Sporting Kansas City takes the field Wednesday to face Sporting Arizona of the United Premier Soccer League in the second friendly of the club’s 2018 preseason, presented by Children’s Mercy. The contest will kick off at 12 p.m. CT at Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex in Tempe, Arizona, with live updates available via Twitter at @SportingKC and @SKCMatchday.
A pair of Homegrown Players gave Sporting KC a winning start to the preseason on Saturday, as 21-year-old Daniel Salloi and 15-year-old Gianluca Busio found the back of the net in a 2-1 victory over Phoenix Rising FC trialists.
Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes gave playing time to 31 players on Saturday, including eight products of the Sporting KC Academy: Salloi and Busio were joined by fellow Homegrowns Matt Lewis, Jaylin Lindsey and Zach Wright, Swope Park Rangers duo Felipe Hernandez and Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal, and current Academy midfielder Cameron Duke.
The first preseason tune-up also included appearances from multiple new arrivals to the club. Freshly minted Designated Player Yohan Croizet (pictured above) was part of a veteran starting lineup, while forward Khiry Shelton led the front line for the middle 30 minutes of the match. Three MLS SuperDraft selections were also involved as defender Graham Smith, forward Will Bagrou and defender Wilfred Williams earned runouts.
Founded in 1989 as indoor soccer club Phoenix Hearts, Sporting Arizona joined the Arizona Conference of the UPSL in January 2017. Manager Tim Marchisotto led his side to a conference title last year before falling in the quarterfinals of the UPSL Playoffs. Sporting Arizona is now led by head coach Aidan Davison.
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. A friendly against fellow MLS outfit Colorado Rapids at 11:30 a.m. CT Saturday will round out the first phase of preseason training.
