Sporting Kansas City hits the road for the first of two challenging away matches this week as the team gets set to take on Los Angeles FC at BMO Stadium on Wednesday night. Kickoff is set for 9:30 p.m. CT on Saturday and is available to stream on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV in English and Spanish, while the match will also be available on the radio locally on Sports Radio 810 WHB (English) and La Grande 1340 AM (Spanish).
1. TWO WINS ON THE BOUNCE
Sporting Kansas City are looking to continue the recovery of the club’s season this Wednesday night when the team takes on reigning MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield champions Los Angeles FC at BMO Field. Goals from Dany Rosero, Daniel Salloi and Gadi Kinda saw Sporting win their second match on the bounce against Minnesota United FC at Children’s Mercy Park this past Saturday night.
Sporting now finds themselves just three points off the playoff line in the Western Conference after taking the last six points available. This week will not do Sporting any favors as the team plays second-place LAFC on Wednesday and third-place st. louis city sc on Saturday - with both matches on the road.
Sporting’s victory over Minnesota on Saturday night saw the team extend their perfect home record against the Loons in MLS play to 8-0-0 with 22 goals scored and just two conceded dating back to 2017. Sporting has also scored five goals in its last two MLS matches after scoring three in its first 10.
Sporting are in the midst of a road-heavy and highly-congested portion of the 2023 schedule. Sporting are set to play the top three teams in the Western Conference on the road over a four-game period (Seattle on May 7, LAFC on May 17 and st. louis on May 20). Throw in last Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup trip to Houston and Sporting will play five games in 14 days, with four coming on the road.
2. VISITING THE CHAMPS
Sporting Kansas City continues their congested fixture list this Wednesday when the team travels to take on reigning MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield champions Los Angeles FC at BMO Stadium. Following a winless first 10 matches, Sporting has now won two on the bounce at Seattle (May 7) and at home to Minnesota (May 13).
Sporting dropped the season series against LAFC last season, going 0-2-0 across two meetings in MLS regular-season action. LAFC won the first meeting at BMO Stadium on April 17, 2022 by a 3-1 scoreline. Johnny Russell forced an own goal to open the scoring for SKC but LAFC fought back and claimed all three points with goals from Cristian Arango, Ismael Tajouri-Shradi and Jose Cifuentes.
The return fixture saw LAFC claim a second consecutive victory over Sporting with a 2-0 win at Children’s Mercy Park on July 23, 2022. Following a scoreless first half, LAFC snatched all three points with goals from Cristian Arango and Gareth Bale.
Sporting KC is 4-5-0 all-time against LAFC, including a 2-3-0 mark on the road.
3. SALLOI TALLIES GOAL & ASSIST, EARNS MLS HONORS
Sporting Kansas City Homegrown Player Daniel Salloi continued to round into form this past weekend when the 26-year-old tallied a goal and the game-winning assist during the club’s 3-0 victory over Minnesota United FC at Children’s Mercy Park. His performance earned him a spot on the MLS Team of the Matchday.
Salloi’s perfectly-placed corner kick allowed Dany Rosero to break the deadlock in the ninth minute of the match, before the Hungary international fired home a goal of his own midway through the first half following a sumptuous piece of build-up play involving Alan Pulido and Remi Walter.
Salloi has scored or assisted on seven of Sporting’s 10 goals this season in all competitions (three goals, four assists). He now has 66 combined goals (40) and assists (26) in the regular season, tying Dom Dwyer for eighth most in club history. Salloi is the sixth player to eclipse 40 regular season goals in club history.
4. KINDA ON THE SCORESHEET FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2021
Sporting Kansas City Designated Player Gadi Kinda reached yet another major milestone in his comeback from injury when he scored his first goal since Oct. 3, 2021 during Saturday night’s 3-0 victory over Minnesota United FC at Children’s Mercy Park.
Kinda latched onto a through ball from Johnny Russell in the 84th minute and scooped a composed finish over Dayne St. Clair in the Minnesota goal to make the final score 3-0 on the night. It was Kinda’s fifth appearance since returning from knee surgery that kept him out for the entirity of 2022.
The Israeli international has barely missed a beat since returning to the team, having also tallied an assist on Erik Thommy’s opening goal against Seattle Sounders FC. Kinda now has 12 goals and 13 assists across 47 MLS regular-season appearances since joining the club from Beitar Jerusalem in his native Israel ahead of the 2020 campaign.
Russell’s assist on the goal saw him rise to 94 combined goals (54) and assists (40) in all competitions and pass Benny Feilhaber for sole possession of fourth most in club history.
5. ROSERO OPENS HIS ACCOUNT
Sporting Kansas City center back Dany Rosero opened his scoring account for the club on Saturday night, scoring what would turn out to the game-winning goal in then ninth minute of the 3-0 victory over Minnesota United FC at Children’s Mercy Park.
Always a danger in the air, Rosero rose highest to meet Daniel Salloi’s corner kick and direct his header beyond Dayne St. Clair and into the back of the net. The goal was Rosero’s 21st goal of his professional career. It is both Sporting’s first goal from a center back and first goal off a corner kick since Sept. 13, 2022 when Robert Voloder scored in a 3-0 win over D.C. United. Rosero’s goal and contribution to team’s shutout saw him named to the bench of the MLS Team of the Matchday.
Rosero has been a staple in the Sporting KC lineup since arriving in a transfer from Atletico Junior in his native Colombia. He has played every minute of MLS action since his debut on April 1 and ranks in a tie for sixth among all MLS defenders with 15 interceptions since his debut to go along with 34 of his 56 duels and 20 of his 31 aerial duels.
