Sporting Kansas City returns home this weekend to take on fellow Western Conference side the Colorado Rapids at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT and is available on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app in both English and Spanish, while the match will also be broadcast on the radio locally on Sports Radio 810 WHB (English) and La Grande 1340 AM (Spanish).
1. RETURNING HOME WITH ENCOURAGING POINT
Sporting Kansas City remain in search of the club’s first victory of the 2023 season as the team gets set to host the Colorado Rapids at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night. Both clubs are coming off 0-0 draws against the two top teams of 2022, as Sporting earned a point on the road at MLS Cup runners-up the Philadelphia Union, while the Rapids held MLS Cup champions LAFC to a scoreless stalemate at home.
Sporting made five changes to the lineup in the match against the Union, producing the type of reaction Peter Vermes was looking for following the 4-1 home loss to Seattle the previous week. A total of 24 different players have now taken the field for Sporting through the first six matchdays of the 2023 season, which ranks most in the league this year along with Real Salt Lake.
Sporting and Colorado are the only two winless teams that have played six matches so far in 2023. Teams have gone winless in their first six matches 23 times in MLS history prior to this season, and nine have gone on to qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Colorado enters the weekend winless in the club’s last nine road matches dating back to 2022. Since the start of last season, Colorado is 1-13-6 on the road in the regular season. Only San Jose (1-13-5) has fewer points on the road in 2022 and 2023.
2. RAPIDS RUNDOWN
Sporting Kansas City returns home this weekend to take on the Colorado Rapids at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night. It’s the second match between the two sides in approximately one month as the season series between Sporting and the Rapids will conclude just seven matches into the season.
Sporting and Colorado played to a 0-0 draw at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on March 4, 2023, earning both teams their first point of the campaign. Sporting weathered an early Rapids storm, with John Pulskamp denying Darren Yapi in the first minute before Graham Zusi saw the ball ricochet off his knee and hit the post later in the first half. Once Sporting settled down, they forced Rapids goalkeeper William Yarbrough into 11 saves - the most saves of his MLS career and second highest mark in Colorado history.
Sporting last hosted the Rapids on May 14, 2022, emerging as 2-1 winners. Daniel Salloi gave Sporting the lead in the first half before Gyasi Zardes equalized just before the break. Salloi’s second of the night would give Sporting all three points, but not before a wild period of second-half stoppage time that saw red cards shown to Colorado’s Auston Trusty and Lucas Esteves as well as Sporting’s Andreu Fontas and Salloi.
Sporting leads the all-time series 29-25-19, including a dominant 23-6-6 mark at home.
3. CASTELLANOS & ROSERO IMPRESS ON DEBUT
Sporting Kansas City defenders Robert Castellanos and Dany Rosero enjoyed an impressive start to life in a Sporting blue jersey, shutting out the top scoring team of 2022 on the road with Saturday’s 0-0 draw against the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park.
While Castellanos had spent most of preseason with Sporting after signing from KuPS in Finland, Rosero had been in the country for less than a week when Sporting took on the Union, having arrived from Colombian side Atletico Junior. The duo kept a dynamic Philadelphia offense at bay, limiting the home side to just four shots on goal.
Castellanos led the team with five clearances and was tied for the team-lead with three interceptions. Dany Rosero had three clearances, four recoveries and committed zero fouls, while also winning five of his seven duels and three of his four aerial duels. Rosero also posed a goal threat, having three attempts at goal including SKC’s best chance of the match, a header that Andre Blake was able to gather toward the end of the first half.
4. MELIA SHINES IN RETURN TO LINEUP
Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia returned to the lineup for the first time since last July and helped lead his team to a shutout on Saturday night with a 0-0 draw against the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park.
Melia suffered a hamstring injury in the club’s 2-0 loss to LAFC at Children’s Mercy Park on July 23, 2022 and would go on to miss the remainder of the season with youngster John Pulskamp deputizing in his place. After entering preseason healthy, Melia suffered a back spasm that forced him to sit out a lengthy chunk of Sporting’s preparations for the 2023 campaign.
Melia made four saves on Saturday night as he posted his first shutout since a goalless draw at New York City FC on May 7, 2022.
The 36-year-old added to his club record with his 64th regular-season shutout on Saturday and his 73rd clean sheet in all competitions. Melia is also the club’s all-time goalkeeping leader in appearances (246) and wins (105) across all competitions.
5. PULIDO RETURNS AFTER 16 MONTHS OUT
Sporting Kansas City Designated Player Alan Pulido made his return from injury after 16 months out in Sporting’s 0-0 draw with the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park on Saturday night. Pulido’s last appearance came on Nov. 28, 2021 in the club’s MLS Cup Playoffs loss to Real Salt Lake, making Saturday’s appearance his first in 490 days.
Pulido entered the game in place of Willy Agada in the 63rd minute and immediately looked sharp, combining with fellow Sporting attackers Daniel Salloi and Erik Thommy.
The Mexican international completed 12 of his 16 passes, attempted three dribbles and competed in nine duels, showing little fear when fighting for possession after such a lengthy spell out.
