With the 2020 MLS season on temporary hold, SportingKC.com is taking daily strolls down memory lane with an "On This Day" web series that celebrates memorable moments in team history. As one of Major League Soccer's proud charter members, Sporting has a decorated past full of thrilling victories, amazing goals, momentous off-the-field developments and more. "On This Day" pays tribute to these specific instances, turning back the clocks while treating fans to nostalgia and club history lessons. To catch up on the series as it unfolds, visit SportingKC.com/OnThisDay.
An out-swinging Graham Zusi corner kick headed home by leaping Frenchman Aurelien Collin.
It's a scene that most Sporting Kansas City fans will connect to the unforgettable 2013 MLS Cup at Children's Mercy Park. With 76 minutes on the clock, Collin latched onto Zusi's delivery and snapped a powerful header past Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando to level terms at 1-1 in a match that Sporting would ultimately win via penalty shootout.
However, Collin and Zusi had already struck up this killer combination several months earlier. Rewind to April 17, 2013, more than seven months before MLS Cup and exactly seven years ago today. In a tightly contested midweek matchup against the New York Red Bulls in Harrison, New Jersey, Sporting prevailed with a 1-0 triumph thanks to the duo mentioned above.
In the 13th minute, Collin met Zusi's corner with his shiny dome and beat New York goalkeeper Luis Robles from 10 yards. The 1-0 result vaulted Sporting to first place in the fledgling Eastern Conference standings and gave keeper Jimmy Nielsen his fifth consecutive clean sheet as Manager Peter Vermes' men extended their gaudy shutout streak to 519 minutes.
Nielsen made three saves on the night, collecting his 37th career shutout in the MLS regular season to tie Tony Meola for the most in Kansas City history at the time.
