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.
Fifteen years ago today, one of the best attacking players to wear a Kansas City uniform delivered one of the most prolific performances in club history.
In a 4-0 road victory over the Columbus Crew on May 14, 2005, forward Josh Wolff scored twice and assisted two more to accomplish a remarkably rare feat. He had become just the second Kansas City player to record two goals and two assists in an MLS match, following in the footsteps of a maestro named Preki who had previously done so in 1996 and 1998.
Wolff's masterclass was kickstarted in the 17th minute when he and Chris Klein set up Alex Zotinca for the Romanian's second career MLS goal. Kansas City would add another two goals before the half-hour mark, with Wolff slotting home off a pass from Davy Arnaud and Wolff returning the favor as Arnaud made it 3-0. The Wizards were in cruise control for the rest of the night and put icing on the cake when Wolff bagged a fourth in the 87th minute.
The two-goal, two-assist salvo was later achieved by current Sporting Kansas City winger Gerso Fernandes in a 5-1 away win against the San Jose Earthquakes on Sept. 15, 2018.
SPORTING KC: TWO GOALS + TWO ASSISTS IN AN MLS MATCH
<strong>Player</strong> |
<strong>G</strong> |
<strong>A</strong> |
<strong>Date</strong> |
<strong>Opponent</strong> |
<strong>Result</strong> |
Preki |
3 |
2 |
09/05/1998 |
vs. San Jose Earthquakes |
W 5-1 |
Preki |
2 |
2 |
05/02/1996 |
vs. Columbus Crew SC |
W 6-4 |
Josh Wolff |
2 |
2 |
05/14/2005 |
at Columbus Crew SC |
W 4-0 |
Gerso Fernandes |
2 |
2 |
09/15/2018 |
at San Jose Earthquakes |
W 5-1 |
Wolf was inducted as Sporting Kansas City's 10th Sporting Legend last summer. Over the course of seven seasons from 2003-2006 and 2008-2010, he played an instrumental role in Kansas City’s on-field success with 46 goals and 30 assists in 163 competitive appearances. He is one of four players in team history—alongside Preki, Klein and Arnaud—to notch at least 40 goals and 30 assists for the club.
Wolff, who led the Wizards to playoff appearances in 2003, 2004 and 2008, hit double-digit goals for Kansas City in three separate regular seasons—a feat matched by only Preki and Dom Dwyer. His standout 2004 campaign yielded 11 goals in all competitions, culminating in the club’s first Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title, a run to the MLS Cup final and MLS All-Star accolades.
