The 2024 Sporting KC Media Game returned on Wednesday night, with 34 members of the local media battling out a back-and-forth matchup at halftime of Sporting’s match against Vancouver at Children’s Mercy Park.
Sporting Argyle walked away with a last-gasp 2-1 victory on a beautiful evening in Kansas City, converting a penalty with the final kick of the game.
Sporting Argyle took control of the contest early and jumped in front when Cody Bradley from the KC Soccer Journal fired home from close range after meeting Jared Koller of KCTV5’s low cross from the right wing.
KSHB 41’s Aaron Ladd provided his share of comic relief when he put his body on the line twice in quick succession to deny Sporting Blue an equalizer – only for Carlos Chicas from Nuestra Vision Arkansas to fire home an equalizer moments later anyway.
With the game seemingly headed for a tie, Sports Radio 810 WHB’s Bethany Bowman threw herself in front of a shot but used her hands to do so, and the referee awarded Sporting Argyle a penalty kick with the final action of the game.
Robert Rusert from the KC Soccer Journal stepped up to take the fateful shot and buried it into the bottom left corner, leaving Brian BDub Williams from KPRS-FM in goal for Sporting Blue with no chance as Sporting Argyle claimed bragging rights for 2024.
2024 Sporting KC Media Game
Sporting Argyle 2-1 Sporting Blue
Children’s Mercy Park | Kansas City, KS
Attendance: 17,046
Weather: 77 degrees and sunny
Sporting Argyle: Cody Bradley, Giovanna Garcia, Alex Gold, Jared Koller, Aaron Ladd, Jimmy Mack, Neville Miller, McKenzie Nelson, Drew Nixon, Tod Palmer, Denisse Rivas, Walfri Rodas, Robert Rusert, Daniel Sperry, Chris Stimpson, Cody Tapp, Jesifer Tejada
Sporting Blue: Bethany Bowman, Jillian Carroll, Carlos Chicas, Karla Gil, Fernando Gonzalez, Diego Gutierrez, Harold Kuntz, Todd Leabo, Adan Manzano, Belinda Post, Jesus Reyes, Alan Shope, Chad Smith, Samuel Stueve, Nick Vasos, Brian BDub Williams, Edvin Zepeda
Scoring Summary:
ARG – Cody Bradley (Jared Koller) 3’
BLU – Carlos Chicas (Unassisted) 6’
ARG – Robert Rusert (Penalty Kick) 9’
