 241 7. Dom Dwyer 128 239 8. Nick Garcia 224 234 9. Mo Johnston 149 226 10. Seth Sinovic 210 217 FOULS SUFFERED Player GP FS 1. Davy Arnaud 240 528 2. Roger Espinoza* 331 401 3. Graham Zusi* 355 389 4. Preki 218 362 5. Kerry Zavagnin 237 354 6. Benny Feilhaber 167 299 7. Dom Dwyer 128 273 8. Nick Garcia 224 250 9. Johnny Russell* 155 235 10. Mark Chung 94 204 CAUTIONS (YELLOW CARDS) Player GP YC 1. Roger Espinoza* 331 77 2. Kerry Zavagnin 237 44 3. Davy Arnaud 240 43 4. Nick Garcia 224 37 5. Matt Besler 294 35 5. Seth Sinovic 210 35 7. Graham Zusi* 355 32 8. Aurelien Collin 107 31 9. Diego Gutierrez 119 30 9. Matt McKeon 144 30
KICKS Player GP CK 1. Graham Zusi* 355 800 2. Preki 218 452 3. Johnny Russell* 155 364 4. Benny Feilhaber 167 287 5. Claudio Lopez 57 188 6. Jose Burciaga Jr. 115 175 7. Francisco Gomez 114 157 8. Chris Henderson 61 154 9. Chris Klein 200 152 10. Davy Arnaud 240 144
STARTED Player GS 1. Graham Zusi* 305 2. Roger Espinoza* 285 2. Matt Besler 285 4. Kerry Zavagnin 228 5. Nick Garcia 224 6. Tim Melia* 223 7. Davy Arnaud 213 8. Jimmy Conrad 203 9. Seth Sinovic 200 10. Preki 199 MINUTES PLAYED Player MP 1. Graham Zusi* 27,731 2. Matt Besler 25,501 3. Roger Espinoza* 24,631 4. Kerry Zavagnin 20,515 5. Nick Garcia 20,157 6. Tim Melia* 19,965 7. Davy Arnaud 19,399 8. Jimmy Conrad 18,194 9. Preki 17,817 10. Seth Sinovic 17,738
PLAYED IN GOAL Player GP 1. Tim Melia* 223 2. Jimmy Nielsen 128 3. Tony Meola 125 4. Bo Oshoniyi 96 5. Kevin Hartman 90 6. Mike Ammann 60 7. Chris Snitko 26 8. Eric Kronberg 25 9. John Pulskamp* 23 9. Garth Lagerwey 23 SAVES Player GP SV 1. Tim Melia* 223 645 2. Tony Meola 125 507 3. Bo Oshoniyi 96 354 4. Kevin Hartman 90 332 5. Jimmy Nielsen 128 304 6. Mike Amman 60 206 7. Chris Snitko 26 95 8. Garth Lagerwey 23 83 9. John Pulskamp* 23 58 9. Eric Kronberg 25 58
BOLD * - denotes
ASSISTS
CORNER
GAMES
GAMES
WINS Player GP GW 1. Tim Melia* 223 94 2. Jimmy Nielsen 128 57 3. Tony Meola 125 49 4. Mike Ammann 60 33 4. Bo Oshoniyi 96 33 6. Kevin Hartman 90 30 7. Garth Lagerwey 23 12 8. Eric Kronberg 25 9 9. John Pulskamp* 23 8 10. Andy Gruenebaum 11 6 SHUTOUTS Player GP SO 1. Tim Melia* 223 64 2. Jimmy Nielsen 128 45 3. Tony Meola 125 37 4. Kevin Hartman 90 22 4. Bo Oshoniyi 96 22 6. Mike Ammann 60 10 7. Eric Kronberg 25 8 8. John Pulskamp* 23 6 9. Luis Marin 8 3 9. Andy Gruenebaum 11 3 9. Garth Lagerwey 23 3 9. Chris Snitko 26 3
SPORTING KANSAS CITY INDIVIDUAL SINGLE-SEASON CHARTS (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
36 Sporting KC Game Notes | July 1, 2023 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes
GAMES PLAYED Year Player GP 2011 C.J. Sapong 34 2012 Jimmy Nielsen 34 2013 Jimmy Nielsen 34 2018 Tim Melia 34 2018 Ilie Sanchez 34 2018 Graham Zusi 34 2021 Luis Martins 34 2022 Felipe Hernandez 34 2022 Remi Walter 34 GAMES STARTED Year Player GS 2012 Jimmy Nielsen 34 2013 Jimmy Nielsen 34 2018 Tim Melia 34 2018 Ilie Sanchez 34 2018 Graham Zusi 34 2022 Remi Walter 34 MINUTES PLAYED Year Player MIN 2012 Jimmy Nielsen 3060 2013 Jimmy Nielsen 3060 2018 Tim Melia 3060 2018 Ilie Sanchez 3060 2018 Graham Zusi 3060 2017 Ilie Sanchez 2970 2000 Nick Garcia 2915 2000 Peter Vermes 2915 GAMES PLAYED IN GOAL Year Player GP 2012 Jimmy Nielsen 34 2013 Jimmy Nielsen 34 2018 Tim Melia 34 2005 Bo Oshoniyi 32 2019 Tim Melia 32 GOALS Year Player GP GOALS 2014 Dom Dwyer 33 22 1996 Preki 32 18 2021 Daniel Salloi 30 16 2016 Dom Dwyer 33 16 2021 Johnny Russell 30 15 2007 Eddie Johnson 24 15 ASSISTS Year Player GP ASSISTS 1997 Preki 27 17 2003 Preki 30 17 2000 Preki 31 15 2012 Graham Zusi 32 15 2015 Benny Feilhaber 32 15 SHOTS Year Player GP SHOTS 1996 Preki 32 140 2012 Kei Kamara 33 134 2016 Dom Dwyer 33 119 2014 Dom Dwyer 33 113 1999 Preki 30 97 SHOTS ON GOAL Year Player GP SOG 1996 Preki 32 61 2012 Kei Kamara 33 49 1996 Vitalis Takawira 28 48 2014 Dom Dwyer 33 48 1997 Preki 27 44 2002 Preki 25 44 2016 Dom Dwyer 33 44 FOULS COMMITTED Year Player GP FC 2000 Chris Henderson 31 79 2001 Matt McKeon 26 76 1997 Matt McKeon 31 75 2000 Matt McKeon 30 75 2013 Oriol Rosell 31 66 2016 Dom Dwyer 33 66 2018 Roger Espinoza 32 66 FOULS SUFFERED Year Player GP FS 2004 Davy Arnaud 30 111 2005 Davy Arnaud 31 85 2015 Dom Dwyer 30 81 1999 Preki 30 77 2006 Davy Arnaud 32 76 CAUTIONS (YELLOW CARDS) Year Player GP YC 2013 Aurelien Collin 29 13 2019 Felipe Gutierrez 32 11 2022 Roger Espinoza 30 11 2011 Aurelien Collin 23 10 2013 Oriol Rosell 31 10 2016 Roger Espinoza 30 10 1997 Mo Johnston 29 9 2005 Jose Burciaga Jr. 31 9 2017 Roger Espinoza 30 9 2018 Roger Espinoza 32 9 EJECTIONS (RED CARDS) Year Player GP RC 2010 Davy Arnaud 27 3 2019 Roger Espinoza 16 3 nine players tied with 2 CORNER KICKS Year Player GP CK 2012 Graham Zusi 32 150 2013 Graham Zusi 27 128 2014 Graham Zusi 25 125 2009 Claudio Lopez 29 123 2019 Johnny Russell 28 109 OFFSIDES Year Player GP OFF 2007 Eddie Johnson 24 50 1996 Vitalis Takawira 28 44 1997 Vitalis Takawira 28 43 2014 Dom Dwyer 33 38 2000 Chris Henderson 31 36 GAME-WINNING GOALS Year Player GP GWG 2000 Miklos Molnar 17 6 2007 Eddie Johnson 24 6 2014 Dom Dwyer 33 6 2018 Daniel Salloi 29 6 1997 Preki 27 5 2012 C.J. Sapong 31 5 2015 Krisztian Nemeth 27 5 2021 Daniel Salloi 30 5 GAME-WINNING ASSISTS Year Player GP GWA 2000 Chris Henderson 31 5 2000 Matt McKeon 30 5 2003 Preki 30 5 2004 Davy Arnaud 30 5 2004 Josh Wolff 26 5 2012 Graham Zusi 32 5 2013 Graham Zusi 27 5 2015 Benny Feilhaber 30 5 PENALTY KICK GOALS Year Player GP PKG 1996 Preki 32 7 2014 Dom Dwyer 33 7 2003 Preki 30 5 2015 Benny Feilhaber 32 5 2016 Benny Feilhaber 29 5 2019 Felipe Gutierrez 32 5 GOALS PER GAME Year Player GP GLS AVG 2000 Miklos Molnar 17 12 0.71 2014 Dom Dwyer 33 22 0.67 2022 Willy Agada 12 8 0.67 2007 Eddie Johnson 24 15 0.63 1996 Preki 32 18 0.56 2021 Daniel Salloi 30 16 0.53 *Minimum 5 goals SAVES Year Player GP SV 2000 Tony Meola 31 129 2003 Tony Meola 30 121 2008 Kevin Hartman 30 117 2005 Bo Oshoniyi 32 112 2019 Tim Melia 32 111 SHUTOUTS Year Player GP SO 2000 Tony Meola 31 16 2012 Jimmy Nielsen 34 15 2013 Jimmy Nielsen 34 13 2018 Tim Melia 34 13 2008 Kevin Hartman 30 10 2010 Jimmy Nielsen 29 10 2017 Tim Melia 31 10 GOALKEEPER WINS Year Player GP GW 1997 Mike Ammann 29 21 2012 Jimmy Nielsen 34 18 2018 Tim Melia 34 18 2013 Jimmy Nielsen 34 17 2000 Tony Meola 31 15 1996 Garth Lagerwey 23 12 2011 Jimmy Nielsen 31 12 2017 Tim Melia 31 12
AGAINST AVERAGE Year Player GP GA GAA 2017 Tim Melia 31 24 0.78 2012 Jimmy Nielsen 34 27 0.79 2013 Jimmy Nielsen 34 30 0.88 2000 Tony Meola 31 29 0.92 2004 Tony Meola 21 22 1.05 *Minimum 1,000 minutes played
GOALS