Sporting Kansas City vs. New England Revolution
2018 Preseason presented by Children's Mercy
Mobile Mini Sun Cup | Wednesday, Feb. 21 | 12 p.m. CT
Kino Sports Complex | Tucson, Arizona
Live Stream: SportingKC.com and Sporting KC Facebook
The Mobile Mini Sun Cup resumes Wednesday as Sporting Kansas City squares off with the New England Revolution in the club’s penultimate match of the 2018 preseason, presented by Children’s Mercy. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. CT at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, streaming live on SportingKC.com and the Sporting KC Facebook page.
Sporting KC has secured four wins and a draw during their preseason travails in Arizona, having most recently defeated Phoenix Rising FC by a 2-1 scoreline on Saturday afternoon in Tempe. Midfielder Ilie and forward Daniel Salloi struck first-half goals to complete the comeback after Kevaughn Frater had fired the hosts into an early lead.
Manager Peter Vermes’ men have used a balanced attack to pace their five-game unbeaten run in the desert, as nine different players have accounted for Sporting KC’s 11 goals in exhibition play. Salloi and winger Gerso have led the way with two goals apiece, while Major League Soccer’s best defense in 2017 has conceded just three times.
A fellow charter member of Major League Soccer, the New England Revolution have notched a pair of high-scoring draws in their first two Mobile Mini Sun Cup contests. The Revs tied FC Dallas 2-2 last Wednesday before battling USL side San Antonio FC to a 3-3 thriller on Saturday.
Led by first-year head coach and former U.S. international goalkeeper Brad Friedel, New England wields a pair of ex-Sporting KC forwards among its deep attacking corps. Teal Bunbury and Krisztian Nemeth, who plied their trade under Vermes earlier this decade, join the likes Juan Agudelo, Diego Fagundez, Lee Nguyen and Kellyn Rowe to form a potent offense in the Eastern Conference.
The lone regular-season meeting between the sides in 2017 took place last September at Children’s Mercy Park. Bunbury fired the Revs ahead before Sporting KC bagged three consecutive goals — one from Gerso and a brace from Diego Rubio — to post a 3-1 triumph.
Wednesday serves as the second-to-last preseason friendly for both clubs. The Mobile Mini Sun Cup will conclude this Saturday with a tripleheader of placement matches at Kino Sports Complex, with matchups and kickoff times to be confirmed on Wednesday night.
Sporting KC 2018 Preseason Schedule
<strong>DATE</strong> |
<strong>OPPONENT</strong> |
<strong>TIME (CT)<br>
or RESULT</strong> |
<strong>VENUE</strong> |
Saturday, Jan. 27 |
Phoenix Rising FC trialists |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2018/01/27/preseason-recap-sporting-kc-opens-preseason-2-1-victory-over-phoenix-rising-fc">W 2-1</a> |
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex<br>
Scottsdale, AZ |
Wednesday, Jan. 31 |
Sporting Arizona |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2018/01/31/preseason-recap-sporting-kc-earns-4-0-win-over-sporting-arizona">W 4-0</a> |
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex<br>
Scottsdale, AZ |
Saturday, Feb. 3 |
Colorado Rapids |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2018/02/03/preseason-recap-khiry-shelton-and-gerso-score-early-2-0-win-over-colorado-rapids">W 2-0</a> |
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex<br>
Scottsdale, AZ |
Wednesday, Feb. 14 |
New York Red Bulls |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2018/02/14/preseason-recap-sporting-kc-comes-behind-secure-1-1-draw-red-bulls">T 1-1</a> |
Kino Sports Complex<br>
Tucson, AZ |
Saturday, Feb. 17 |
Phoenix Rising FC |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2018/02/17/recap-sporting-kc-stays-unbeaten-preseason-2-1-win-over-phoenix-rising-fc">W 2-1</a> |
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex<br>
Scottsdale, AZ |
Wednesday, Feb. 21 |
New England Revolution |
12pm |
Kino Sports Complex<br>
Tucson, AZ |
Saturday, Feb. 24 |
TBD <a href="http://www.ticketmaster.com/2018-mobile-mini-sun-cup-tucson-arizona-02-24-2018/event/19005375916317FA?artistid=2442417&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=11"><strong>(tickets)</strong></a> |
TBD |
Kino Sports Complex<br>
Tucson, AZ |