Sporting Kansas City is back in MLS action this weekend with a trip to take on the San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park on Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 9:30 p.m. CT and will be available to stream for free on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV. The match will also be available on the radio locally on Sports Radio 810 WHB (English) and La Grande 1340 AM (Spanish).
1. GRUELING STRETCH CONTINUES
Sporting Kansas City continues the team’s grueling stretch of fixtures this weekend with a visit to take on the San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park on Saturday night. It’s game four of a hectic schedule that sees the team play seven matches in a 22-day period from June 29 through July 20.
Wednesday’s 2-1 extra-time victory over FC Dallas in the U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals sees Sporting advance to host USL Championship outfit Indy Eleven in the Semifinals on Aug. 27 or 28.
Sporting has now won three of their last four matches in all competitions, all three coming at Children’s Mercy Park (2-0 vs. ATX, 3-2 vs. DAL, 2-1 vs. DAL).
The focus now shifts to rectifying the club’s road form, where Sporting has not won in MLS action since March 30, losing a club-record eight straight since a 3-1 victory over Toronto FC. Sporting’s last road victory in any competition came on May 4 in the club’s Open Cup Round of 32 victory against Union Omaha.
2. SAN JOSE CLASH
Sporting Kansas City resumes MLS regular-season action this weekend as the club begins a two-game road swing with a matchup against the San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park on Saturday night. Sporting will remain out west following the match as the team heads directly to Vancouver for a clash with the Whitecaps at BC Place on Wednesday night.
Sporting claimed their first victory of the 2024 campaign against the Earthquakes on March 16, 2024 at Children’s Mercy Park. After Vitor Costa had given the visitors an early lead, Sporting responded quickly through Dany Rosero’s equalizer before a flowing move saw Johnny Russell set up Alan Pulido for the game-winner later in the first half.
Sporting last visited PayPal Park early in the 2023 campaign, suffering a 3-0 defeat on April 15, 2023. Cristian Espinoza gave the hosts the lead just nine minutes into the match before Robert Castellanos was sent off while conceding a penalty later in the first half. Jeremy Ebobisse converted the spot kick and added his second of the night early in the second period to seal all three points for the ‘Quakes.
Sporting is 31-26-10 all-time against San Jose, including a 7-17-8 mark on the road. However, Sporting has a winning record at PayPal Park since late in the 2016 campaign, going 3-2-2 over their last seven visits.
3. AGADA IN FINE FORM
Sporting Kansas City forward Willy Agada was back on the scoresheet during Sporting’s 2-1 victory over FC Dallas in the U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals at Children’s Mercy Park on Wednesday night, continuing the hot streak the Nigerian frontman has been on in recent weeks.
Agada struck in the 77th minute of the match with the opening goal, firing home from close range off a cutback from Jake Davis. The goal was Agada’s first in the U.S. Open Cup since joining Sporting midway through the 2022 campaign.
The 24-year-old had already scored a brace against Dallas over the weekend during Sporting’s 3-2 victory in MLS regular-season action, and has now scored five goals in his last five starts to take his total on the season to a team-high eight goals.
Remarkably, Agada has now scored 17 goals in 17 starts at Children’s Mercy Park since joining the club midway through the 2022 campaign. Agada has scored all eight of his goals in 2024 at home and 18 of his 20 goals across all competitions during his Sporting career have come at Children’s Mercy Park.
4. RUSSELL BAGS PAIR OF ASSISTS
Sporting Kansas City captain Johnny Russell led from the front on Wednesday night, producing two assists to help Sporting advance to the U.S. Open Cup Semifinals with a 2-1 victory over FC Dallas in the Quarterfinals at Children’s Mercy Park.
Russell first recorded a secondary assist on Willy Agada’s opening goal, clipping a ball into the path of a marauding Jake Davis who cut the ball back for the Nigerian striker to smash home.
After Sporting surrendered the lead late in regulation to Petar Musa’s clinical finish, Russell and Sporting would have the last laugh in extra time as the Scotsman whipped in a corner kick that was headed home by Dany Rosero in the 111th minute to send the Children’s Mercy Park crowd into delirium and seal a spot in the Open Cup final four.
Russell has now tallied 66 goals and 48 assists across 219 appearances in all competitions since joining the club at the start of 2018, and his 114 goal contributions ranks third in club history.
5. DAVIS MAKING AN IMPACT IN MIDFIELD
Sporting Kansas City Academy product Jake Davis has shown his versatility this season, moving into a midfield role over the last month after playing almost all of his MLS career at right back to date.
Davis produced another dominant midfield performance during Sporting’s 2-1 victory over FC Dallas in the U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals at Children’s Mercy Park on Wednesday night, completing 84.8 percent of his passes and setting up the opener with a brilliant run in behind the Dallas backline before cutting the ball back to Willy Agada to smash home in the 77th minute.
Davis, who departed to join up with the U.S. Olympic Team for the 2024 Paris Olympics on Thursday, has now made 65 appearances across all competitions for Sporting KC, tallying two goals and five assists.
