A comprehensive 2-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday closed the curtains on Sporting Kansas City's first leg of the 2018 preseason, presented by Children's Mercy.
Manager Peter Vermes deployed 35 players over the course of three exhibition wins at Phoenix Rising FC Soccer Complex in Tempe, Arizona. Far below is a current look at the preseason stat log, with four friendlies still to come during the Mobile Mini Sun Cup.
Sporting KC 2018 Preseason Schedule
<strong>DATE</strong> |
<strong>OPPONENT</strong> |
<strong>TIME (CT)<br>
or RESULT</strong> |
<strong>VENUE</strong> |
Saturday, Jan. 27 |
Phoenix Rising FC trialists |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2018/01/27/preseason-recap-sporting-kc-opens-preseason-2-1-victory-over-phoenix-rising-fc">W 2-1</a> |
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex<br>
Scottsdale, AZ |
Wednesday, Jan. 31 |
Sporting Arizona |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2018/01/31/preseason-recap-sporting-kc-earns-4-0-win-over-sporting-arizona">W 4-0</a> |
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex<br>
Scottsdale, AZ |
Saturday, Feb. 3 |
Colorado Rapids |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2018/02/03/preseason-recap-khiry-shelton-and-gerso-score-early-2-0-win-over-colorado-rapids">W 2-0</a> |
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex<br>
Scottsdale, AZ |
Wednesday, Feb. 14 |
New York Red Bulls |
12pm |
Kino Sports Complex<br>
Tucson, AZ |
Saturday, Feb. 17 |
Phoenix Rising FC <a href="https://www1.ticketmaster.com/phoenix-rising-v-sporting-kc-scottsdale-arizona-02-17-2018/event/19005375EFCE33D5"><strong>(tickets)</strong></a> |
4pm |
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex<br>
Scottsdale, AZ |
Wednesday, Feb. 21 |
New England Revolution |
12pm |
Kino Sports Complex<br>
Tucson, AZ |
Saturday, Feb. 24 |
TBD <a href="http://www.ticketmaster.com/2018-mobile-mini-sun-cup-tucson-arizona-02-24-2018/event/19005375916317FA?artistid=2442417&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=11"><strong>(tickets)</strong></a> |
TBD |
Kino Sports Complex<br>
Tucson, AZ |
Sporting KC has used a balanced attack in the early stages as seven goal scorers found the back of the net and six players recorded assists. Gerso was the lone contributor to strike twice, having led the team in 2017 with 10 goals in all competitions, while Cristian Lobato was the only player to provide a goal and an assist.
Swope Park Rangers midfielder Kuzain led the squad through three games with 165 minutes played, while the versatile James Musa wasn't far behind at 150 minutes. Kuzain was one of nine Sporting KC Academy products to earn playing time alongside Daniel Salloi (one goal), Gianluca Busio (one goal), Jaylin Lindsey (one assist), Sebastian Cruz, Cameron Duke, Felipe Hernandez, Matt Lewis and Zach Wright.
Sporting KC 2018 Preseason Statistics
<strong>POS</strong> |
<strong>Player</strong> |
<strong>Games</strong> |
<strong>Starts</strong> |
<strong>Goals</strong> |
<strong>Assists</strong> |
<strong>Minutes</strong> |
F |
Gerso |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
105 |
D/F |
Cristian Lobato |
3 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
105 |
F |
Daniel Salloi |
3 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
105 |
F |
Khiry Shelton |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
105 |
M |
Gianluca Busio |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
105 |
F |
Hadji Barry ^ |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
90 |
F |
Will Bagrou * |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
90 |
M |
Ilie |
3 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
105 |
D |
Jaylin Lindsey |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
105 |
F |
Diego Rubio |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
105 |
D |
Wilfred Williams * |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
120 |
F |
Kharlton Belmar |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
105 |
D |
Matt Besler |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
105 |
GK |
Tim Melia |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
105 |
M |
Yohan Croizet |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
105 |
M |
Roger Espinoza |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
105 |
D |
Amer Didic |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
105 |
D |
Seth Sinovic |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
105 |
D |
Ike Opara |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
45 |
D |
Graham Zusi |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
30 |
D |
Jimmy Medranda |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
30 |
M |
Kuzain ^ |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
165 |
D/M |
James Musa |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
150 |
F |
Zach Wright |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
135 |
D |
Graham Smith * |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
105 |
D |
Colton Storm |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
105 |
GK |
Adrian Zendejas |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
105 |
M |
Felipe Hernandez ^ |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
105 |
D |
Matt Lewis |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
90 |
D |
Trialist 1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
90 |
M |
Rodrigo Saravia ^ |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
60 |
GK |
Andrew Dykstra |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
60 |
M |
Sebastian Cruz ** |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
60 |
M |
Cameron Duke ** |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
60 |
GK |
Eric Dick * |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
30 |
* Unsigned MLS SuperDraft pick
** Sporting KC Academy
^ Swope Park Rangers
