Sporting Kansas City vs. Phoenix Rising FC Trialists
2018 Preseason presented by Children's Mercy
Saturday, Jan. 27 | 12 p.m. CT
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex | Scottsdale, Arizona
Live Updates: @SportingKC and @SKCMatchday on Twitter
The offseason is done and dusted, and after three long months away from the pitch, Sporting Kansas City officially returns to action Saturday for the first of seven friendlies that highlight the club’s 2018 preseason, presented by Children’s Mercy.
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex will provide the setting as Manager Peter Vermes’ men square off against a group of Phoenix Rising FC trialists at 12 p.m. CT in Scottsdale, Arizona. Follow @SportingKC and @SKCMatchday on Twitter for live, in-game updates throughout the afternoon.
Saturday’s contest is likely to feature appearances from several Sporting KC players, as Vermes has assembled a large squad for the first leg of preseason competition. Four MLS SuperDraft selections and multiple members from the Swope Park Rangers and Sporting KC Academy have joined the club’s under-contract players for a full week of training in Scottsdale.
Reigning 2017 MLS Defender of the Year Ike Opara figures to be the only notable absentee heading into the weekend. The Sporting KC center back joined the U.S. Men’s National Team for the first time earlier this month and looks to make his senior international debut when the Americans host Bosnia and Herzegovina on Sunday at 8:30 p.m. CT on FS1 and UniMas.
Founded in 2014 as Arizona United SC, Phoenix Rising FC is coming off a successful 2017 USL campaign that ended with a playoff loss to the Swope Park Rangers. In their first year as the rebranded Rising FC, head coach Patrice Carteron’s side posted a 17-7-8 regular-season record before falling to SPR in a penalty shootout at Children’s Mercy Victory Field last October. African soccer legend Didier Drogba is the centerpiece of an experienced roster that could add any number of trialists who represent the club on Saturday.
Sporting KC enters 2018 riding a club-record seven-year playoff streak, having also lifted the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title for the third time in six seasons last September. Two more friendlies will round out the first phase of preseason, with UPSL outfit Sporting Arizona and fellow MLS side Colorado Rapids beckoning next week.
Sporting KC 2018 Preseason Schedule
<strong>DATE</strong> |
<strong>OPPONENT</strong> |
<strong>TIME (CT)</strong> |
<strong>VENUE</strong> |
Saturday, Jan. 27 |
Phoenix Rising FC trialists |
12 pm |
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex<br>
Scottsdale, AZ |
Wednesday, Jan. 31 |
Sporting Arizona |
12 pm |
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex<br>
Scottsdale, AZ |
Saturday, Feb. 3 |
Colorado Rapids |
11:30am |
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex<br>
Scottsdale, AZ |
Wednesday, Feb. 14 |
New York Red Bulls |
12pm |
Kino Sports Complex<br>
Tucson, AZ |
Saturday, Feb. 17 |
Phoenix Rising FC <a href="https://www1.ticketmaster.com/phoenix-rising-v-sporting-kc-scottsdale-arizona-02-17-2018/event/19005375EFCE33D5"><strong>(tickets)</strong></a> |
4pm |
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> |
3, 5 or 7:15pm |
Kino Sports Complex<br>
Tucson, AZ |
Sporting KC 2018 Preseason Roster
<strong>NO.</strong> |
<strong>PLAYER</strong> |
<strong>POSITION</strong> |
<strong>AGE</strong> |
<strong>1</strong> |
<strong>Adrian Zendejas</strong> |
<strong>Goalkeeper</strong> |
<strong>22</strong> |
<strong>3</strong> |
<strong>Ike Opara</strong> |
<strong>Defender</strong> |
<strong>28</strong> |
<strong>4</strong> |
<strong>Kevin Ellis</strong> |
<strong>Defender</strong> |
<strong>26</strong> |
<strong>5</strong> |
<strong>Matt Besler</strong> |
<strong>Defender</strong> |
<strong>30</strong> |
<strong>6</strong> |
<strong>Ilie</strong> |
<strong>Midfielder</strong> |
<strong>27</strong> |
<strong>7</strong> |
<strong>Gerso</strong> |
<strong>Forward</strong> |
<strong>26</strong> |
<strong>8</strong> |
<strong>Graham Zusi</strong> |
<strong>Defender</strong> |
<strong>31</strong> |
<strong>11</strong> |
<strong>Diego Rubio</strong> |
<strong>Forward</strong> |
<strong>24</strong> |
<strong>14</strong> |
<strong>Khiry Shelton</strong> |
<strong>Forward</strong> |
<strong>24</strong> |
<strong>15</strong> |
<strong>Seth Sinovic</strong> |
<strong>Defender</strong> |
<strong>30</strong> |
<strong>19</strong> |
<strong>Cristian Lobato</strong> |
<strong>Midfielder</strong> |
<strong>28</strong> |
<strong>20</strong> |
<strong>Gianluca Busio</strong> |
<strong>Forward</strong> |
<strong>15</strong> |
<strong>21</strong> |
<strong>Andrew Dykstra</strong> |
<strong>Goalkeeper</strong> |
<strong>32</strong> |
<strong>22</strong> |
<strong>Soony Saad</strong> |
<strong>Forward</strong> |
<strong>25</strong> |
<strong>23</strong> |
<strong>Colton Storm</strong> |
<strong>Defender</strong> |
<strong>23</strong> |
<strong>26</strong> |
<strong>Jaylin Lindsey</strong> |
<strong>Defender</strong> |
<strong>17</strong> |
<strong>27</strong> |
<strong>Roger Espinoza</strong> |
<strong>Midfielder</strong> |
<strong>31</strong> |
<strong>29</strong> |
<strong>Tim Melia</strong> |
<strong>Goalkeeper</strong> |
<strong>31</strong> |
<strong>30</strong> |
<strong>Daniel Salloi</strong> |
<strong>Forward</strong> |
<strong>21</strong> |
<strong>41</strong> |
<strong>James Musa</strong> |
<strong>Midfielder</strong> |
<strong>25</strong> |
<strong>55</strong> |
<strong>Amer Didic</strong> |
<strong>Defender</strong> |
<strong>23</strong> |
<strong>90</strong> |
<strong>Kharlton Belmar</strong> |
<strong>Forward</strong> |
<strong>25</strong> |
<strong>92</strong> |
<strong>Yohan Croizet</strong> |
<strong>Midfielder</strong> |
<strong>25</strong> |
<strong>94</strong> |
<strong>Jimmy Medranda</strong> |
<strong>Midfielder</strong> |
<strong>24</strong> |
<strong>Emiliano Amor</strong> |
<strong>Defender</strong> |
<strong>22</strong> |
|
<strong>Matt Lewis</strong> |
<strong>Defender</strong> |
<strong>21</strong> |
|
<strong>Zach Wright</strong> |
<strong>Forward</strong> |
<strong>22</strong> |
|
Will Bagrou ^ |
Forward |
21 |
|
Hadji Barry * |
Forward |
25 |
|
Sebastian Cruz ** |
Midfielder |
17 |
|
Eric Dick ^ |
Goalkeeper |
23 |
|
Cameron Duke ** |
Defender |
16 |
|
Felipe Hernandez * |
Midfielder |
19 |
|
Rodrigo Saravia |
Defender |
24 |
|
Graham Smith ^ |
Defender |
22 |
|
Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal * |
Midfielder |
19 |
|
Wilfred Williams ^ |
Defender |
21 |
Bold: Under contract with Sporting KC
^ Unsigned MLS SuperDraft pick
* Swope Park Rangers
** Sporting KC Academy
