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.
Three years ago today, goalkeeper Tim Melia made arguably the greatest save of his life.
Make no mistake about it: Sporting Kansas City had Melia’s gloved fingertips to thank for a gritty 1-0 road win over the Portland Timbers on April 15, 2017.
Heading into the late stages at raucous Providence Park, Portland was on the front foot searching for an equalizer after Dom Dwyer had drawn first blood with a 53rd-minute goal assisted by Jimmy Medranda. And with 79 minutes on the clock, upwards of 21,000 fans in attendance were left in disbelief.
Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe unleashed a venomous volley from 30 yards that looked destined to dip under the crossbar, but Melia dove at full extension to touch the ball onto the frame of the woodwork and preserve Sporting's narrow lead.
The heroic intervention won MLS Save of the Week by a comfortable margin and ultimately proved pivotal as Sporting held on for all three points and extended their unbeaten run to six games to start the 2017 MLS campaign.
As it turns out, Melia was just getting started. He ended the season as the 2017 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, posting MLS career-highs at the time in wins (12), shutouts (10), saves (91), starts (31) and minutes (2,759). Among goalkeepers with at least 15 regular season appearances in 2017, he led MLS with a 0.78 goals against average, 78.4 save percentage and 69.2-percent passing accuracy while placing second in shutouts.
Melia helped lead the best MLS defense in 2017, as Sporting’s 29 goals allowed during the regular season were eight fewer than any other team. He saved three penalty kicks, one shy of the single-season league record, and his stunning stop to deny Nagbe was nominated for MLS Save of the Year.
