Sporting KC Media Guide: MLS is Back Tournament by Sporting Kansas City

SPORTING KANSAS CITY ROSTER No. Pos. Name 1 GK Richard Sanchez 3 DEF Andreu Fontas 4 DEF Roberto Puncec 5 DEF Matt Besler 6 MID Ilie Sanchez 7 FWD Johnny Russell 8 DEF Graham Zusi 9 FWD Alan Pulido 10 MID Felipe Gutierrez 11 FWD Khiry Shelton 12 FWD Gerso Fernandes 13 DEF Amadou Dia 15 DEF Roger Espinoza 16 DEF Graham Smith 17 MID Gadi Kinda 18 GK Eric Dick (loaned out) 19 FWD Erik Hurtado 20 FWD Daniel Salloi 21 MID Felipe Hernandez 22 DEF Winston Reid 23 FWD Tyler Freeman 24 GK John Pulskamp 26 DEF Jaylin Lindsey 27 MID Gianluca Busio 28 MID Cameron Duke 29 GK Tim Melia 36 DEF Luis Martins 75 MID Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal

Pronunciation

MLS IS BACK TOURNAMENT: JULY 8 - AUG. 11 For the first time since match play was suspended March 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Major League Soccer action has resumed with the historic and unprecedented MLS is Back Tournament. This one-of-a-kind competition sees 24 of the 26 MLS clubs compete at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, marking the emphatic return of men’s professional soccer in the United States after a near four-month hiatus.

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Sporting Kansas City finished atop Group D with consecutive wins over the Colorado Rapids and Real Salt Lake after opening the tournament with a last-gasp 2-1 loss to Minnesota United FC. Khiry Shelton, Alan Pulido and Graham Zusi struck in the second-half of a wilde 3-2 comeback victory against Colorado on July 17. Johnny Russell struck 49 seconds into the group stage finale against RSL on July 22, with Gerso Fernandes coming off the bench to bag a sensational late goal to seal the 2-0 result and vault Sporting to first place in the group.

GAH-dee KINN-dah her-TAH-doh shallow-EE feh-LEE-pay

MLS is Back Tournament: Sporting KC Group Stage Results

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Sporting Kansas City defeated Vancouver Whitecaps FC in a penalty shootout following a scoreless draw on Sunday in the MLS is Back Tournament Round of 16 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Walt Disney World. The result sets up a compelling quarterfinal showdown between Sporting and the Philadelphia Union at 7 p.m. CT Thursday with live coverage on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and the ESPN app.

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2020 MLS REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS (through July 23) Eastern Conference 1. Columbus Crew SC 2. Toronto FC 3. Orlando City SC 4. Philadelphia Union 5. Montreal Impact 6. New York Red Bulls 7. Atlanta United FC 8. FC Cincinnati 9. New England Revolution 10. D.C. United 11. Chicago Fire 12. New York City FC 13. Nashville SC 14. Inter Miami CF

Pts 13 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 6 5 4 3 0 0

W L T 4 0 1 2 0 3 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 3 0 2 3 0 1 1 3 1 2 2 1 3 1 1 4 0 0 2 0 0 5 0

GD +8 +2 +2 0 0 -2 -1 -3 0 -1 -4 -6 -2 -5

GP 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 2 5

Western Conference 1. Sporting Kansas City 2. Minnesota United FC 3. Portland Timbers 4. LAFC 5. Seattle Sounders FC 6. San Jose Earthquakes 7. Colorado Rapids 8. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 9. Real Salt Lake 10. FC Dallas 11. Houston Dynamo 12. LA Galaxy

Pts 12 11 10 9 8 8 7 6 6 4 3 2

W L T 4 1 0 3 0 2 3 1 1 2 0 3 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 3 0 1 1 3 1 0 1 0 2 3 0 3 2

GD +8 +6 +1 +5 +3 0 -1 -3 0 +2 -5 -6

GP 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 2 5 5

MLS is Back Tournament Knockout Stage presented by Audi Sporting KC Match Results, Dates and Kickoff Times • • • •

Sporting’s three group stage matches in the MLS is Back Tournament count toward the 2020 MLS regular season standings. The club owns a 4-1-0 record and sits one point behind Columbus Crew SC in the Supporters’ Shield race. MLS is Back Tournament Knockout Stage games won’t count toward the regular season table, but the champion of the competition will qualify for the 2021 Concacaf Champions League and receive a sizable share of a $1.1 million prize pool. Round of 16 fixtures ran from July 25-28 and will be followed by the Quarterfinals from July 30 – Aug. 1, the Semifinals on Aug. 5-6 and the Final on Aug. 11. The Knockout Stage bracket features 16 teams, including the top two finishers from Groups A through F as well as the four best third-place finishers.

Sporting KC Media Guide | MLS is Back Tournament | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes MLS IS BACK TOURNAMENT NOTES

ROUND OF 16 RECAP: SPORTING EDGES CAPS ON PENALTIES

The plot was written and the stars had seemingly aligned for an unlikely upset. But the goalkeeper at the opposite end of the pitch wasn’t buying the script.

Sporting Kansas City advanced to the MLS is Back Tournament Quarterfinals on Sunday night with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC following a scoreless draw at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Walt Disney World.

Enter 34-year-old veteran Tim Melia, who has yet to lose on penalty kicks in his 13-year professional career. Sporting’s longtime goalkeeper offered a prompt reminder that his penalty-saving exploits remain second to none, as he thwarted two Vancouver penalties in a shootout that Sporting won 3-1. The result moved Melia’s career shootout record to a perfect 5-0.

A one-sided contest saw Sporting outshoot Vancouver 36-8 through 90 minutes, setting a club record for most shot attempts in an MLS match, but Whitecaps goalkeeper Thomas Hasal made eight saves as the Canadian side forced penalty kicks to decide the Round of 16 encounter. The shootout, however, belonged to Sporting goalkeeper Tim Melia, who saved two penalties as Sporting prevailed 3-1 with successful spot kicks from Alan Pulido, Ilie Sanchez and Gianluca Busio.

Melia’s penalty kick success extends beyond just shootouts, as only 14 of 24 spot kicks have been successful against him throughout his MLS career. The keeper’s 10 penalty saves in the last five seasons are most in MLS and five more than any other player. Among goalkeepers who have faced 10 penalties in the regular season, Melia has the lowest goals conceded percentage in MLS history at .583.

Sunday’s result sets up a marquee quarterfinal showdown between Sporting and the Philadelphia Union at 7 p.m. CT Thursday on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and the ESPN app. The fixture will be the first of four MLS is Back Tournament quarterfinal matchups as competing clubs vie for the 2021 Concacaf Champions League berth awarded to the tournament winner.

LAYING SIEGE

Melia’s heroics between the posts ultimately gave Sporting the quarterfinal berth it deserved. Manager Peter Vermes’ men dominated Vancouver from wire to wire, laying siege on Hasal and Co. throughout the night. Sporting ended the game with a remarkable 36 shot attempts, tied for the fourth-most by a single team in an MLS match all-time.

Manager Peter Vermes’ men dominated from wire to wire, notably finishing the first 45 minutes with 22 shots—the second-most in the opening half of an MLS match in league history. The first of several opportunities fell in the 10th minute to Johnny Russell, who chested down Graham Zusi’s superb diagonal ball and beat defender Jake Nerwinski, only for Ranko Veselinovic to block the winger’s right-footed effort.

GREAT SCOT

Among the chief orchestrators of Sporting’s ceaseless attack on Sunday was Scottish international Johnny Russell, who was highly involved during the 67 minutes he was on the pitch. Despite playing just three quarters of the match, he became the third player during Major League Soccer’s Opta era (2010-present) to amass five shot attempts and 10 chances created in one game. In last Wednesday’s group stage win over RSL, Russell struck in the first minute to become the fifth player with 20 goals and 20 assists in the MLS regular season since the start of 2018.

Weathering wave after wave of Sporting pressure, Vancouver survived three close calls near the 20-minute mark. An excellent buildup involving Pulido and Russell afforded Zusi space to cross from the right wing to the far post, where Gadi Kinda’s leaping header was pushed aside by the 21-year-old Hasal. Not long later, Hasal dove at full extension to save Roger Espinoza’s long-range screamer before Russell fired marginally high along the left side of the box.

MLS IS BACK TOURNAMENT GROUP STAGE STANDINGS

A rare Vancouver foray into the attacking third required Melia to make two fingertip saves in the space of a minute, with Cristian Dajome and Inbeom Hwang both trying their luck from distance. At the opposite end of the pitch, Sporting nearly broke through on the stroke of intermission as Graham Smith’s header narrowly missed the mark and Hasal dropped low to palm away Russell’s chested shot off an Espinoza cross. On the final play of the half, Hasal thwarted Russell’s audacious free kick attempt before Espinoza’s rebound effort was blocked by Derek Cornelius.

GROUP A Club Pts. W L T GF GA GD 1. Orlando City SC - X 7 2 0 1 6 3 +3 2. Philadelphia Union - X 7 2 0 1 4 2 +2 3. New York City FC - X 3 1 2 0 2 4 -2 4. Inter Miami CF 0 0 3 0 2 5 -3

Russell continued to push the envelope after the restart, his searching ball from the left channel finding Zusi on the right side of the box, but the defender’s strike lacked the direction to beat Hasal. Less than 15 minutes later, Russell advanced into the penalty area and unfurled a shot that fizzed wide of the near post and into the side netting.

GROUP B Club Pts. W L T GF GA GD 1. SJ Earthquakes - X 7 2 0 1 6 3 +3 2. Seattle Sounders - X 4 1 1 1 4 2 +2 3. Vancouver Whitecaps - X 3 1 2 0 5 7 -2 4. Chicago Fire FC 3 1 2 0 2 5 -3

Despite holding an upper hand throughout the night, Sporting almost fell behind in the 54th minute when Theo Bair’s shot near the top of the box took a wicked deflection off Smith and trickled inches wide of Melia’s right-hand post.

GROUP C Club Pts. W L T GF GA GD 1. Toronto FC - X 5 1 0 2 6 5 +1 2. NE Revolution - X 5 1 0 2 2 1 +1 3. Montreal Impact - X 3 1 2 0 4 5 -1 4. D.C. United 2 0 1 2 3 4 -1

Pulido entered the night with a goal or an assist in his first five appearances for Sporting and very nearly extended his impressive streak in the 66th minute. A well-worked attack involving several players on the edge of the box culminated with an incisive run from the Mexican, whose left-footed belter was touched onto the post by Hasal. Gerso Fernandes, Daniel Salloi entered the fray as offensive reinforcements—the latter making his 100th competitive appearance for Sporting—but a resolute Vancouver defense remained difficult to breach. Smith latched onto another corner kick in the 90th minute, Busio providing the service, but the center back’s header grazed over the woodwork. In second-half stoppage time, Melia notched his last of five saves by smothering Ali Adnan’s knuckling free kick from 25 yards.

GROUP D Club Pts. W L T GF GA GD 1. Sporting Kansas City - X 6 2 1 0 6 4 +2 2. Minnesota United FC - X 5 1 0 2 4 3 +1 3. Real Salt Lake - X 4 1 1 1 2 2 0 4. Colorado Rapids 1 0 2 1 4 7 -3

The decisive penalty shootout began ominously for Vancouver, as Cristian Dajome’s unsuccessful attempt rattled the post. Pulido and Whitecaps midfielder subsequently buried their penalties before Ilie picked out the corner to give Sporting a 2-1 advantage. Melia then thwarted Cornelius, giving Salloi a chance to win the game for Sporting, but his effort was also saved. Yet Melia wouldn’t be outdone, as he snuffed out Yordy Reyna’s strike to set the stage for Busio. The 18-year-old stepped to the spot and coolly nestled his shot into the upper corner to seal the shootout win in a game that finished close to 1:30 a.m. local time in Florida.

GROUP E Club Pts. W L T GF GA GD 1. Columbus Crew SC - X 9 3 0 0 7 0 +7 2. FC Cincinnati - X 6 2 1 0 3 4 -1 3. New York Red Bulls 3 1 2 0 1 4 -3 4. Atlanta United FC 0 0 3 0 0 3 -3 GROUP F Club Pts. W L T GF GA GD 1. Portland Timbers - X 7 2 0 1 6 4 +2 2. LAFC - X 5 1 0 2 11 7 +4 3. Houston Dynamo 2 0 1 2 5 6 -1 4. LA Galaxy 1 0 2 1 4 9 -5

MELIA MAGIC

Over the course of 90 minutes on Sunday night, a Disney fairytale appeared to be unfolding around Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Thomas Hasal. The 21-year-old, who had earned his club debut in the MLS is Back Tournament one week earlier, had made eight saves to help the short-handed Whitecaps hold Sporting Kansas City to a 0-0 draw and force a penalty shootout in Sunday’s Round of 16 encounter at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Walt Disney World.

X - Advanced to the Knockout Stage presented by Audi 2

Sporting KC Media Guide | MLS is Back Tournament | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes SPORTING KC STATISTICAL NUGGETS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

MLS IS BACK TOURNAMENT NOTES

SPORTING KC 2020 TIMELINE TO PRESENT DAY

2020 MLS regular season record: 4-1-0, 12 points (1st in Western Conference) MLS is Back Tournament group stage: 2-1-0 (1st in Group D) MLS is Back Tournament form guide: L-W-W-T Round of 16: Tied 0-0 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC on July 26 (won 3-1 in penalties) Sporting ranks second in MLS with 13 goals scored during the regular season. Sporting’s 13 goals scored are the most through the first five games of a regular season in club history. Sporting’s plus-8 regular season goal differential (13-5) is tied for the best mark in MLS. Sporting leads MLS with a shot conversion rate of 18.6% in regular season play. Sporting has outshot all six opponents this season, recording 106 shot attempts and facing 48 in all competitions. Sporting has faced 8.0 shots per game this season, the second-fewest in MLS. Forward Alan Pulido is the only MLS player to score a goal or record an assist in each of the first five regular season games this season. Pulido’s seven combined goals (three) and assists (four) are the second-most in regular season play. Pulido and Khiry Shelton are the only MLS players with at least three goals, five chances created and 30 duels won during the regular season Goalkeeper Tim Melia leads the league with a 406-minute active shutout streak dating back to Feb. 29, the longest of his MLS career. Melia boasts a 5-0 record in penalty shootouts throughout his 13-year professional career, including a 3-0 mark with Sporting. He has saved 10 penalties in MLS matches since 2016, five more than any other goalkeeper. In the Round of 16 against Vancouver, forward Johnny Russell became the third player during the MLS Opta era (since 2010) to record five shots and 10 chances created in a single game.

Jan. 19, 2020: Sporting holds its first preseason training session in Arizona, having acquired the likes of Mexican striker Alan Pulido, forward Khiry Shelton and center back Roberto Puncec during the offseason. Israeli midfielder Gadi Kinda joins the group a few days later as another new signing. Feb. 29, 2020: Sporting opens the season with an impressive 3-1 road win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Pulido and Kinda score on their debuts, while Erik Hurtado strikes against his former club in stoppage time to seal the victory. March 7, 2020: Sporting throttles the Houston Dynamo 4-0 in an electric Children’s Mercy Park home opener, receiving goals from Pulido, Kinda, Shelton and Roger Espinoza. Pulido, Kinda and Manager Peter Vermes land MLS Team of the Week honors two days later. March 11, 2020: Sporting’s away match at the San Jose Earthquakes, scheduled for March 21, is postponed due to COVID-19 concerns. March 12, 2020: Major League Soccer suspends the 2020 regular season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A league-wide training moratorium also begins. May 1, 2020: MLS announces that teams may begin holding voluntary individual player workouts at club training facilities beginning May 6, with Vermes and Sporting playing a major role in the development of the individual player workout protocol. May 6, 2020: After almost eight weeks of quarantine workouts at their respective homes, Sporting players return to Compass Minerals National Performance Center for the start of voluntary individual workouts. May 19, 2020: MLS announces the cancellation of the 2020 All-Star Game, Leagues Cup and Campeones Cup.

PHILADELPHIA UNION STATISTICAL NUGGETS • • • • • • • • • • • • •

2020 MLS regular season record: 2-1-2, 8 points (4th in Eastern Conference) MLS is Back Tournament group stage: 2-0-1 (2nd in Group A) MLS is Back Tournament form guide: W-W-T-W Round of 16: Won 1-0 vs. New England Revolution on July 25 Philadelphia set regular season club records in 2019 in wins (16), points (55) and goals (58) before claiming their first-ever playoff win last October. After falling 2-0 at FC Dallas in the club’s 2020 opener on Feb. 29, Philadelphia hasn’t trailed in five straight matches. Three of Philadelphia’s five goals in the MLS is Back Tournament have come in the 63rd minute. Philadelphia ranks second in MLS with 12.8 tackles won per game. Philadelphia’s seven regular season goals have been scored by seven different players. Goalkeeper Andre Blake leads MLS with 27 saves in regular season play. Defenders Ray Gaddis and Mark McKenzie are the only two Philadelphia field players to play every minute of the season thus far. McKenzie is tied for fourth in MLS with 11 tackles won in regular season play. Forward Sergio Santos leads Philadelphia with two goals in all competitions, including the winner in the club’s 1-0 Round of 16 win over New England. Defender Warren Creavalle is tied for second in MLS with 14 interceptions in regular season play.

May 28, 2020: MLS announces that clubs may begin to use outdoor team training fields for small group training sessions. Sporting begins voluntary small group training the following week. June 4, 2020: In a momentous breakthrough, MLS and the MLS Players Association complete a new collective bargaining agreement that includes a plan to resume the 2020 season with a tournament in Orlando. June 6, 2020: Manager Peter Vermes makes his first public remarks condemning racism and social injustice in the United States, calling for much-needed change. June 7, 2020: Sporting receives approval to resume mandatory full-team training at Compass Minerals National Development Center. June 10, 2020: MLS announces plans for the MLS is Back Tournament, taking place from July 8 to Aug. 11 at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. June 11, 2020: In the MLS is Back Tournament draw, Sporting joins Western Conference rivals Real Salt Lake, Minnesota United FC and the Colorado Rapids in Group D.

SPORTING vs. PHILADELPHIA: HEAD TO HEAD

July 5, 2020: Sporting travels from Kansas City to Orlando for the tournament.

• Sporting holds a slight edge in the all-time series with a 7-6-6 record in all competitions. • Sporting has prevailed in both tournament-style matches between the clubs, taking a 2-0 victory in the 2012 U.S. Open Cup semifinals and winning the 2015 U.S. Open Cup Final in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw. • Sporting and Philadelphia haven’t met since March 10, 2019. Since then both teams have faced every other club in MLS except 2020 expansion sides Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC. • The most recent meeting in March 2019 saw Sporting prevail 2-0 with an Ilie Sanchez penalty and a late own goal. • Sporting defender Graham Zusi has five career goals against Philadelphia in all competitions.

July 12, 2020: Sporting falls 2-1 to Minnesota United FC in its first Group D match. July 17, 2020: Sporting wins 3-2 over Colorado Rapids in its second Group D match. July 22, 2020: Sporting wins 2-0 over Real Salt Lake in its group stage finale, clinching top spot in Group D and progression to the MLS is Back Tournament Knockout Stage presented by Audi. July 26, 2020: Sporting beats Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3-1 on penalties following a scoreless draw in the MLS is Back Tournament Round of 16. July 30, 2020: Sporting faces Philadelphia Union in MLS is Back Tournament Quarterfinals.

Sporting KC Media Guide | MLS is Back Tournament | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes MLS IS BACK TOURNAMENT NOTES

MLS IS BACK TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE AND RESULTS (all times Eastern)

FC Cincinnati 2-0 NY Red Bulls - Wed, July 22 at 8:00 PM ET (ESPN, ESPN Deportes) Colorado Rapids 2-2 Minnesota United - Wed, July 22 at 10:30 PM ET (ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

GROUP STAGE Orlando City SC 2-1 Inter Miami CF - Wed, July 8 at 8:00 PM ET (ESPN, ESPN Deportes) NYCFC 0-1 Philadelphia Union - Thu, July 9 at 9:00 AM ET (ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

Chicago Fire FC 0-2 Vancouver Whitecaps - Thu, July 23 at 9:00 AM ET (ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

Montreal Impact 0-1 New England Revolution - Thu, July 9 at 8:00 PM ET (TUDN)

LA Galaxy 1-1 Houston Dynamo - Thu, July 23 at 8:00 PM ET (FS1, TUDN)

Seattle Sounders 0-0 San Jose Earthquakes - Fri, July 10 at 10:30 PM ET (ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

LAFC 1-1 Portland Timbers - Thu, July 23 at 10:30 PM ET (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes) ROUND OF 16 Saturday, July 25 • Orlando City SC 1-0 Montreal Impact, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes) • Philadelphia Union 1-0 NE Revolution, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes)

Atlanta United 0-1 NY Red Bulls - Sat, July 11 at 8:00 PM ET (FOX, TUDN) FC Cincinnati 0-4 Columbus Crew SC - Sat, July 11 at 10:30 PM ET (FS1, TUDN)

Sunday, July 26 • Toronto 1-3 New York City FC, 8:30 p.m. ET (FS1) • Sporting KC 0-0 (3-1) Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 11 p.m. ET (FS1 / TUDN)

Sporting KC 1-2 Minnesota United - Sun, July 12 at 8:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM CT (ESPN, ESPN Deportes) Real Salt Lake 2-0 Colorado Rapids - Sun, July 12 at 10:30 PM ET (ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

Monday, July 27 • San Jose Earthquakes 5-2 Real Salt Lake, 8:30 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX Deportes) • Seattle Sounders FC 1-4 LAFC, 11 p.m. ET (FS1 / UniMas / TUDN)

Toronto FC 2-2 D.C. United - Mon, July 13 at 9:00 AM ET (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes)

Tuesday, July 28 • Columbus Crew SC vs. Minnesota United FC, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN / ESPN Deportes) • Portland Timbers vs. FC Cincinnati, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN / ESPN Deportes)

LAFC 3-3 Houston Dynamo - Mon, July 13 at 8:00 PM ET (FS1, TUDN) LA Galaxy 1-2 Portland Timbers - Mon, July 13 at 10:30 PM ET (FS1, TUDN)

QUARTERFINALS Thursday, July 30, 2020 • Match 45: Philadelphia Union vs. Sporting KC, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN / ESPN Deportes)

Seattle Sounders FC 1-2 Chicago Fire FC - Tue, July 14 at 9:00 AM ET (ESPN, ESPN Deportes) Orlando City SC 3-1 NYCFC - Tue, July 14 at 8:00 PM ET (TUDN)

Friday, July 31, 2020 • Match 46: Orlando City SC vs. LAFC, 7:30 p.m. ET (FS1 / UniMas / TUDN)

Philadelphia Union 2-1 Inter Miami CF - Tue, July 14 at 10:30 PM ET (TUDN) Vancouver Whitecaps 3-4 San Jose Earthquakes - Wed, July 15 at 9 PM ET (TUDN)

Saturday, August 1, 2020 • Match 47: San Jose Earthquakes vs. CLB/MIN, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes) • Match 48: New York City FC vs. POR/CIN, 10:30 p.m. ET (FS1 / TUDN)

Atlanta United 0-1 FC Cincinnati - Thu, July 16 at 9:00 AM ET (ESPN, ESPN Deportes) Montreal Impact 3-4 Toronto FC - Thu, July 16 at 8:00 PM ET (FS1, TUDN)

D.C. United 1-1 New England Revolution - Fri, July 17 at 8:00 PM ET (ESPN)

SEMIFINALS Wednesday, Aug. 5 • Winner Match 45 vs. Winner Match 48, 8 p.m. ET (FS1 / UniMas / TUDN)

Sporting KC 3-2 Colorado Rapids - Fri, July 17 at 8:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM CT (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes)

Thursday, Aug. 6 • Winner Match 46 vs. Winner Match 47, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes)

Real Salt Lake 0-0 Minnesota United - Fri, July 17 at 10:30 PM ET (ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

FINAL Tuesday, Aug. 11 • Winner SF1 vs. Winner SF2, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN / ESPN Deportes)

Columbus Crew SC 2-0 NY Red Bulls - Thu, July 16 at 10:30 PM ET (FS1)

Portland Timbers 2-1 Houston Dynamo - Sat, July 18 at 8:00 PM ET (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes) LAFC 6-2 LA Galaxy - Sat, July 18 at 10:30 PM ET (ESPN, ESPN Deportes) Chicago Fire FC 0-2 San Jose Earthquakes - Sun, July 19 at 8:00 PM ET (FS1, TUDN) Seattle Sounders 3-0 Vancouver Whitecaps - Sun, July 19 at 10:30 PM ET (FS1, TUDN) Inter Miami CF 0-1 New York City FC - Mon, July 20 at 9:00 AM ET (ESPN, ESPN Deportes) Philadelphia Union 1-1 Orlando City SC - Mon, July 20 at 8:00 PM ET (ESPN, TUDN) Toronto FC 0-0 New England Revolution - Tue, July 21 at 9:00 AM ET (ESPN, ESPN Deportes) Atlanta United 0-1 Columbus Crew SC - Tue, July 21 at 8:00 PM ET (ESPN2, TUDN) Montreal Impact 1-0 D.C. United - Tue, July 21 at 10:30 PM ET (ESPN2, TUDN) Real Salt Lake 0-2 Sporting KC - Wed, July 22 at 9:00 AM CT / 8:00 AM CT (ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

Sporting KC Media Guide | MLS is Back Tournament | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes

SPORTING KANSAS CITY 2020 ROSTER (NUMERICAL) NO. 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 36 75

PLAYER PRONUNCIATION Richard Sanchez Andreu Fontas ahn-DRAY-oo Roberto Puncec PUHN-chetz Matt Besler BEEZ-ler Ilie Sanchez ILL-ee-eh SAHN-chez Johnny Russell Graham Zusi ZOO-see Alan Pulido AH-lahn poo-LEE-dough Felipe Gutierrez feh-LEE-pay Khiry Shelton KY-ree Gerso Fernandes JER-soh Amadou Dia AH-mah-doo DEE-uh Roger Espinoza Graham Smith Gadi Kinda GAH-dee KINN-dah Eric Dick (loaned out) Erik Hurtado her-TAH-doh Daniel Salloi shallow-EE Felipe Hernandez feh-LEE-pay Winston Reid Tyler Freeman John Pulskamp Jaylin Lindsey Gianluca Busio jahn-LUKA BOO-see-oh Cameron Duke Tim Melia MEE-lia Luis Martins lou-EESE mar-TEENS Wan Kuzain koo-ZANE

NO. 5 27 13 18 28 15 12 3 23 10 21 19 17 26 36 29 9 24 4 22 7 20 6 1 11 16 75 8

PLAYER PRONUNCIATION Matt Besler BEEZ-ler Gianluca Busio jahn-LUKA BOO-see-oh Amadou Dia AH-mah-doo DEE-uh Eric Dick (loaned out) Cameron Duke Roger Espinoza Gerso Fernandes JER-soh Andreu Fontas ahn-DRAY-oo Tyler Freeman Felipe Gutierrez feh-LEE-pay Felipe Hernandez feh-LEE-pay Erik Hurtado her-TAH-doh Gadi Kinda GAH-dee KINN-dah Jaylin Lindsey Luis Martins lou-EESE mar-TEENS Tim Melia MEE-lia Alan Pulido AH-lahn poo-LEE-dough John Pulskamp Roberto Puncec PUHN-chetz Winston Reid Johnny Russell Daniel Salloi shallow-EE Ilie Sanchez ILL-ee-eh SAHN-chez Richard Sanchez Khiry Shelton KY-ree Graham Smith Wan Kuzain koo-ZANE Graham Zusi ZOO-see

POS. HT. GK 6-3 DEF 6-1 DEF 6-1 DEF 6-0 MID 5-11 FWD 5-10 DEF 5-10 FWD 5-10 MID 5-9 FWD 6-3 FWD 5-8 DEF 5-10 MID 5-10 DEF 6-3 MID 5-8 GK 6-4 FWD 5-9 FWD 6-2 MID 5-8 DEF 6-3 FWD 5-11 GK 6-2 DEF 5-10 MID 5-7 MID 5-6 GK 6-0 DEF 5-8 MID 5-10

WT. 185 190 170 175 165 168 155 170 170 180 140 150 180 190 145 220 185 155 135 190 155 190 195 135 130 205 160 140

BIRTHDATE (AGE) HOMETOWN 04/05/1994 (26) Little Elm, TX 11/14/1989 (30) Banyoles, Spain 10/27/1991 (28) Varazdin, Croatia 02/11/1987 (33) Overland Park, KS 11/21/1990 (29) Barcelona, Spain 04/08/1990 (30) Glasgow, Scotland 08/18/1986 (33) Longwood, FL 03/08/1991 (29) Ciudad Victoria, Mexico 10/08/1990 (29) Quintero, Chile 06/26/1993 (27) Leander, TX 02/23/1991 (29) Bissau, Guinea-Bissau 06/08/1993 (27) Highlands Ranch, CO 10/25/1986 (33) Aurora, CO 11/25/1995 (24) Highlands Ranch, CO 03/23/1994 (26) Ashdod, Israel 10/03/1994 (25) Carmel, IN 11/15/1990 (29) Beaverton, OR 07/19/1996 (24) Budapest, Hungary 06/08/1998 (22) Nashville, TN 07/03/1998 (32) Auckland, New Zealand 01/09/2003 (17) Shawnee, KS 04/19/2001 (19) Bakersfield, CA 03/27/2000 (20) Charlotte, NC 05/28/2002 (18) Greensboro, NC 02/13/2001 (19) Overland Park, KS 05/15/1986 (34) East Islip, NY 06/10/1992 (28) Lamego, Portugal 09/14/1998 (21) Carbondale, IL

LAST CLUB Chicago Fire FC (MLS) Celta Vigo (Spain) HNK Rijeka (Croatia) Elche CF (Spain) Derby County FC (England) Chivas de Guadalajara (Mexico) Real Betis (Spain) SC Paderborn 07 (Germany) C.F. Os Belenenses (Portugal) Phoenix Rising FC (USL) Wigan Athletic (England) Beitar Jerusalem (Israel) Vancouver Whitecaps FC (MLS) Sporting KC Academy Sporting KC II (USL Championship) West Ham United (England) Sporting KC Academy Sporting KC II (USL Championship) Sporting KC Academy Sporting KC Academy Sporting KC Academy Chivas USA (MLS) G.D. Chaves (Portugal) Sporting KC II (USL Championship)

SPORTING KANSAS CITY 2020 ROSTER (ALPHABETICAL) POS. HT. DEF 6-0 MID 5-7 DEF 5-10 GK 6-4 MID 5-6 MID 5-10 FWD 5-8 DEF 6-1 FWD 5-11 MID 5-9 MID 5-8 FWD 5-9 MID 5-8 DEF 5-10 DEF 5-8 GK 6-0 FWD 5-10 GK 6-2 DEF 6-1 DEF 6-3 FWD 5-10 FWD 6-2 MID 5-11 GK 6-3 FWD 6-3 DEF 6-3 MID 5-10 DEF 5-10

WT. 175 135 150 220 130 180 140 190 155 170 135 185 145 195 160 205 170 190 170 190 168 155 165 185 180 190 140 155

BIRTHDATE (AGE) BIRTHPLACE COLLEGE 02/11/1987 (33) Kansas City, MO University of Notre Dame 05/28/2002 (18) Greensboro, NC 06/08/1993 (27) Nantes, France Clemson University 10/03/1994 (25) Roeland Park, KS Butler University 02/13/2001 (19) Overland Park, KS 10/25/1986 (33) Puerto Cortes, Honduras Ohio State University 02/23/1991 (29) Bissau, Guinea-Bissau 11/14/1989 (30) Banyoles, Spain 01/09/2003 (17) Overland Park, KS 10/08/1990 (29) Quintero, Chile 06/08/1998 (22) Ibague, Colombia 11/15/1990 (29) Fredricksburg, VA Santa Clara University 03/23/1994 (26) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 03/27/2000 (20) Charlotte, NC 06/10/1992 (28) Lamego, Portugal 05/15/1986 (34) Great River, NY Lynn University (Florida) 03/08/1991 (29) Ciudad Victoria, Mexico 04/19/2001 (19) Bakersfield, CA 10/27/1991 (28) Varazdin, Croatia 07/03/1998 (32) Auckland, New Zealand 04/08/1990 (30) Glasgow, Scotland 07/19/1996 (24) Siofok, Hungary 11/21/1990 (29) Barcelona, Spain 04/05/1994 (26) Mission Hills, CA 06/26/1993 (27) Fort Carson, CO Oregon State University 11/25/1995 (24) Highlands Ranch, CO University of Denver 09/14/1998 (21) Carbondale, IL 08/18/1986 (33) Orlando, FL University of Maryland

Sporting KC Media Guide | MLS is Back Tournament | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes SPORTING KANSAS CITY TRANSACTION TRACKER Players In

Players Out

Richard Sanchez (Re-Entry Draft - Nov. 26, 2019)

Adrian Zendejas (Trade - Nov. 19, 2019)

Roberto Puncec (Signing - Dec. 4, 2019)

Jimmy Medranda (Expansion Draft - Nov. 19, 2019)

Khiry Shelton (Signing - Dec. 9, 2019)

Benny Feilhaber (Option Declined - Nov. 21, 2019)

Alan Pulido (Signing - Dec. 10, 2019)

Seth Sinovic (Option Declined - Nov. 21, 2019)

Amadou Dia (Signing - Jan. 10, 2020)

Gedion Zelalem (Option Declined - Nov. 21, 2019)

Gadi Kinda (Loan - Jan. 23, 2020)

Nico Hasler (Out of Contract - Nov. 21, 2019)

Winston Reid (Loan - Feb. 14, 2020)

Krisztian Nemeth (Out of Contract - Nov. 21, 2019)

John Pulskamp (Signed as Homegrown - Feb. 24, 2020)

Rodney Wallace (Out of Contract - Nov. 21, 2019) Eric Dick (Loan - Feb. 4, 2020) Botond Barath (Transfer - July 11, 2020)

SPORTING KANSAS CITY TRANSACTION TIMELINE DATE IN/OUT DETAILS Nov. 19: OUT Sporting KC acquires $175,000 in allocation money and an international roster spot from Nashville SC (MLS) in exchange for GK Adrian Zendejas. Nov. 19: OUT Sporting KC D Jimmy Medranda selected by Nashville SC (MLS) in the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft. Nov. 21: OUT Sporting KC declines options on M Benny Feilhaber, D Seth Sinovic and M Gedion Zelalem. In addition, D Nico Hasler, F Krisztian Nemeth and D Rodney Wallace are out of contract. Nov. 26: IN Sporting KC selects GK Richard Sanchez in Stage 1 (4th Overall) of the 2019 MLS Re-Entry Draft. Dec. 4: IN Sporting KC signs D Robert Puncec, most recently with HNK Rijeka (Croatia). Dec. 9: IN Sporting KC signs F Khiry Shelton from SC Paderborn 07 (Germany). Dec. 10: IN Sporting KC acquires F Alan Pulido on a club-record transfer fee from C.D. Guadalajara (Mexico). Jan. 10: IN Sporting KC signs D Amadou Dia, most recently with Phoenix Rising FC (USL Championship). Jan 23: IN Sporting KC acquires M Gadi Kinda on a one-year loan with an option to buy from Beitar Jerusalem (Israel). Feb. 4: OUT Sporting KC loans GK Eric Dick to Phoenix Rising FC (USL Championship) for the 2020 season. Feb. 14: IN Sporting KC acquires D Winston Reid on loan from West Ham United (England). Feb. 24: IN Sporting KC signs GK John Pulskamp as a Homegrown Player after acquiring his Homegrown rights from the LA Galaxy (MLS). July 11: OUT Sporting KC transfers D Botond Barath to Budapest Honved FC (Hungary).

CONSTRUCTING SPORTING KANSAS CITY Year

MLS SuperDraft

2009

Matt Besler (8th) Graham Zusi (23rd)

2015

Signings

Trades

Homegrown Players

Tim Melia (12/23/14) Roger Espinoza (1/6/15) *

2016

Daniel Salloi (1/13/16)

2017 2018

Eric Dick (13th) Graham Smith (18th)

Gerso Fernandes (1/4/17) Ilie Sanchez (1/13/17)

Gianluca Busio (8/25/17)

Johnny Russell (1/31/18) Felipe Gutierrez (2/6/18) Andreu Fontas (8/8/18)

Jaylin Lindsey (1/1/18) Wan Kuzain (4/13/18)

2019

Luis Martins (8/1/19)

2020

Richard Sanchez (11/25/19) Robert Puncec (12/4/19) Khiry Shelton (12/9/19) ** Alan Pulido (12/10/19) Amadou Dia (1/10/20) *** Gadi Kinda (1/23/20) Winston Reid (2/14/20)

Erik Hurtado (12/14/18)

Tyler Freeman (1/1/19) Cameron Duke (7/18/19) Felipe Hernandez (8/30/19) John Pulskamp (2/24/20)

* Espinoza spent his first stint at Sporting from 2008-2012 ** Shelton spent his first stint at Sporting in 2018 *** Dia spent his first stint at Sporting from 2015-2016

Sporting Kansas City II

Sporting KC Media Guide | MLS is Back Tournament | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes SPORTING KC 2020 MLS REGULAR SEASON BOX SCORES Feb. 29, 2020: Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1-3 Sporting KC MLS Regular Season | BC Place | Vancouver, BC Attendance: 22,120 Weather: Indoors and 53 degrees 1 2 F 2 1 3 1 0 1

Sporting KC (1-0-0, 3 points) Vancouver Whitecaps (0-1-0, 0 points) Sporting KC GK Melia D Zusi D Puncec D Besler (C) D Martins M Ilie M Espinoza M Kinda (Busio 90’) F Shelton F Pulido (Hurtado 90’) F Russell (Gerso 71’)

March 7, 2020: Sporting KC 4-0 Houston Dynamo MLS Regular Season | Children’s Mercy Park | Kansas City, KS Attendance: 21,188 Weather: Clear and 57 degrees Sporting KC (2-0-0, 6 points) Houston Dynamo (0-1-1, 1 point)

Vancouver Whitecaps GK Crepeau D Nerwinski D Khmiri D Cornelius D Adnan M Dajome (Ricketts 80’) M Inbeom M Teibert (C) M Milinkovic (Montero 70’) F Cavallini F Reyna

Sporting KC GK Melia D Zusi D Puncec D Besler (C) D Martins M Ilie M Espinoza M Kinda (Busio 75’) F Shelton F Pulido (Hurtado 84’) F Russell (Gerso 71’)

Subs not used: Subs not used: Sanchez (GK) Meredith (GK) Barath Gutierrez Lindsey Metcalf Salloi Rose Bair

Scoring Summary: SKC - Alan Pulido 2 (Khiry Shelton 1, Gadi Kinda 1) 16’ SKC - Roger Espinoza 1 (Unassisted) 26’ SKC - Gadi Kinda 2 (Alan Pulido 1, Johnny Russell 1) 65’ SKC - Khiry Shelton 1 (Unassisted) 77’ Misconduct Summary: HOU - Aljaz Struna (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 14’ HOU - Maynor Figueroa (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 25’ SKC - Ilie Sanchez (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 30’ HOU - Matias Vera (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 31’ HOU - Adam Lundkvist (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 35’ SKC - Gadi Kinda (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) HOU - Michael Salazar (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 89’

Misconduct Summary: SKC - Gadi Kinda (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 3’ VAN - Derek Cornelius (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 23’ SKC - Khiry Shelton (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 57’ SKC 11 (4) 4 13 0 3

Houston Dynamo GK Maric D Valentin D Struna D Figueroa D Lundkvist M Martinez (Quintero 57’) M Vera M Boniek Garcia (C) M McNamara (Ramirez 73’) M Rodriguez (Salazar 78’) F Manotas

Subs not used: Subs not used: Sanchez (GK) Cropper (GK) Barath Fuenmayor Lindsey Ceren Salloi Hansen

Scoring Summary: SKC - Alan Pulido 1 (Roberto Puncec 1) 17’ VAN - Jake Nerwinski 1 (David Milinkovic 1) 28’ SKC - Gadi Kinda 1 (Luis Martins 1) 39’ SKC - Erik Hurtado 1 (Gerso Fernandes 1) 95+

Stats Summary Shots (on goal) Saves Fouls Offside Corner Kicks

1 2 F 2 2 4 0 0 0

VAN 9 (5) 1 10 0 4

Stats Summary Shots (on goal) Saves Fouls Offside Corner Kicks

SKC 17 (7) 1 12 3 5

HOU 9 (1) 3 13 1 7

SPORTING KC 2020 REGULAR SEASON STATS 2020 SPORTING KANSAS CITY STATISTICS (4-1-0, 12 pts.) UNF POS PLAYER 9 F Alan Pulido 11 F Khiry Shelton 17 M Gadi Kinda 12 F Gerso Fernandes 7 F Johnny Russell 15 M Roger Espinoza 19 F Erik Hurtado 8 D Graham Zusi 36 D Luis Martins 4 D Roberto Puncec 5 D Matt Besler 27 M Gianluca Busio 13 D Amadou Dia 21 M Felipe Hernandez 29 GK Tim Melia 20 F Daniel Salloi 6 M Ilie Sanchez 1 G Richard Sanchez 16 D Graham Smith 18 GK Eric Dick 28 M Cameron Duke 3 D Andreu Fontas 23 F Tyler Freeman 10 M Felipe Gutierrez 75 M Wan Kuzain 26 D Jaylin Lindsey 24 GK John Pulskamp 22 D Winston Reid Team totals Opponent totals

GP 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 5 5 5 4 5 2 1 4 2 5 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 5

GS 5 5 4 1 4 5 0 5 5 5 4 1 0 0 4 0 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 5

MIN 442 443 345 153 297 418 8 450 426 450 360 92 24 32 344 7 449 104 90 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 450 450

G 3 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 5

A 4 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 6

SHT 15 11 10 4 7 8 2 5 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 70 40

SOG 5 8 3 2 2 2 1 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 13

FC 3 4 8 2 4 4 1 6 6 9 5 3 0 0 1 0 8 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 65 57

FS 10 3 9 4 4 5 0 3 2 3 4 3 1 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 57 65

OFF 5 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 8

CK 0 0 1 0 13 0 0 0 6 0 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 25 17

C 1 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 17

E 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2

MIN 344 104

SH 8 5

SV 7 2

GA 1 4

GAA 0.26 3.46

PG 0 0

PA 0 0

W 3 1

L 0 1

T 0 0

SO 2 0

SPORTING KANSAS CITY INDIVIDUAL GOALKEEPING UNF 29 1

POS GK GK

GOALKEEPER Tim Melia Richard Sanchez

GP 4 2

GS 4 1

Sporting KC Media Guide | MLS is Back Tournament | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes SPORTING KC MLS IS BACK TOURNAMENT BOX SCORES July 12, 2020: Sporting KC 1-2 Minnesota United FC MLS is Back | ESPN Wide World of Sports | Orlando, FL Attendance: 0 Weather: Partly cloudy and 86 degrees Sporting KC (2-1-0, 6 points) Minnesota United (3-0-0, 9 points) Sporting KC GK Melia D Zusi D Puncec D Besler (C) D Martins M Ilie (Busio 94+) M Espinoza M Kinda (Sanchez 76’) F Shelton (Salloi 94+) F Pulido (Hurtado 94+) F Gerso (Russell 73’)

1 2 F 1 0 1 0 2 2

Minnesota United GK Miller D Metanire D Boxall (C) D Aja D Gasper M Gregus M Dotson M Finlay M Molino (Musa 98+) M Lod (Edwards 77’) F Toye (Schoenfeld 59’)

Subs not used: Subs not used: Dia Emmings (GK) Lindsey Ranjitsingh (GK) Reid Alonso Smith Hayes Duke Hairson Hernandez Chacon Kuzain Scoring Summary: SKC - Khiry Shelton 2 (Alan Pulido 2) 43’ MIN - Own Goal (Khiry Shelton) 92+ MIN - Kevin Molino 3 (Raheem Edwards 1, Romain Metanire 1) 97+ Misconduct Summary: MIN - Chase Gasper (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 34’ MIN - Jose Aja (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 60’ MIN - Jan Gregus (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 70’ SKC - Tim Melia (Red Card; DOGSO) 74’ SKC - Roger Espinoza (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 83’ SKC - Ilie Sanchez (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 91+ Stats Summary Shots (on goal) Saves Fouls Offside Corner Kicks

SKC 13 (3) 1 14 1 9

MIN 9 (2) 2 12 3 3

July 17, 2020: Sporting KC 3-2 Colorado Rapids MLS is Back | ESPN Wide World of Sports | Orlando, FL Attendance: 0 Weather: Mostly Sunny and 84 degrees Sporting KC (3-1-0, 9 points) Colorado Rapids (2-2-0, 6 points) Sporting KC GK Sanchez D Zusi D Puncec D Besler (C) D Martins (Dia 100+) M Ilie M Espinoza M Kinda (Busio 82’) F Shelton F Pulido F Russell (Gerso 54’)

1 2 F 0 3 3 1 1 2

Colorado Rapids GK Yarbrough D Rosenberry D Abubakar D Wilson D Vines M Price (C) M Acosta (Warner 73’) M Bassett (Mezquida 54’) F Namli (Lewis 73’) F Rubio (Kamara 73’) F Benezet (Trusty 62’)

Subs not used: Subs not used: Lyon (GK) Rawls (GK) Lindsey Kelly Reid Moor Smith Wynne Duke Galvan Hernandez Shinyashiki Kuzain Hurtado Salloi Scoring Summary: COL - Kellyn Acosta 1 (Cole Bassett 1, Nicolas Benezet 1) 6’ SKC - Khiry Shelton 3 (Gadi Kinda 2, Luis Martins 2) 65’ SKC - Alan Pulido 3 (Penalty Kick) 72’ COL - Jonathan Lewis 2 (Kei Kamara 1) 84’ SKC - Graham Zusi 1 (Unassisted) 91+ Misconduct Summary: COL - Diego Rubio (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 22’ COL - Nicolas Benezet (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 41’ SKC - Gadi Kinda (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 48+ COL - Danny Wilson (Red Card; DOGSO) 61’ COL - Jack Price (Red Card; Foul & Abusive Language) 73’ SKC - Alan Pulido (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 88’ Stats Summary Shots (on goal) Saves Fouls Offside Corner Kicks

SKC 19 (9) 2 15 1 5

COL 8 (4) 5 11 3 1

July 22, 2020: Sporting KC 2-0 Real Salt Lake MLS is Back | ESPN Wide World of Sports | Orlando, FL Attendance: 0 Weather: Mostly Cloudy and 83 degrees Sporting KC (4-1-0, 12 points) Real Salt Lake (1-1-3, 6 points)

1 2 F 1 1 2 0 0 0

Sporting KC Real Salt Lake GK Melia GK MacMath D Zusi D Herrera D Smith D Glad D Puncec D Holt D Martins (Dia 67’) D Toia M Ilie M Luiz M Espinoza (Hernandez 58’) M Beckerman (C) (Ruiz 64’) M Busio (Kinda 67’) M Meram (Chang 64’) F Russell (Gerso 84’) M Kreilach (Rossi 72’) F Pulido (C) M Baird (Ramirez 77’) F Shelton (Salloi 84’) F Johnson (Martinez 46’) Subs not used: Subs not used: Sanchez (GK) Putna (GK) Besler Silva Lindsey Besler Reid Mulholland Duke Portillo Kuzain Iloski Hurtado Schmitt Scoring Summary: SKC - Johnny Russell 1 (Alan Pulido 3) 1’ SKC - Gerso Fernandes 1 (Alan Pulido 4) 86’ Misconduct Summary: RSL - Erik Holt (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 20’ SKC - Ilie Sanchez (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 36’ RSL - Sam Johnson (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 40’ RSL - Kyle Beckerman (Yellow Card; Dissent) 55’ SKC - Gianluca Busio (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 56’ SKC - Graham Smith (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 62’ RSL - Justen Glad (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 71’ Stats Summary Shots (on goal) Saves Fouls Offside Corner Kicks

SKC 10 (4) 1 11 2 3

RSL 5 (1) 3 11 1 2

Sporting KC Media Guide | MLS is Back Tournament | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes SPORTING KC MLS IS BACK TOURNAMENT BOX SCORES July 26, 2020: Sporting KC 0-0 (3-1) Vancouver Whitecaps FC MLS is Back | ESPN Wide World of Sports | Orlando, FL Attendance: 0 Weather: Mostly clear and 78 degrees 1 2 F PK 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 1

Sporting KC Vancouver Whitecaps FC Sporting KC GK Melia D Zusi D Smith D Puncec D Martins M Ilie M Espinoza (Busio 67’) M Kinda F Shelton (Salloi 80’) F Pulido (C) F Russell (Gerso 67’)

Vancouver Whitecaps GK Hasal D Nerwinski D Veselinovic D Cornelius D Gutierrez M Dajome M Owusu M Teibert (C) M Adnan F Inbeom (Reyna 72’) F Bair

Subs not used: Subs not used: Sanchez (GK) Baldisimo Besler Khmiri Dia Colyn Lindsey Metcalfe Reid Pecile Duke Raposo Hernandez Kuzain Hurtado Scoring Summary: None Penalty Kick Summary: VAN - Cristian Dajome (missed) SKC - Alan Pulido (scored) VAN - Leonard Owusu (scored) SKC - Ilie Sanchez (scored) VAN - Derek Cornelius (saved) SKC - Daniel Salloi (saved) VAN - Yordy Reyna (saved) SKC - Gianluca Busio (scored) Misconduct Summary: SKC - Gadi Kinda (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 9’ VAN - Leonard Owusu (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 47’ VAN - Cristian Gutierrez (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 59’ Stats Summary Shots (on goal) Saves Fouls Offside Corner Kicks

SKC 36 (8) 5 10 2 12

VAN 8 (5) 8 8 2 4

Sporting KC Media Guide | MLS is Back Tournament | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes Manager & Sporting Director | Peter Vermes

Assistant Coach | Kerry Zavagnin Assistant Coach Kerry Zavagnin first joined Kansas City in 2000 as a holding midfielder and was an integral part of the club’s midfield for the next nine seasons, during which time he helped lead the Wizards to MLS Cup (2000) and U.S. Open Cup (2004) Championships. He was named to the MLS All-Star team and the Best XI in 2004. Zavagnin’s primary duties as an assistant include scouting, developing Sporting Kansas City’s younger players, breaking down film and assisting with training sessions, among others.

Peter Vermes is in his 12th season as Sporting Kansas City Manager in 2020 and is the longest-tenured active head coach in MLS. He is the team’s longest-serving manager and his 182 coaching victories in all competitions are the most club history. During his tenure, he has won four major trophies – the 2012, 2015 and 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups and the 2013 MLS Cup championship – and finished atop the Eastern Conference regularseason standings in 2011 and 2012, as well as the Western Conference in 2018. 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 147 regular-season wins top the club’s all-time chart and rank fifth most in MLS history. He passed his former coach Bob Gansler as the winningest manager in team history with a 3-1 win over Real Salt Lake on Aug. 12, 2015, his 109th victory in all competitions.

He started his professional career with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, where he played in 39 games over two seasons. After spending one season with the Lehigh Valley Steam (USL-1), Zavagnin came to Kansas City in 2000. He played 237 games (228 starts) and logged 20,516 minutes for Kansas City, setting team records in both categories before both were overtaken by Matt Besler early in 2018. He scored eight goals and added 22 assists in his nine seasons in Kansas City blue. Zavagnin was named Team Defender of the Year in 2001.

On August 4, 2018, Vermes coached his 302nd MLS regular-season game with Sporting KC, becoming the league’s all-time leader in games coached for one club. He was named the first-ever MLS Sporting Executive of the Year by his peers in 2018. Vermes has coached 422 total games during his Kansas City coaching career, most in club history.

On top of his club success in Kansas City, Zavagnin also appeared 21 times for the United States Men’s National Team. He recorded one assist for the U.S., who went 15-2-4 when Zavagnin featured. He married his wife Mirriam prior to the 2009 season, when he became an assistant coach at the club.

With over 10 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 51 leagues in the world as denoted by the CIES Football Observatory, Vermes’ tenure at Sporting KC ranks as the fourth longest active run.

Assistant Coach | Zoran Savic Assistant Coach Zoran Savic joined Sporting Kansas City late in the 2009 season after a 30-year career at all levels of the game in the United States. A native of Gornji Milanovac, Yugoslavia, Savic began his journey through American soccer with the Buffalo Stallions of the Major Indoor Soccer League in 1980. Savic would go on to star for several MISL teams, with his most prosperous period coming with the Kansas City Comets, with whom he scored 70 goals in just over 100 appearances from 1982-1984.

Vermes oversees all soccer operations for Sporting KC, including the active roster, Sporting Kansas City II (USL Championship) 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Goalkeeper Coach | Alec Dufty Goalkeeper coach Alec Dufty enters his third 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 Sporting KC’s goalkeepers, starting goalkeeper Tim Melia enjoyed a record-breaking season where he was named the 2017 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year.

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. 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 season.

PETER VERMES HEAD COACHING RECORD AT SPORTING KC MLS Playoffs MIB KO Open Cup Intl. Total

2009 3-6-3 --- --- 2010 11-13-6 --- --- 2011 13-9-12 2-1-0 --- 2012 18-7-9 1-1-0 --- 2013 17-10-7 2-1-2 --- 2014 14-13-7 0-1-0 --- 2015 14-11-9 0-0-1 --- 2016 13-13-8 0-1-0 --- 2017 12-9-13 0-1-0 --- 2018 18-8-8 1-1-2 --- 2019 10-16-8 0-0-0 --- 2020 4-1-0 0-0-0 0-0-1 TOTAL 147-116-91 6-7-5 0-0-1

--- --- 3-6-3 0-1-0 --- 11-14-6 3-1-0 --- 18-11-12 4-0-1 --- 23-8-10 1-1-0 2-0-2 22-12-11 1-1-0 3-2-1 18-17-8 4-0-1 --- 18-11-11 1-1-0 1-2-1 15-17-9 4-0-1 --- 16-9-13 2-1-0 --- 21-10-10 0-1-0 3-3-0 13-20-8 0-0-0 --- 4-1-1 20-8-3 9-7-4 182-138-104

Director of 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 also oversees day-to-day training plans on and off the field, including work in the weight room, soccer session planning, on-field 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. He spent 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. Harty attended Grand Canyon from 2010-2014, played for the men’s soccer team from 20102012 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.

MIN

MLS Regular Season

288

280

25051

MLS Postseason

1740

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

1684

International

1425

ALL COMPETITIONS

342

332

29900

2020 Season (all competitions): • Has made four starts (360 minutes played). • Has contributed to one shutout. Off the Pitch: • Was a leading voice of “We Got This KC,” a rallying campaign for the city during COVID-19. • Supported the Comeback KC campaign on social media, encouraging KC residents to wear masks in public during the COVID-19 pandemic. • Made virtual classroom visits to area middle and high schools in KC. • Delivered video messages of congrats and support to the graduating Class of 2020. • Provided commentary for classic match re-airings on FOX Sports KC. • Delivered a video message of thanks to frontline and healthcare workers during COVID-19. • Participated in Sporting Game Night, a trivia show hosted by former Sporting midfielder Benny Feilhaber.

Height: 6-0 Weight: 170 Birthday: 2/11/1987 Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas College: Notre Dame Acquired: 2009 MLS SuperDraft 1st Round (#8) Sporting KC’s Matt Besler is in his 12th season at his hometown club. He has earned MLS Best XI (2012-13), MLS All-Star (2011, 2013-16), MLS Defender of the Year (2012) and MLS Breakout Player of the Year (2012) honors since being selected in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Notre Dame.

Besler has earned 47 caps for the United States Men’s National Team since debuting in January 2013. He featured in four matches at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first Kansan to play in the quadrennial tournament, as the U.S. advanced to the Round of 16. He also helped the U.S. win the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, starting all three matches in the knockout stage. He joined the U.S. squad for the 2016 Copa America Centenario, starting two matches, and scored his first international goal at St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Sept. 2, the same day his firstborn daughter Parker Rhea was born in Kansas City. He recently made four appearances for his country as the U.S. claimed the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Besler is first in SKC history with 342 appearances across all competitions and is the club’s leader in regular-season appearances (288), starts (280) & minutes (25,051). A regular staple of the team’s backline, he has started 298 of 306 MLS matches (including playoffs) and landed club Defender of the Year honors four times (2011-13, 2015). MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SOG

OFF

GWG

GWA

KC - Regular Season

288

280

25051

236

135

KC - Postseason

1740

MLS - TOTAL

306

298

26791

256

151

#27 | M | GIANLUCA BUSIO | @gbusio13 SPORTING KC STATS

MIN

MLS Regular Season

1168

MLS Postseason

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

120

International

ALL COMPETITIONS

1371

2020 Season (all competitions): • Has started one of six appearances (115 minutes played). • Scored winning penalty kick in shootout win over Vancouver on July 26. Off the Pitch: • Appeared on MLS Idle: Hidden Talents for his trick shots on the popular social media app TikTok. • Was a leading voice of “We Got This KC,” a rallying campaign for the city during COVID-19. • Provided commentary for classic match re-airings on FOX Sports KC. • Participated in FIFA 20 live streams while interacting with fans. • Conducted virtual chats with Sporting KC Academy players, discussing the importance of hard work and being a good teammate in addition to talking about important racial issues.

Height: 5-7 Weight: 135 Birthday: 5/28/2002 Hometown: Greensboro, North Carolina Last Club: Sporting KC Academy Acquired: Signed as Homegrown on 8/25/2017 Sporting KC signed Gianluca Busio as the club’s fifth Homegrown Player on Aug. 25, 2017, making him the youngest active player in MLS at the time and the second youngest player in MLS history at the age of 15 years and 89 days. Busio made his professional debut for the Sporting KC II on April 4, 2018, recording the game-winning assist.

Busio starred for the Sporting KC Academy during the 2016-17 season, stepping up from the U-14s to the U-16 level, where he scored nine goals in the USSDA and earned Central Conference Best XI honors. He led the U-16s to their first appearance in the USSDA quarterfinals. Busio also earned time for the SKC U-18s throughout 2016-17.

He made his MLS debut on July 28, 2018, before earning his first MLS start, recording the game-winning assist in a 1-0 win over Houston on Aug. 4, 2018 while he became the third youngest player to start an MLS game at the age of 16 years and 68 days. Busio scored his first MLS goal in the 4-1 victory over Vancouver on Oct. 17, 2018, becoming the second youngest goalscorer in league history at the age of 16 years and 142 days.

At the international level, Busio is a member of the U.S. U-17 National Team. He previously guided the U.S. to a second-place finish at the Concacaf U-15 Championship in Bradenton, Florida, scoring a team-high five goals in five matches in August 2017. In May 2019, Busio scored five goals as the U.S. U-17s finished second in the Concacaf U-17 Championship, securing a berth for the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the process.

MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SOG

OFF

GWG

GWA

KC - Regular Season

1168

MLS - TOTAL

1168

MIN

MLS Regular Season

2158

MLS Postseason

120

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

351

International

ALL COMPETITIONS

2629

Height: 5-10 Weight: 150 Birthday: 6/8/1993 Hometown: Highlands Ranch, Colorado College: Clemson University Last Club: Phoenix Rising FC (USL Championship) Acquired: Signed on 1/10/2020

Amadou Dia began his professional career with Sporting as the 20th overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft out of Clemson University. He made 39 appearances for the club in all competitions during a two-year stint highlighted by a U.S. Open Cup title and consecutive playoff appearances. Dia spent three seasons with perennial USL Championship contender Phoenix Rising FC, where he was named the team’s Defender of the Year in 2018 and 2019, before returning to Sporting ahead of the 2020 campaign. Dia was a leading contributor at Rising FC from 2017-2019. He started 87 of 90 USL Championship matches at the club - notching four goals and eight assists - and guided Phoenix to three straight playoff berths, winning the 2018 Western Conference

2020 Season (all competitions): • Has made two substitute appearances (24 minutes played). • Made season debut as a substitute on July 17 vs. Colorado. Off the Pitch: • Assumed a leading role for Sporting Kansas City on Juneteenth, rallying the squad and crafting a message that every player posted on social media on June 19. • Known among his teammates and coaches as “T” as his middle name is Tidiane.

Championship and helping the side to a historically dominant 2019 campaign. Phoenix reached the 2018 USL Championship Final and ended 2019 with a 24-4-6 mark, setting an all-time American professional soccer record with 20 straight league wins. The left back appeared in 70 games during a four-year collegiate career at Clemson, contributing four goals and six assists. As a senior in 2014, he led the Tigers to the school’s first ACC soccer championship since 2001 en route to reaching the Round of 16 in the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship. Dia represented the U.S. at the U-14, U-18 and U-20 levels and also holds dual citizenship in his native France.

MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SOG

OFF

GWG

GWA

KC - Regular Season

2158

MLS - Regular Season

2248

KC - Postseason

120

MLS - TOTAL

2368

#18 | GK | ERIC DICK | @DaBrickWall00 SPORTING KC STATS

MIN

MLS Regular Season

MLS Postseason

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

International

ALL COMPETITIONS

2020 Season (all competitions): • On loan at USL Championship club Phoenix Rising FC.

Height: 6-5 Weight: 205 Birthday: 10/3/1994 Hometown: Carmel, Indiana College: Butler University Acquired: 2018 MLS SuperDraft 1st Round (#13) - signed on 2/15/18 Sporting KC selected goalkeeper Eric Dick with the 13th overall pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. He officially signed an MLS contract for the club in February 2018. Dick made his MLS debut on Oct. 6, 2019 at FC Dallas. He was loaned to Phoenix Rising FC in the USL Championship for the 2020 season.

Born in Kansas City suburb Roeland Park, Kansas, Dick led Butler to the 2016 Big East Championship and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances over his last two seasons. He compiled a 27-10-4 record over his junior and senior campaigns, landing First Team All-Big East Conference accolades in 2017.

Dick was a four-year starter at Butler University in Indianapolis. As a senior, he was At the youth level, Dick played for the Indiana Fire Academy and attended Carmel High named the 2017 Big East Conference Goalkeeper of the Year and received United Soccer School in Carmel, Indiana, where he was a two-time All-District and All-County performer. Coaches First Team All-American honors. He ended his college career with 28 shutouts and a 0.96 goals against average across 71 starts. *Currently on loan at Phoenix Rising FC in the USL Championship. MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SVS

GAA

KC - Regular Season

6.00

MLS - TOTAL

6.00

MIN

MLS Regular Season

MLS Postseason

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

International

ALL COMPETITIONS

2020 Season (all competitions): • Has not featured. Off the Pitch: • Conducted virtual chats with Sporting KC Academy players, discussing the importance of hard work and being a good teammate in addition to talking about important racial issues. • His father, Chris Duke, played professionally indoor for the Kansas City Comets and Kansas City Attack from 1989-1992. His older brother, 29-year-old Christian Duke, began his pro career with Sporting (2013-14) and now plays for USL Championship club Sporting KC II.

Height: 5-7 Weight: 135 Birthday: 2/13/2001 Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas Last Club: Sporting KC Academy Acquired: Signed as Homegrown on 7/18/2019 Sporting Kansas City announced the signing of midfielder Cameron Duke as a Homegrown Player midway through the 2019 season. The Overland Park, Kansas native spent seven years in the club’s Academy from 2012-2019, advancing from the Under-12 side to the Under-19s.

Duke is 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 Rangers captain Christian Duke, while his father, Chris Duke, played for the Kansas City Comets and Kansas City Attack in the early 1990s.

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.

On the international stage, Duke represented the United States at the U-14 and U-15 level before guiding the U.S. U-16’ National Team to a third-place finish at the Val-deMarne Tournament in France in 2016. Duke earned his first of several calls to the U.S. U-18 Men’s National Team in November 2017 before returning to the team in 2018.

MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SOG

OFF

GWG

GWA

KC - Regular Season

MLS - TOTAL

#15 | M | ROGER ESPINOZA SPORTING KC STATS

MIN

MLS Regular Season

243

222

19482

MLS Postseason

1019

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

1946

International

727

ALL COMPETITIONS

287

261

23151

Height: 5-11 Weight: 170 Hometown: Aurora, Colorado College: Ohio State Last Club: Wigan Athletic (England) Acquired: Signed on 1/6/2015

2020 Season (all competitions): • Has started six matches (485 minutes played). • Scored a goal goal in 4-0 win vs. Houston on March 7. Off the Pitch: • Provided commentary for classic match re-airings on FOX Sports KC. • Delivered a video message of thanks to frontline and healthcare workers during COVID-19. • Participated in Sporting Game Night, a trivia show hosted by former Sporting midfielder Benny Feilhaber.

Birthday: 10/25/1986

Roger Espinoza played five seasons in Kansas City from 2008-12 before moving abroad to Wigan Athletic FC. After a two-year stint in the English Premier League and English Championship, Espinoza returned to Sporting KC in 2015 and tallied one goal and four MLS assists. His 2015 campaign was cut short due to a left foot injury sustained in early August, but returned to the fold as a regular starter in 2016. Espinoza set new careerhighs in both goals (3) and assists (9) in 2018.

competitions, tallying 10 goals and 39 assists over nine seasons. He is both the club’s all-time leader and the all-time MLS leader with 11 red cards. In two years at Wigan Athletic, he logged 57 appearances, including eight in the UEFA Europa League, and started in the club’s 2013 FA Cup Final victory over Manchester City. Espinoza has earned 51 caps for the Honduras Men’s National Team since debuting in 2009. He has competed in the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups as well as the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Espinoza was an MLS All-Star in 2012 and helped lead the club to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title that season. He has made 287 appearances for the club in all MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SOG

OFF

GWG

GWA

KC - Regular Season

243

222

19482

281

394

339

KC - Postseason

1019

MLS - TOTAL

256

234

20501

290

411

358

MIN

MLS Regular Season

5731

MLS Postseason

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

628

International

438

ALL COMPETITIONS

112

6903

2020 Season (all competitions): • Has started one of six appearances (176 minutes played). • Recorded an assist in 3-1 win at Vancouver on Feb. 29. • Scored a goal in 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake on July 22. Off the Pitch: • Provided commentary for classic match re-airings on FOX Sports KC. • Delivered a video message of thanks to frontline and healthcare workers during COVID-19. • Made his own home video showing fans how to celebrate a soccer goal just like Gerso. • War in his native Guinea-Bissau prompted Gerso to move to Portugal when he was 4 years old, where he lived with his uncle. Three years later his uncle was murdered and Gerso moved into an orphanage. While at the orphanage, he began playing soccer and was noticed by scouts of local club academies.

Height: 5-8 Weight: 140 Birthday: 2/21/1991 Hometown: Bissau, Guinea-Bissau Last Club: C.F. Os Belenenses (Portugal) Acquired: Signed on 1/4/2017 Gerso Fernandes, a left-footed winger, has played more than 150 matches during a six-year professional career in Portugal. Prior to joining Sporting KC ahead of the 2017 season, he spent the previous five seasons in the Portuguese first division, including the 2016-17 Primeira Liga campaign with Belenenses. On May 17, 2017, Fernandes scored the first Sporting KC hat-trick in seven years in a 3-0 win over Seattle Sounders FC before adding a goal and an assist in his first-ever U.S. Open Cup game against Minnesota United FC on June 14, 2017. He was named the club’s 2017 Offensive Player of the Year.

Fernandes started nine of 14 Primeira Liga appearances for Belenenses in the 2016-17 season prior to joining Sporting KC, recording one goal and four assists. He also contributed one assist in three domestic cup matches, featuring in the 2016-17 Taça de Portugal and the 2016-17 Taça da Liga. Fernandes appeared more than 100 times for Estoril between 2011-2016. He helped clinch promotion to the Primera Liga in his first year with the club before facilitating Estoril’s transition to the top flight over the next two seasons, recording four assists in 43 Primera Liga appearances and playing six games in the 2013-14 UEFA Europa League group stage.

MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SOG

OFF

GWG

GWA

KC - Regular Season

5731

144

101

117

KC - Postseason

MLS - TOTAL

5814

149

103

120

#3 | D | ANDREU FONTAS | @AFontas3 SPORTING KC STATS

MIN

MLS Regular Season

1056

MLS Postseason

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

International

326

ALL COMPETITIONS

1472

Height: 6-1 Weight: 190 Hometown: Banyoles, Spain Last Club: Celta Vigo (Spain) Acquired: Signed on 8/8/2018

2020 Season (all competitions): • Has not featured. Off the Pitch: • Opened a futsal court in his hometown of Banyoles, Spain, during the offseason in December 2018. Fontas’ initiative was tied to the Johan Cruyff Foundation, which has committed to the construction and maintenance of free-use soccer fields in disadvantages areas throughout Spain’s Catalonia region.

Birthday: 11/14/1989

Sporting Kansas City signed center back Andreu Fontas, a 10-year professional with more than 200 appearances in his native Spain, on Aug. 8, 2018. Sporting KC used Targeted Allocation Money to sign Fontas, who was a free agent after being released from his contract with La Liga side Celta Vigo following the 2017-18 season. Fontas spent five seasons from 2013-2018 with Celta Vigo in Spain’s top-flight La Liga, where he started 100 of 105 league appearances and helped the club to the semifinals of the 2016-17 UEFA Europa League. The defender developed in FC Barcelona’s famed La

Masia youth academy alongside current Sporting KC midfielder Ilie Sanchez, playing nearly 100 matches combined for FC Barcelona B and FC Barcelona from 2008-2012. Fontas advanced through from the B team to the first team in 2009 and played in 16 games for the Spanish giants, including a sub appearance in the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup Final that Barca won 4-0 over Santos. Fontas spent the 2012-13 season on loan at Mallorca before signing with Celta Vigo in June 2013, where he made 139 appearances over five years. Internationally, Fontas has represented Spain at the Under-19, Under-20 and Under-21 levels and has also played for the Catalonia National Team.

MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SOG

OFF

GWG

GWA

KC - Regular Season

1056

MLS - TOTAL

1056

MIN

MLS Regular Season

MLS Postseason

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

International

ALL COMPETITIONS

2020 Season (all competitions): • Has not featured. Off the Pitch: • Born and raised in Shawnee, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City, and grew up going to Kansas City Wizards and Sporting KC matches. His favorite all-time Kansas City player is former forward Josh Wolff, the current head coach of 2021 expansion side Austin FC.

Height: 5-10 Weight: 150 Birthday: 1/9/2003 Hometown: Shawnee, Kansas Last Club: Sporting KC Academy Acquired: Signed as Homegrown on 10/2/2018 Sporting Kansas City announced the signing of forward Tyler Freeman as a Homegrown Player late in the 2018 season. A native of Shawnee, Kansas, Freeman is the secondyoungest player in club history behind current teammate Gianluca Busio. He entered the Sporting KC Academy in 2014 at age 11 and has represented his hometown club at the U-12 through U-19 levels.

fourth-place finish at the CONCACAF U-13 Champions League in Mexico City, scoring three goals at the tournament. He featured extensively for both the U-17s and U-19s in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 Development Academy season.

On the international stage, Freeman earned his first selection to the U.S. U-14 Boys’ National Team for a training camp in November 2016. The following June in Zagreb, Freeman made an immediate impact upon joining Sporting KC’s youth ranks, leading the Croatia, he led the U.S. U-14s with a team-best four goals across three friendlies. In U-12s at the 2015 Generation adidas Cup before winning Kansas State Cup titles in 2015 2018, Freeman competed for the U.S. U-16s in April at the Torneo Delle Nazioni in Italy and 2016 with the U-13s. In August 2016, Freeman propelled the Sporting KC U-13s to a before receiving his first call to the U.S. U-17s in August for a Costa Rica training camp. MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SOG

OFF

GWG

GWA

KC - Regular Season

MLS - TOTAL

#10 | M | FELIPE GUTIERREZ SPORTING KC STATS

MIN

MLS Regular Season

4244

MLS Postseason

360

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

109

International

413

ALL COMPETITIONS

5126

Height: 5-7 Weight: 145 Hometown: Quintero, Chile Last Club: Real Betis (Spain) Acquired: Signed on 2/6/2018

2020 Season (all competitions): • Has not featured. • Underwent knee surgery in June and will miss the rest of 2020. Off the Pitch: • Gutierrez and his wife Carla have two young sons named Matias and Gael.

Birthday: 10/8/1990

Gutierrez joined 12-time Chilean Primera Division champion CD Universidad Catolica in 2009. He enjoyed a breakout season for the club in 2011, scoring 10 goals in the top-flight Primera Division as Universidad Catolica finished atop the spring Apertura standings and won the 2011 Copa Chile. Gutierrez landed a transfer to FC Twente ahead of the 2012-13 Eredivisie season, debuting for the Dutch side in a UEFA Europa League qualifier. In his sophomore season at FC Twente, Gutierrez reached new heights as the midfielder started 33 league matches and was named the 2013-14 Eredivisie Most Valuable Player for his instrumental role in propelling the Tukkers to a third-place finish in the table.

Gutierrez moved from Netherlands to Spain in 2016-17, signing for Spanish La Liga side Real Betis. His first La Liga goal was a stoppage-time winner as Real Betis beat Osasuna 2-1 in October 2016. Gutierrez spent most of 2017 on loan at Internacional in Brazil, where he played 16 games and helped the club gain promotion to the top-flight Serie A. A native of Quintero, Chile, Gutierrez has represented his country 35 times at the senior international level. He’s competed on a global stage at the sport’s highest level, featuring at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and helping Chile lift the 2015 Copa America title as champions of South America.

MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SOG

OFF

GWG

GWA

KC - Regular Season

4244

105

KC - Postseason

360

MLS - TOTAL

4604

114

105

MIN

MLS Regular Season

127

MLS Postseason

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

International

ALL COMPETITIONS

127

2020 Season (all competitions): • Has made one substitute appearance (32 minutes played). • Made his season debut as a second-half substitute in a 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake on July 22. Off the Pitch: • Was born in Colombia before moving to Tennessee around the age of 1 and joined the Sporting KC Academy in 2014 at age 15.

Height: 5-7 Weight: 135 Birthday: 6/8/1998 Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee Last Club: Sporting Kansas City II (USL) Acquired: Signed as Homegrown on 8/30/2019 Sporting Kansas City signed Felipe Hernandez as a Homegrown Player in late August 2019, making him the 12th Homegrown Player in club history and the seventh on the current roster, joining Gianluca Busio, Cameron Duke, Tyler Freeman, Jaylin Lindsey, Daniel Salloi and Wan Kuzain.

Born in Ibague, Colombia, Hernandez grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, and played for Sporting Nashville Heroes, a former Academy Affiliate. He 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 the Rangers in August 2016, two months prior to earning Bob Gansler Academy Player of the Year honors that then lead to a professional SPR contract in early 2017.

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. His acquisition follows a breakout season in the USL Championship, where he started 24 of 26 appearances, scored a team-best eight goals and recorded four assists. In three seasons with SPR, Hernandez amassed 13 goals and 12 assists across 85 matches.

On the international stage, Hernandez played for the U.S. U-19 National Team for the first time in August 2016 for the Stevan Vilotic-Cele Tournament in Serbia. The following April, he ventured to London for his first training camp with the U.S. U-20s.

MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SOG

OFF

GWG

GWA

KC - Regular Season

127

MLS - TOTAL

127

#19 | F | ERIK HURTADO SPORTING KC STATS

MIN

MLS Regular Season

823

MLS Postseason

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

International

115

ALL COMPETITIONS

938

2020 Season (all competitions): • Has made three substitute appearances (8 minutes played). • Scored a goal in 3-1 win at Vancouver on Feb. 29. Off the Pitch: • Has two younger siblings, Kohl and Morgan, who both play soccer. • Credits his mother Nicole as one of his role models for instilling selflessness, humility and modesty. • On game days, Hurtado listens to Al Pacino’s speech in Pieces by Inches in the locker room before the coaches’ talk. • When not focusing on soccer, Hurtado likes to rap.

Height: 5-10 Weight: 185 Birthday: 11/15/1990 Hometown: Beaverton, Oregon College: Santa Clara University Last Club: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (MLS) Acquired: Acquired via trade on 12/14/2018 Sporting KC acquired forward Erik Hurtado in late 2018 from Vancouver Whitecaps FC. In six seasons with the Whitecaps, Hurtado contributed 17 goals and 13 assists in 123 matches (47 MLS starts) across all competitions since being selected fifth overall in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft.

Norwegian first division. Hurtado made 12 appearances during the five-month loan spell. Hurtado had two goals and two assists in the 2016-17 Concacaf Champions League with Vancouver, scoring in both CCL fixtures against Sporting KC, as the Whitecaps advanced from the group stage and advanced all the way to the semifinals.

The former U.S. youth international and Santa Clara product recorded seven goals and five assists in his first two professional seasons, before helping the Whitecaps to their lone Canadian Championship title in 2015 with an 87th-minute game-tying assist in the semifinal series before garnering European experience on loan with Mjondalen in the

More recently, Hurtado has compiled six goals and three assists since the start of the 2017 season, including his game-winning goal in Vancouver’s 1-0 victory over Sporting KC at Children’s Mercy Park that snapped Sporting’s 24-game home unbeaten streak on Sept. 30, 2017.

MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SOG

OFF

GWG

GWA

KC - Regular Season

823

MLS - Regular Season

121

5536

148

124

MLS - Postseason

MLS - TOTAL

122

5614

150

127

Sporting KC Media Guide | MLS is Back Tournament | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #17 | M | GADI KINDA SPORTING KC STATS

MIN

MLS Regular Season

345

MLS Postseason

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

International

ALL COMPETITIONS

435

Height: 5-8 Weight: 145 Hometown: Ashdod, Israel Last Club: Beitar Jerusalem (Israel) Acquired: Loaned in on 1/23/2020

2020 Season (all competitions): • Has started five of six appearances (435 minutes played). • Scored a goal in 3-1 win at Vancouver on Feb. 29. • Recorded a goal and an assist in 4-0 win vs. Houston on March 7. • Recorded an assist in 3-2 win over Colorado Rapids on July 17. • Only MLS player to earn Team of the Week honors in Weeks 1 and 2. Off the Pitch: • Moved to the U.S. for the first time this winter and stayed in Kansas City during the COVID-19 quarantine with his girlfriend. • Practices Judaism and eats a fully kosher diet.

Birthday: 3/23/1994

Sporting Kansas City announced in January 2020 that the club had acquired central midfielder Gadi Kinda on a one-year loan from Israeli Premier League side Beitar Jerusalem. Kinda has played over 200 matches in Israel since turning professional in 2011 at age 17. He starred as one of the Israeli Premier League’s best players during the first half of the 2019-20 season. Before his move to Sporting, the playmaker ranked fourth in the league with a team-best seven goals while also leading the side with four assists.

He became a regular starter for Ashdod during the 2013-2014 campaign, notably scoring his first top-fight goal in a 3-2 defeat of Israeli giants Maccabi Haifa in September 2013. 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.

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 an top-flight debut in September 2011 as a 17-year-old.

On the international stage, Kinda has represented Israel at the U-18, U-19 and U-21 levels. Kinda has yet to earn his first cap for the Israeli Men’s National Team but was selected to the senior squad for UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying in fall 2019.

MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SOG

OFF

GWG

GWA

KC - Regular Season

345

MLS - TOTAL

345

#26 | D | JAYLIN LINDSEY | @JaylinLindsey SPORTING KC STATS

MIN

MLS Regular Season

645

MLS Postseason

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

205

International

ALL COMPETITIONS

940

2020 Season (all competitions): • Has not featured. Off the Pitch: • Provided commentary for classic match re-airings on FOX Sports KC. • Participated in FIFA 20 live streams while interacting with fans. • Conducted virtual chats with Sporting KC Academy players, discussing the importance of hard work and being a good teammate in addition to talking about important racial issues. • Participated in Sporting Game Night, a trivia show hosted by former Sporting midfielder Benny Feilhaber. • Cooking is one of his primary hobbies away from the soccer field.

Height: 5-8 Weight: 155 Birthday: 3/27/2000 Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina Last Club: Sporting KC Academy Acquired: Signed as Homegrown on 1/1/2018 Sporting Kansas City signed Jaylin Lindsey as a Homegrown Player in September 2017, with his contract starting on Jan. 1, 2018. He made his MLS debut on June 3 in a 4-1 win over Minnesota United FC. A product of the Sporting KC Academy, Lindsey is the third-youngest signing in club history. The defender has featured for the Sporting KC U-16s and U-18s and made more than 25 appearances for the United States U-17 Men’s National Team from 2016-2017. Born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, Lindsey joined the Sporting KC Academy in January 2015. He has made more than 30 combined appearances for the U-16s and U-18s. After impressing throughout his first full Academy season with Sporting KC,

Lindsey signed an Academy contract with Sporting KC II on May 6, 2016. A day later, he became the first American player born in 2000 or later to appear in a professional match. Lindsey would feature once more for the Rangers before joining the U.S. U-17 Residency Program in August 2016. Lindsey has featured regularly for the U.S. U-17s and received his first call-up to the U.S. U-20s in September 2018. He was named to the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship Best XI in May after helping the U.S. to a second-place finish. That allowed Lindsey to represent the U.S. at the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India. Lindsey has been a youth international since 2013, representing the U-14s, U-15s and U-17s.

MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SOG

OFF

GWG

GWA

KC - Regular Season

645

MLS - TOTAL

645

Sporting KC Media Guide | MLS is Back Tournament | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #36 | D | LUIS MARTINS SPORTING KC STATS

MIN

MLS Regular Season

1255

MLS Postseason

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

International

ALL COMPETITIONS

1345

Height: 5-9 Weight: 150 Hometown: Lamego, Portugal Last Club: G.D. Chaves (Portugal) Acquired: Signed on 8/1/2019

2020 Season (all competitions): • Has started six matches (516 minutes played). • Recorded an assist in 3-1 win at Vancouver on Feb. 29. • Recorded an assist in 3-2 win over Colorado Rapids on July 17. • Has contributed to three shutouts. Off the Pitch: • Arrived in Kansas City last fall after spending his entire life in his native Portugal or Spain.

Birthday: 6/10/1992

Sporting Kansas City signed Portuguese left back Luis Martins in early August 2019. Martins boasts eight years of professional experience, including stints in the top-flight Portuguese Primeira Liga and Spanish La Liga.

Granada in La Liga. His debut saw him face eventual UEFA Champions League winners FC Barcelona in the Camp Nou. Martins was loaned to fellow Spanish side Osasuna in 2015-16 and to Portuguese outfit Maritimo from 2016-2018. Martins spent the 2018-19 campaign with G.D. Chaves in the Portuguese top flight, scoring once in 20 matches.

Born and raised in Lamego, Portugal, Martins came through the Benfica Academy and earned his first team debut with a start in the UEFA Champions League, helping the side to a 1-1 draw against FC Basel on Nov. 2, 2011, before spending most of 2012 with Benfica B. Martins transferred to Gil Vicente in 2013 and amassed 40 Primeira Liga appearances over the next two years. In 2014, Martins headed to Spain and signed with

As a youth, Martins represented Portugal’s U-16s, U-17s and U-18s from 2008-2009. He then featured at the 2010 UEFA Under-19 Championship before helping Portugal to a second-place finish at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia. He also started four qualifying matches for the 2015 UEFA Under-21 Championship.

MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SOG

OFF

GWG

GWA

KC - Regular Season

1255

MLS - TOTAL

1255

#29 | GK | TIM MELIA | @TimMelia28 SPORTING KC STATS

MIN

MLS Regular Season

151

13543

MLS Postseason

534

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

1080

International

540

ALL COMPETITIONS

175

15787

Height: 6-1 Weight: 190 Hometown: Great River, New York College: Lynn University Last Club: Chivas USA (MLS) Acquired: Signed on 12/23/2014

2020 Season (all competitions): • Has started five matches (434 minutes played). • Three shutouts, 12 saves, a 3-0-1 record and a 0.21 GAA. • Set regular season club record with his 46th career shutout in 4-0 win over Houston on March 7. • Made two penalty saves in shootout win over Vancouver on July 26. Off the Pitch: • Provided commentary for classic match re-airings on FOX Sports KC. • Delivered a video message of thanks to frontline and healthcare workers during COVID-19. • Participated in Sporting Game Night, a trivia show hosted by former Sporting midfielder Benny Feilhaber.

Birthday: 5/15/1986

Tim Melia has the most regular-season wins (65) and shutouts (47) in club history, and has also played the most games (151) of any Sporting goalkeeper. 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). Melia surpassed each of those numbers in 2018, posting 18 wins, 13 shutouts, 106 saves, 34 starts and 3060 minutes.

During his breakout campaign in 2015, Melia finished third in 2015 with a 72.6 precent save percentage while also ranking in the top 10 in wins, shutouts and goals against average. He was a six-time member of the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week and became the first goalkeeper in MLS history to record six shutouts in his first nine league matches for a new team. He was named MLS Comeback Player of the Year.

Melia was also named the club’s 2017 Most Valuable Player. Among goalkeepers with at least 15 regular-season appearances in 2017, he led MLS with a 0.78 goals against average, 78.4 save percentage and 69.2-percent passing accuracy. He also ranked second in shutouts. On April 8, 2018, Melia set a new club record and career-high with 10 saves in a 2-0 win over the LA Galaxy.

After a four-year college career with NCAA Division III program Lynn University (New York), Melia began his professional career in 2008 with the Rochester Rhinos of the USL First Division. After stints with Real Salt Lake and Chivas USA, he spent the latter half of 2014 as a League Pool Goalkeeper, earning emergency call-ups from Sporting KC, FC Dallas and D.C. United.

MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SVS

GAA

KC - Regular Season

151

13543

653

463

183

1.22

MLS - Regular Season

157

156

13982

685

481

197

1.27

KC - Postseason

534

1.35

MLS - TOTAL

163

162

14516

709

496

205

1.27

MIN

MLS Regular Season

442

MLS Postseason

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

International

ALL COMPETITIONS

532

Height: 5-10 Weight: 170 Hometown: Ciudad Victoria, Mexico Last Club: C.D. Guadalajara (Mexico) Acquired: Signed on 12/10/2019

2020 Season (all competitions): • Has started six matches (512 minutes played) • Scored a goal in 3-1 win at Vancouver. • Recorded a goal and an assist in 4-0 win over Houston. • Assisted a goal in 2-1 loss to Minnesota United FC on July 12. • Scored a penalty kick in 3-2 win over Colorado Rapids on July 17. • Assisted both goals in a 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake on July 22. • First player in Sporting history to score or assist in his first five regular season matches for the lcub. Off the Pitch: • Participated in FIFA 20 live streams with fellow Mexican internationals and former club teammates Oswaldo Alanis of the San Jose Earthquakes and Rodolfo Pizarro of Inter Miami CF.

Birthday: 3/8/1991

Sporting Kansas City acquired Mexican striker Alan Pulido as a Designated Player on a club-record transfer fee from C.D. Guadalajara in December 2019. Pulido has scored over 100 combined goals for club and country during a decorated career highlighted by five domestic championships, the 2018 Concacaf Champions League title and 13 caps for the Mexico Men’s National Team. He joins Sporting after finishing atop the Liga MX scoring charts with 12 goals for C.D. Guadalajara in the 2019 Apertura season.

Pulido then signed for Greek outfit Levadiakos and scored on his debut before heading to Greek powerhouse Olympiacos. He notched six goals throughout the 2015-16 campaign as Olympiacos claimed the Super League title, with Pulido also competing in the Europa League and Champions League qualifying during his time with the club. Pulido returned to Liga MX in August 2016, joining Guadalajara 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 Pulido developed in the Tigres UANL youth academy before breaking into the first team in Champions League title and the club’s first continental championship in 56 years. 2009 as an 18-year-old. He helped Tigres to the 2009 SuperLiga title and two years later, Pulido scored in the decisive second leg of the 2011 Liga MX Apertura Final as Tigres At the international level, Pulido has bagged five goals for Mexico’s senior team and was won its first league championship since 1982. Pulido enjoyed a breakout 2013-14 part of the El Tri squad at the 2011 Copa America and the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He also campaign with 25 goals in all competitions during his final season at Tigres, scoring in the led the Mexico U-23s to the 2012 Concacaf Olympic Qualifying Tournament championship 2014 Copa MX Clausura Final to finish as the tournament’s golden boot winner. at Children’s Mercy Park as the top scorer of the competition. MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SOG

OFF

GWG

GWA

KC - Regular Season

442

MLS - TOTAL

442

#24 | GK | JOHN PULSKAMP | @john_pulskamp SPORTING KC STATS

MIN

MLS Regular Season

MLS Postseason

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

International

ALL COMPETITIONS

2020 Season (all competitions): • Has not featured. Off the Pitch: • Appeared on MLS Idle: Hidden Talents in April to showcase his tightrope walking, which he took up as a hobby during quarantine to improve his balance and core strength as a goalkeeper.

Height: 6-2 Weight: 190 Birthday: 4/19/2001 Hometown: Bakersfield, California Last Club: Sporting Kansas City II (USL Championship) Acquired: Signed as a Homegrown on 2/24/2020 Sporting Kansas City signed 18-year-old goalkeeper John Pulskamp 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.

Pulskamp arrived in Kansas City in April 2019 after a two-year stint in the LA Galaxy Academy, where he competed at the U-17 and U-19 levels in the U.S. Soccer Development 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.

A native of Bakersfield, California, Pulskamp joins the MLS ranks on the heels of a 2019 USL Championship season in which he led Sporting KC II goalkeepers in starts (14), minutes (1,260), wins (four) and saves (45). He enjoyed several standout performances At the youth international level, Pulskamp debuted for the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team throughout the year, making five saves in a victory over reigning league champion in a friendly against regional rivals Mexico in early 2020. He also competed at a U.S. U-18 Louisville City on May 6 and four saves in a defeat of rivals Saint Louis FC on June 30. training camp in June 2018 at Pinnacle in Kansas City, Kansas. He later shut out North Carolina FC in a 1-0 win on Sept. 14 and posted six saves in a 3-0 road triumph over Charlotte Independence on Sept. 21. MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SVS

GAA

KC - Regular Season

0.00

MLS - TOTAL

0.00

Sporting KC Media Guide | MLS is Back Tournament | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #4 | D | ROBERTO PUNCEC SPORTING KC STATS

MIN

MLS Regular Season

450

MLS Postseason

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

International

ALL COMPETITIONS

540

Height: 6-1 Weight: 170 Hometown: Varazdin, Croatia Last Club: HNK Rijeka (Croatia) Acquired: Signed on 12/4/2019

2020 Season: • Has started six matches (540 minutes played). • Recorded an assist in 3-1 win at Vancouver on Feb. 29. • Has contributed to three shutouts. Off the Pitch: • Arrived in Kansas City this winter, marking the first time he has lived in the United States after growing up in Croatia and competing professionally across Europe.

Birthday: 10/27/1991

Sporting Kansas City signed Croatian defender Roberto Puncec in December 2019. The center back has amassed almost 300 professional appearances across 12 professional seasons in Croatia, Israel and Germany. He arrives at Sporting after spending two and a half seasons with Croatian first-division club HNK Rijeka, where he won the 2019 Croatian Cup.

In 2012, Puncec began a five-year stint with German side Union Berlin of the seconddivision 2. Bundesliga. He featured regularly during his time in the German capital, starting 118 of 128 appearances in all competitions as Union Berlin finished in the top half of the table in each of his five seasons with the club. Puncec returned to his native Croatia in 2017, signing for HNK Rijeka. He anchored the club’s defense from 2017-2019, guiding Rijeka to consecutive second-place finishes in the Croatian First Football League and propelled his side to silverware in May 2019 as the Whites won the Croatian Cup.

A native of Varazdin, Croatia, Puncec developed in the NK Varazdin academy and signed his first senior team contract in 2008 at age 16. He became a regular starter in 2009 and helped his hometown club secure a spot in 2011-12 UEFA Europa League qualifying before joining Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv in August 2011. His lone season in Israel yielded 23 total appearances.

As a youth, Puncec represented Croatia at the U-14 through U-21 levels. He made five appearances at the 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, leading Croatia to the semifinals, then played all three games at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia.

MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SOG

OFF

GWG

GWA

KC - Regular Season

450

MLS - TOTAL

450

#22 | D | WINSTON REID | @WinstonReid2 SPORTING KC STATS

MIN

MLS Regular Season

MLS Postseason

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

International

ALL COMPETITIONS

Height: 6-3 Weight: 190 Hometown: Auckland, New Zealand Last Club: West Ham United (England) Acquired: Loaned in on 2/14/2020

2020 Season (all competitions): • Has not featured. Off the Pitch: • Spent most of the COVID-19 quarantine period with his family in London, England. • Showed support of the English Premier League’s Black Lives Matter movement on social media.

Birthday: 7/3/1988

Winston Reid arrives in Kansas City after logging over 300 club appearances in Denmark and England, including 166 Premier League matches with West Ham. The 6-foot-3 center back has also earned 25 caps for the New Zealand Men’s National Team, including three starts at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Reid moved to Denmark from New Zealand at age 10 and began his professional career with FC Midtjylland in 2005. He made his Midtjylland debut at age 17 and played 92 matches for Midtjylland in all competitions before his transfer to West Ham in 2010. Reid made his first of 222 competitive appearances for the Hammers on Aug. 14, 2010 and opened his West Ham scoring account in an FA Cup win over Burnley the following February. Starting a career-high 36 Premier League matches in 2012-13, Reid was named West Ham’s player of the year as the Hammers secured a top-half finish in the

table. He bagged his first Premier League goal in a London derby defeat of Fulham on Sept. 1, 2012. Reid played a vital role during the Hammers’ breakout 2015-16 campaign, which culminated in a seventh-place league finish and a berth in UEFA Europa League qualifying. Reid’s crowning moment in East London came on May 10, 2016, when he scored the final goal in Upton Park history to seal a dramatic 3-2 triumph over English giants Manchester United in West Ham’s last home game at the iconic venue. Reid represented Denmark at the U-19, U-20 and U-21 levels before committing his senior international career to New Zealand and was selected to the All Whites squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, playing every minute and scoring his only international goal to date with a stoppage-time equalizer in a 1-1 draw with Slovakia. Reid has 25 caps with New Zealand, with his most recent appearance coming in November 2019.

MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SOG

OFF

GWG

GWA

KC - Regular Season

MLS - TOTAL

Sporting KC Media Guide | MLS is Back Tournament | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #7 | F | JOHNNY RUSSELL SPORTING KC STATS

MIN

MLS Regular Season

4595

MLS Postseason

345

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

190

International

422

ALL COMPETITIONS

5619

Height: 5-10 Weight: 170 Hometown: Glasgow, Scotland Last Club: Derby County FC (England) Acquired: Signed on 1/31/2018

2020 Season (all competitions): • Has started five of six appearances (364 minutes played). • Recorded an assist in 4-0 win vs. Houston on March 7. • Scored a goal in 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake on July 22. Off the Pitch: • Provided commentary for classic match re-airings on FOX Sports KC. • Participated in Sporting Game Night, a trivia show hosted by former Sporting midfielder Benny Feilhaber. • Donated thousands of dollars for a disability soccer team in Scotland in 2016. • Grew up in Glasgow and remains a huge fan of Celtic FC. • Considered quitting soccer at one point in 2017, but his move to Sporting at the start of 2018 revived him mentally and gave him a new outlook on his career.

Birthday: 4/8/1990

Sporting KC acquired Scottish winger Johnny Russell in a transfer from English club Derby County FC in January 2018. Russell has tallied 22 goals and 25 assists in 77 appearances for Sporting KC since the start of 2018, including two hat tricks.

League. He added 14 more goals in all comps during the 2011-12 campaign to pace another fourth-place finish. Russell’s final season at Dundee saw him produce a team-best 20 goals in 38 competitive appearances. Russell reached new heights in June 2013 when he joined Derby County. He marked his debut for the outfit with his first of nine Russell previously scored 93 goals during a 12-year professional career in England and goals in the 2013-14 English Championship as the Rams fell just short of promotion to the his native Scotland. Russell developed in the Dundee United Academy in Scotland before EPL. He totaled 18 goals over the next two seasons. making his professional debut for the top-flight Scottish Premiership club in May 2007 at age 17. He spent most of the following two seasons on loan at Scottish side Forfar Russell has 13 career caps for Scotland and scored his first international goal during a Athletic and marked his first career Dundee United start with a goal in the 2009 Scottish European Championshop Qualifier in San Marino on March 24, 2019. Russell made his FA Cup. After being loaned to Raith Rovers in 2009-10, Russell enjoyed a breakout year debut in 2014 and recently helped Scotland gain promotion to League B in the UEFA at Dundee United with nine goals as the Tangerines finished fourth in the Scottish Premier Nations League in 2018. He has also represented Scotland at the U-19 and U-21 levels. MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SOG

OFF

GWG

GWA

KC - Regular Season

4595

133

196

KC - Postseason

345

MLS - TOTAL

4940

141

209

#20 | F | DANIEL SALLOI | @danielsalloi SPORTING KC STATS

MIN

MLS Regular Season

5011

MLS Postseason

397

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

495

International

152

ALL COMPETITIONS

100

6065

2020 Season (all competitions): • Has made three substitute appearances (17 minutes played). Off the Pitch: • Filmed his own vlog series, featuring the hidden talents of several Sporting players during their free time in quarantine. • Submitted his own drawing in Sporting’s First Friday art contest on the club’s official mobile app. • Provided commentary for classic match re-airings on FOX Sports KC. • Participated in FIFA 20 live streams while interacting with fans. • Conducted virtual chats with Sporting KC Academy players, discussing the importance of hard work and being a good teammate in addition to talking about important racial issues. • Participated in Sporting Game Night, a trivia show hosted by former Sporting midfielder Benny Feilhaber.

Height: 6-1 Weight: 150 Birthday: 7/19/1996 Hometown: Budapest, Hungary Last Club: Gyirmot SE (Hungary) - Loan Acquired: Signed as a Homegrown on 1/13/2016 Sporting Kansas City signed forward Daniel Salloi as the fourth Homegrown Player in club history in early 2016 and made his Sporting KC debut on April 9, 2017 against the Colorado Rapids. Salloi is one of eight Homegrown Players on Sporting Kansas City’s current roster, alongside Gianluca Busio (2017), Jaylin Lindsey (2018), Wan Kuzain (2018), Tyler Freeman (2019), Cameron Duke (2019), Felipe Hernandez (2019) and John Pulskamp.

and added three assists before being loaned to Gyirmot SE in Hungary for the remainder of the season. Salloi moved to the United States in August 2014 as an AFS exchange student and attended Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas, joining joined the Sporting Kansas City Academy U-18s for the 2014-15 season.

After a successful spell with the Sporting KC U-18s, Salloi returned to his former Academy side Ujpest FC in July 2015 to sign an amateur contract for senior team, a 20-time He scored on his first start for the club - a 4-0 win over Minnesota United FC in the U.S. champion in Hungary’s first division. He made his professional debut in the top-tier OTP Open Cup on June 14, 2017 - before adding his first MLS goal vs. Portland on July 1. Bank Liga on July 18, the day before his 19th birthday. Salloi received his first call-up to Salloi scored the winning goal in the 2017 U.S. Open Cup Final. Salloi made 10 the Hungary National Team in August 2018. He previously played for the Hungary appearances for Sporting KC’s USL affiliate, Sporting KC II, in 2016 and scored four goals Under-21 National Team after debuting in 2017 and earned four caps. MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SOG

OFF

GWG

GWA

KC - Regular Season

5011

170

KC - Postseason

397

MLS - TOTAL

5408

185

Sporting KC Media Guide | MLS is Back Tournament | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #6 | M | ILIE SANCHEZ SPORTING KC STATS

MIN

MLS Regular Season

104

8988

MLS Postseason

480

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

870

International

540

ALL COMPETITIONS

125

120

10968

Height: 5-11 Weight: 170 Hometown: Barcelona, Spain Last Club: Elche CF (Spain) Acquired: Signed on 1/13/2017

2020 Season (all competitions): • Has started six matches (539 minutes played). • Scored his penalty kick in a shootout win over Vancouver on July 26. Off the Pitch: • Was a leading voice of “We Got This KC,” a rallying campaign for the city during COVID-19. • Made virtual visits to youth patients at Children’s Mercy Hospital. • Made virtual visits to youth athletes at Special Olympics Kansas and Missouri. • Provided commentary for classic match re-airings on FOX Sports KC. • Delivered a video message of thanks to frontline and healthcare workers during COVID-19.

Birthday: 11/21/1990

Ilie, a product of FC Barcelona’s famed La Masia youth academy, has eight years of professional experience in Spain and Germany. The defensive midfielder featured extensively for FC Barcelona B from 2009-2014 and most recently played for Elche CF during the 2015-16 season. He joined Sporting KC ahead of the 2017 season and has made 121 appearances in all competitions, earning SKC Newcomer of the Year honors in 2017 before being named an MLS All-Star and the club’s Most Valuable Player in 2018.

After missing most of 2011-12 through injury, Sánchez claimed a regular spot in Barcelona B’s midfield over the next two seasons. He played 29 league matches in 2012-13 and started 36 of 38 appearances in 2013-14, guiding Barcelona B to another third-place finish in the Segunda Division. Sánchez appeared in 114 league games during his five-year spell at FC Barcelona B.

Sánchez moved to Germany’s second division in 2014, making 26 appearances in all Born and raised in Barcelona, Sánchez jumped from La Masia to FC Barcelona B ahead competitions for 1860 Munich of the 2. Bundesliga. He was then loaned back to his native of the 2009-10 campaign. He helped the club earn promotion to the Spanish Segunda Spain for the 2015-16 campaign, where he played 28 games for CF Elche in the Segunda Division in his first professional season. He played 24 more matches the following year as Division. Barcelona B finished third in Spain’s second tier. MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SOG

OFF

GWG

GWA

KC - Regular Season

104

8988

KC - Postseason

480

MLS - TOTAL

109

104

9468

#1 | GK | RICHARD SANCHEZ | @richsanz45 SPORTING KC STATS

MIN

MLS Regular Season

104

MLS Postseason

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

International

ALL COMPETITIONS

104

2020 Season (all competitions): • Has started one of two appearances (104 minutes played. • Two saves, 1-1-0 record and 3.46 GAA. Off the Pitch: • Engaged to former Mexican Women’s National Team defender Christiana Murillo, who now works as a coach in the Chicago Fire Juniors girls program.

Height: 6-3 Weight: 185 Birthday: 4/5/1994 Hometown: Little Elm, Texas Last Club: Chicago Fire (MLS) Acquired: Acquired in Re-Entry Draft on 11/26/2019 Sporting Kansas City selected Richard Sanchez in Stage 1 of the 2019 MLS Re-Entry Draft in November 2019. Sanchez already has nine seasons of professional experience under his belt after developing in the FC Dallas Academy and competing in the United States and Mexico. He spent the last three seasons in MLS with the Chicago Fire, where he totaled 90 saves across 27 league appearances.

FC Dallas loaned Sanchez to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in 2013, where he made his professional debut in the NASL. He was sold to Liga MX powerhouse Tigres UANL a year later and went on loan to both FC Dallas (2014) and Mexican side Tampico Madero (2016-2017) during his time with the Los Tigres. After a three-year spell in Mexico, Sanchez returned to MLS in August 2017 when he joined the Chicago Fire.

Born in Mission Hills, California before moving to Little Elm, Texas, Sanchez joined the prestigious Atletico Madrid Academy in Spain in 2008. He moved back to Texas the following year and developed in the FC Dallas Academy, signing as an MLS Homegrown Player in February 2011.

On the international stage, Sanchez was the starting goalkeeper and played all seven matches for Mexico as El Tri captured the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup title on home soil. Sanchez posted two shutouts in the tournament, including a clean sheet in the final - a 2-0 victory over Uruguay. He was also Mexico’s starting keeper at the 2013 U-20 World Cup two years later, helping his side reach the Round of 16.

MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SVS

GAA

KC - Regular Season

104

3.46

MLS - Regular Season

2491

148

1.99

MLS - TOTAL

2491

148

1.99

MIN

MLS Regular Season

1813

MLS Postseason

172

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

International

ALL COMPETITIONS

2080

Height: 6-3 Weight: 190 Hometown: Leander, Texas College: Oregon State Last Club: SC Paderborn 07 (Germany) Acquired: Signed on 12/9/2019

2020 Season (all competitions): • Has started six matches (523 minutes played). • Recorded a goal and an assist in 4-0 win vs. Houston on March 7. • Scored a goal in 2-1 loss to Minnesota United FC on July 12. • Scored a goal in 3-2 win over Colorado Rapids on July 17. Off the Pitch: • Participated in a virtual Memorial Day ceremony for the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City. • Participated in a Kansas City radiothon fundraiser for COVID-19 relief. • Provided commentary for classic match re-airings on FOX Sports KC. • Joined Amadou Dia as one of the club’s leaders in the movement to eliminate racism.

Birthday: 6/26/1993

Shelton spent 2019 with German club SC Paderborn 07 and returns to Kansas City for his second stint at Sporting after helping the club to first place in the Western Conference and a record-breaking scoring season in 2018. Shelton started 17 of 24 appearances for Sporting in all competitions during a 2018 campaign that saw the club set regular season club records in goals, assists and goal differential. He tallied two goals and five assists in MLS play as Sporting finished atop the West with 62 points and an 18-8-8 record, including a 12-3-5 mark in regular-season matches that Shelton played.

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.

Shelton was selected second overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft on Jan. 15, 2015 by expansion side New York City FC and spent three seasons with the club.

Shelton was a member of the U.S. U-18 National Team for the Lisbon International Tournament in 2011. Selected to the U18 squad for its trip to Israel in 2010.

In college, Shelton recorded 10 goals and 12 assists at Oregon State University his senior season. He was an NSCAA All-America Second Team; 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.

MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SOG

OFF

GWG

GWA

KC - Regular Season

1813

MLS - Regular Season

4298

KC - Postseason

172

MLS - Postseason

229

MLS - TOTAL

4527

#16 | D | GRAHAM SMITH | @grahamsmith161 SPORTING KC STATS

MIN

MLS Regular Season

1152

MLS Postseason

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

180

International

ALL COMPETITIONS

1422

2020 Season (all competitions): • Has started two matches (180 minutes played). • Made his season debut with a 90-minute outing in a 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake on July 22. • Has contributed to two shutouts. Off the Pitch: • Provided commentary for classic match re-airings on FOX Sports KC.

Height: 6-3 Weight: 185 Birthday: 4/8/1990 Hometown: Highlands Ranch, Colorado College: University of Denver Acquired: 2018 MLS SuperDraft 1st Round (#18) - signed on 2/15/18 Sporting Kansas City selected center back Graham Smith with the 18th overall pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft before officially sigining him in February 2018. He made his debut and first start for the club in the 3-2 victory over Houston on June 23, 2018, going the full 90 minutes at center back in the thrilling win.

A native of Highlands Ranch, Colo., Smith was teammates with current SKC forward Khiry Shelton during his freshman year at Oregon State. He assisted three goals in 38 matches for the Beavers, helping the side reach the NCAA Tournament in 2014. Upon transferring to Denver in 2016, Smith helped the Pioneers reach the Men’s College Cup for the first time in program history. He split time between the holding midfield and Smith split his four-year college career between Oregon State University (2014-15) and center back positions, serving as the anchor of a defense that notched a 0.52 goals the University of Denver (2016-17). The defender started all 80 appearances at the NCAA against average in 2016 and a 0.71 goals against average in 2017. As a senior, Smith Division I level, registering six goals and seven assists in his final two seasons with the was a United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Second Team selection and a CoSIDA Pioneers. Academic All-American. MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SOG

OFF

GWG

GWA

KC - Regular Season

1152

MLS - TOTAL

1152

MIN

MLS Regular Season

307

MLS Postseason

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

173

International

ALL COMPETITIONS

480

2020 Season (all competitions): • Has not featured. Off the Pitch: • Was Sporting’s representative in the eMLS Tournament Special, where he finished in second place alongside eMLS player and Kansas City native Alekzandur.

Height: 5-10 Weight: 160 Birthday: 9/14/1998 Hometown: Carbondale, Illinois Last Club: Sporting Kansas City II (USL) Acquired: Signed as Homegrown on 4/13/2018 Sporting Kansas City signed holding midfielder Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal to an MLS contract on April 13, 2018, becoming the ninth Homegrown player in club history and one of eight on the current roster. Kuzain is the first Sporting KC Homegrown signing to progress from the Sporting KC Academy to Sporting KC II to the senior team. Kuzain made his Sporting KC debut on May 27, 2018 before scoring his first goal in his second appearance with the game-winner against Minnesota United on June 3, 2018. Born and raised in Carbondale, Illinois, Kuzain spent several years with St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Club before joining the Sporting Kansas City Academy in August 2016. He signed an Academy contract with the Rangers later that month.

Kuzain continued to develop in 2017 with Sporting II, where he helped them to a second straight Western Conference championship. He debuted for the club last March and signed his first professional contract with the club in July, ending the campaign with 13 games played. His 91.3-percent passing accuracy last season ranked first in the USL among players with at least five appearances. As a youth, Kuzain previously trained with the United States U-17 Men’s National Team in 2013 and 2014 as well as Dutch club Feyenoord in late 2015.

MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SOG

OFF

GWG

GWA

KC - Regular Season

307

MLS - TOTAL

307

#8 | D | GRAHAM ZUSI | @gzusi SPORTING KC STATS

MIN

MLS Regular Season

284

243

22301

MLS Postseason

1739

MLS is Back KO Stage

U.S. Open Cup

1537

International

1140

ALL COMPETITIONS

334

291

26807

2020 Season (all competitions: • Has started five matches (540 minutes played). • Scored a goal in 3-2 win over Colorado Rapids on July 17. • Has contributed to three shutouts Off the Pitch: • Conducted virtual visits to youth patients at Children’s Mercy Hospital. • Delivered video messages of congrats and support to the graduating Class of 2020. • Provided commentary for classic match re-airings on FOX Sports KC. • Delivered a video message of thanks to frontline and healthcare workers during COVID-19. • Participated in Sporting Game Night, a trivia show hosted by former Sporting midfielder Benny Feilhaber.

Height: 5-10 Weight: 160 Birthday: 8/18/1986 Hometown: Longwood, Florida College: Maryland Acquired: 2009 MLS SuperDraft 2nd Round (#23) A 10-year veteran for Sporting KC, Graham Zusi has garnered MLS All-Star (2012-15, 2017-19), 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.

reached 50 regular-season assists and later moved into first in club history with 24 game-winning assists on Aug. 19, 2017 versus FC Dallas.

Zusi has earned 55 caps for the U.S. Men’s National Team since debuting in January 2012, recording five goals and seven assists. He played four matches at the 2014 FIFA Zusi re-signed with Sporting KC in late 2018. He has recorded 32 goals and 80 assists in World Cup, tallying two assists as the U.S. advanced out of the group stage. He played in 334 appearances for Sporting KC across all competitions since being drafted in 2009 out his first CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2015, starting two matches, and scored in a World Cup of the University of Maryland, where he won two national championships. He is second in qualifier against Guatemala on March 29, 2016. He played five games for the U.S. at the club history with 80 total assists, while his 410 chances created from 2011-2015 (including 2016 Copa America Centenario, scoring on June 7 in a 4-0 win over Costa Rica. He postseason) ranked third in MLS. With his assist against RSL on April 29, 2017, Zusi recently made four appearances as the U.S. won the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. MLS CAREER STATS

MIN

SHT

SOG

OFF

GWG

GWA

KC - Regular Season

284

243

22301

426

134

228

329

794

KC - Postseason

1739

MLS - TOTAL

302

261

24040

457

137

253

359

863