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.
By the springtime of 2015, Sporting Kansas City and Ivy Investments boasted a kit collection that stood proudly among the best in Major League Soccer. The iconic State Line primary kit dropped in 2013, followed shortly thereafter by the black argyle alternate strip and the horizontal-striped secondary jersey.
On May 3, 2015, Sporting and Ivy Investments introduced their newest smash hit in a nationally televised showdown against the Chicago Fire at Children's Mercy Park.
Five years ago today, Manager Peter Vermes' men took the pitch in their monochromatic white and metallic silver jersey for the first time. The collared kit’s signature argyle pattern, an iconic element from the black third kit from 2013-2014, stretched across the chest while also featuring atop the back of the uniform and on the reverse side of the socks. The silver metallic color scheme further showcased the player names and numbers as well as the two MLS Cup championship stars above the Sporting crest.
In hindsight, what transpired on the field was far more historic.
After serving as the club's backup goalkeeper for the first two months of the 2015 campaign, Tim Melia landed his Sporting Kansas City debut between the posts. It would also become his first-ever victory and clean sheet at the MLS level, as Sporting ultimately prevailed 1-0 on a second-half header from midfielder and current Sporting KC II head coach Paulo Nagamura in the 75th minute.
Fast-forward five years, and Melia has ascended from longtime second-string keeper at Real Salt Lake and Chivas USA to one of the league's premier goalkeepers. From 2015-2019, Melia won a pair of Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles and led MLS with 10 saved penalty kicks in regular season action, four more than any other player. During that time he also ranked third in shutouts (45), third in wins (62), fourth in saves (456) and fifth in save percentage (71.5%).
Melia, 33, sits atop Sporting’s all-time goalkeeping charts in competitive appearances and starts (172 each), games won (76) and clean sheets (54). In regular season play, he ranks first among Sporting goalkeepers in career minutes and saved penalties, second in saves and save percentage, and third in goals against average. The 2017 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year has helped his team to four playoff appearances and in January signed a new contract with Sporting through 2022.
