Major League Soccer announced today the MLS Team of the Matchday presented by Audi for Matchday 7 of the regular season with three Sporting Kansas City representatives receiving recognition after the team's 2-0 win over St. Louis CITY SC on Saturday at Children's Mercy Park.
Kerry Zavagnin was honored as manager of the matchday in his first game as interim head coach as Sporting Kansas City snapped a 13-game winless run across all competitions with the team's first shutout of the season.
"To be able to do this against a rival, in my first time coaching, with the commitment that the players gave, and the confetti on the field that we've been missing for a little while, it's a magical night," Zavagnin said in the post-match press conference. "I told the guys when I first stepped into the locker room on Monday that I was proud to be their coach. I will give them everything I have and in return I would expect that they would give the same back. And they did."
In addition, Sporting Kansas City Designated Players Dejan Joveljic and Manu Garcia were honored as two of the top 20 players in Major League Soccer for Matchday 7 after Garcia set up Joveljic for both goals in the 2-0 victory on Saturday.
Sporting Kansas City broke through in the 71st minute with Garcia providing the final pass and Joveljic the finishing touch to cap off a 20-pass buildup in which all 10 field players were involved in the scoring seqeunce. Sporting then sealed the victory in the 88th minute when Garcia's initial shot rattled the woodwork before Joveljic hammered home the rebound.
"I'm very happy about the team’s performance and about my performance. I think we did well," Joveljic said postgame. "It's always nice to win in derby games and it means a lot for us as you could see on the field. We go forward. We are more confident and hopefully we are going to win more points."
Sporting Kansas City will next host the Portland Timbers at 1:15 p.m. CT on Sunday at Children's Mercy Park. Tickets for the Western Conference match-up -- which comes on the anniversary of the club's inaugural match on April 13, 1996 -- are available online at SeatGeek, including the Coca-Cola Friends & Family 4-Pack featuring four Price Chopper South Stand tickets, four 20-ounce Coca-Cola products and four nachos for only $100.
Sunday's showdown will be available to watch with an Apple TV+ or MLS Season Pass subscription and the match will also be nationally televised on FOX and FOX Deportes. Pub partners in the Sporting Pub Network will also show all of the action, including a watch party at No Other Pub in the Kansas City Power & Light district.
