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.
April 14 has treated Sporting Kansas City to a 3-0-1 record in the MLS regular season, bookended by a 2-1 home win over the LA Galaxy in 2002 and a 2-2 stalemate against the New York Red Bulls 366 days ago at Children's Mercy Park.
The newest edition of "On This Day," however, will spotlight the two fixtures that fell in between: a high-scoring 2007 season opener in the nation's capital and a springtime slugfest versus Real Salt Lake five years later.
We begin 13 years ago today when the Kansas City Wizards opened their MLS campaign with a visit to D.C. United. In a game televised nationally on the now-extinct Fox Soccer Channel, head coach Curt Onalfo's side raced to a stunning 2-0 lead within eight minutes. Rookie Michael Harrington opened his MLS scoring account just three minutes into his professional career, finishing neatly from a tight angle, and Sash Victorine doubled the advantage just a few moments later.
A pulsating first half at RFK Stadium saw the hosts rally to level the score at 2-2—Luciano Emilio and Christian Gomez found the back of the net—but the Wizards reclaimed their lead on the stroke of intermission when red-hot striker Eddie Johnson bagged his first of 15 goals on the season. Nine minutes into the second half, Scott Sealy put the game to bed by bundling home the rebound after Johnson's breakaway attempt was saved D.C. goalkeeper Troy Perkins.
Five transformational years later, the Wizards had become Sporting Kansas City and called world-class Children's Mercy Park their home.
On this day in 2012, with Manager Peter Vermes at the helm, Sporting stretched their winning streak to six matches to open the 2012 season with a 1-0 victory over budding rivals Real Salt Lake. Aurelien Collin scored the game-winning goal in the 63rd minute, heading home a corner kickfrom Graham Zusi, and goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen recorded his MLS-best fifth shutout of the year.
The contest will go down in history for Sporting's defensive achievement—a gaudy stretch that had begun three games earlier. In second-half stoppage time, Nielsen made an easy save on Nat Borchers' header following a set piece delivery from Kyle Beckerman. The shot on goal, RSL's only such shot of the match, ended Sporting's remarkable streak at 335 minutes without allowing an attempt on target. This set a new all-time best mark for MLS defenses that still stands today.
