Sporting Kansas City returns home this weekend to face off against Western Conference foes the Portland Timbers at Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday afternoon. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. CT and will be televised nationally on FOX and FOX Deportes while also available to stream for free on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV in English and Spanish. The match will also be available on the radio locally on Sports Radio 810 WHB (English) and La Grande 1340 AM (Spanish), while tickets are available via SeatGeek.com.
1. IMMEDIATE BOUNCE BACK
Sporting Kansas City bounced back from the club’s first defeat of the 2024 season with an impressive 3-1 victory over Toronto FC at BMO Field last Saturday night. Just a week after letting a 2-0 lead slip to fall 3-2 to the Galaxy at home, Sporting put those demons to rest with a dominant performance against TFC and now enters a stretch of three consecutive home matches from April 7-20 as the squad looks to surge up the standings.
The result was made all the more impressive since Toronto had conceded just two goals in their first five matches this season before Sporting fired three into the Canadian’s net in the second half. The result extended a remarkable streak where the club has not lost at BMO Field since April 26, 2009, when Peter Vermes had not yet become Kansas City’s manager. Since 2010, Sporting is 5-0-4 at the stadium with their only loss up north coming on March 9, 2013 in a match played at Rogers Centre.
With 22-year-old Jake Davis and 20-year-old Alenis Vargas on the scoresheet, Saturday marked the eighth regular-season match in club history with multiple SKC goalscorers under the age of 23 and the first time since October 17, 2018 when Daniel Salloi (age 22) and Gianluca Busio (age 16) scored in a 4-1 win at Vancouver.
2. TUSSLING WITH THE TIMBERS
Sporting Kansas City returns home this weekend to host the Portland Timbers at Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday afternoon coming off a bounce back victory over Toronto FC at BMO Field on Saturday night. The Timbers on the other hand started the season with two wins and a draw but have now lost three straight heading into Sunday’s encounter.
Sporting and Portland split the season series in 2023, first opening the campaign with a 1-0 loss at Providence Park on Monday, Feb. 27. Originally schedule for Saturday, Feb. 25, the game was postponed two days following severe weather in Oregon. Sporting dominated much of that match but were undone by an early goal from Portland’s Juan Mosquera that was enough to seal all three points for the hosts.
Sporting claimed a home win of their own on May 28, 2023, producing a resounding 4-1 come-from-behind victory after Franck Boli had given the Timbers an early lead. Erik Thommy equalized with the club’s Goal of the Year before halftime before Daniel Salloi, an own goal and Felipe Hernandez sealed the points in the second half.
Sporting leads the all-time regular-season series with the Timbers 9-7-6, including a 5-1-4 mark at Children’s Mercy Park where Portland hasn’t won in the regular-season since 2013.
3. WALTER SCORES STUNNER ON MILESTONE NIGHT
Sporting Kansas City midfielder Remi Walter marked a special personal milestone with a brilliant goal during Saturday night’s 3-1 victory over Toronto FC at BMO Field - culminating with a spot on the bench of the MLS Team of the Matchday.
Walter fired home the opening goal with a stunning strike from 25 yards in the 57th minute of the contest. The goal came on a night where Walter reached 100 regular-season appearances for Sporting KC, becoming the 41st player in club history and sixth on the active roster to make a century of appearances in the regular season.
Player | Regular-Season Appearances |
Tim Melia | 238 |
Daniel Salloi | 185 |
Johnny Russell | 171 |
Khiry Shelton | 119 |
Andreu Fontas | 110 |
Remi Walter | 100 |
4. DAVIS STRIKES FOR FIRST MLS GOAL
Sporting Kansas City Homegrown defender Jake Davis enjoyed a momentous night in his burgeoning career on Saturday, tallying his first MLS goal with what would turn out to be the game-winner in the 3-1 victory over Toronto FC at BMO Field.
Davis received a pass from Willy Agada 25 yards from goal, took a clean first touch out of his feet and slammed a swerving effort beyond the reach of TFC goalkeeper Luka Gavran to make the score 2-0 in the 64th minute of the match.
Davis scored his first goal for Sporting in his 46th competitive appearance for the club, while he became the eighth Sporting KC Academy product to score in a competitive match for the first team joining Kevin Ellis, Daniel Salloi, Gianluca Busio, Jaylin Lindsey, Wan Kuzain, Cam Duke and Felipe Hernandez.
The 22-year-old - who also tallied his team-leading third assist of the 2024 campaign in the win - was named to the MLS Team of the Matchday and also nominated for MLS Player of the Matchday and Goal of the Matchday.
5. VARGAS OFF THE MARK FOR THE FIRST TEAM
Sporting Kansas City youngster Alenis Vargas put a bow on the club’s impressive 3-1 victory over Toronto FC at BMO Field last Saturday night, bagging the third and final goal of the night in the 83rd minute.
Vargas received a pass from Jake Davis before knocking the ball around TFC defender Shane O’Neill, burning him for pace and slotting low beyond Luka Gavran for his first MLS goal for the club.
Vargas, who joined the Honduras National Team for the first time last month, scored six goals and added five assists for SKC II in MLS NEXT Pro last season while on loan from Costa Rican club Futbol Consultants Desamparados before signing with the first team on a permanent deal in the offseason.
