Sporting Kansas City midfielder Erik Thommy was named to the MLS Team of the Matchday presented by Audi on Monday as one of the top 20 players in Major League Soccer for Matchday 37 of the regular seasonĀ
Thommy put in a man-of-the-match performance in Sporting's 3-2 road win at Real Salt Lake on Saturday that kept the club in contention for a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Just 36 seconds into the Western Conference clash, Thommy drew a red card on RSL defender Justen Glad before burying the ensuing free kick from 20 yards out into the back of the net to put Sporting a goal up and a man up within the first four minutes.
After scoring the club's first direct free kick goal in more than a year and drawing an opposition red card for the first time in more than a year, Thommy then helped double Sporting Kansas City's lead with a secondary assist on Johnny Russell's goal in the 29th minute.
The 29-year-old German is tied with fellow Designated Player Alan Pulido for the team lead with 18 goal contributions Ā (five goals, 13 assists) in all competitions this season. Thommy has also become the fifth player in club history with 11 assists in a regular season along with Preki (x6), Benny Feilhaber (x2), Graham Zusi (2012) and Matt McKeon (2000).
"We took the three points home and next game is an important game for us at home. Hopefully we have a lot of fans at home that keep pushing us," Thommy said in the postgame press conference. "Hopefully we can get it done and then there's hopefully a longer way to go."
Sporting KC will host Minnesota United FC at 8 p.m. CT on Saturday, Oct. 21 at Children's Mercy Park in a highly-anticipated Decision Day match-up with both teams tied on 41 points entering the final fixture of the regular season. Tickets are available online at SeatGeek and the match will be broadcast live on Apple TV via MLS Season Pass.
