Recap: Sporting earns 2-1 comeback win over Chicago in Leagues Cup opener

Sporting Kansas City opened Leagues Cup 2024 with a 2-1 comeback win over Chicago Fire FC on Sunday night at Children’s Mercy Park.

After Georgios Koutsias vaulted the visitors ahead in the 22nd minute, defender Robert Castellanos nodded home an equalizer six minutes shy of halftime and forward Willy Agada decided the contest with a superb diving header in the 76th minute to give Sporting the deserved victory.

Sunday’s result gives Sporting an early edge in West Region Group 4 of Leagues Cup, which will send the top two finishers in the three-team pod to the Round of 32. Chicago will host LIGA MX side Deportivo Toluca FC on Thursday before Toluca visits Kansas City next Monday, Aug. 5 in the group stage finale. Sporting’s home tilt against their Mexican counterparts will kick off at 8 p.m. CT with tickets available at SeatGeek.com and live coverage on FS1 and Apple TV.

Diverging from its regular season campaign for a World Cup-style tournament involving every MLS and LIGA MX team, Sporting fielded a formidable 4-2-3-1 lineup against their longtime Midwestern adversaries. Veteran goalkeeper Tim Melia was shielded by a back four of Castellanos, Khiry Shelton, Andreu Fontas and Tim Leibold, while Nemanja Radoja and Remi Walter—making his 300th professional club appearance—manned the midfield. Stephen Afrifa, Erik Thommy and Daniel Salloi were in advanced positions behind lone striker Agada as four Sporting players earned their Leagues Cup debuts: Melia, Castellanos, Radoja and Afrifa.

Kansas City’s bench featured the notable inclusion of Sporting KC II duo Sebastian Cruz and Cielo Tschantret—who will be available for selection throughout the tournament—as well as left back Logan Ndenbe, who was part of the matchday squad for the first time since tearing his ACL during the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs last November.

A vibrant start saw Sporting threaten three times inside the first 20 minutes. Thommy had a seething free kick punched away by busy Chicago goalkeeper Spencer Richey, Afrifa scorched his defender on the right wing before sending a deflected shot narrowly wide, and Agada rattled the crossbar at close range after Salloi did well to feed the in-form attacker with an incisive pass.

Chicago drew first blood against the run of play on an impressive goal midway through the first half. Homegrown midfielder Brian Gutierrez clipped a clever ball in behind the defense for Koutsias, who settled the ball with a single touch before slamming his finish into the roof of the net for his first goal of the year.

Undeterred, Sporting continued to dictate terms and sprang a dangerous attack in the 36th minute as Thommy played Salloi into space down the left side. The Hungarian winger served a low cross into Afrifa, whose first-time poke lacked the pace and direction to beat Richey.

Sporting would restore parity in the 39th minute, however, as the club cashed in its 13th set piece goal of the season. Walter’s delectable free kick delivery from the right channel was met by the leaping Castellanos at the far post, the defender planted a firm header past Richey for his second goal of the year in all competitions and his first goal at Children’s Mercy Park since June 2023.

The second half marked a resumption of Sporting’s superiority. In the space of five minutes, Afrifa had a 12-yard effort blocked amidst traffic, Walter curled a shot marginally high at the edge of the area and Thommy sprang a counterattack to tee up Agada for a shot that was saved from the top of the box. At the hour mark, Salloi had a sweetly struck drive from distance palmed away by Richey and Thommy sent a dipping 22-yard volley inches over the bar.

Afrifa went agonizingly close to scoring a sublime solo goal in the 74th minute, embarking on a mazy run into the box and eliminating multiple defenders before sending a venomous strike onto the woodwork. The 23-year-old winger atoned for the miss two minutes later, however, when he provided the match-winning assist.

With less than a quarter-hour remaining, Thommy spread the ball wide to Afrifa, who bent a curling cross from the right side of the penalty area to the back stick for Agada. Sporting’s leading scorer did the rest by steering a phenomenal diving header in off the post for his 11th goal of the season and his second career goal in Leagues Cup. Agada has now scored six goals in his last five starts across all competitions since July 7.

Melia enjoyed a mostly comfortable evening but was forced into action on 85 minutes, reacting brilliantly to save an equalizing attempt from Maren Haile-Selassie and preserve Sporting’s one-goal cushion. Chicago struggled to conjure any further danger, with Christian Koffi offering the final bid for a leveler with a 22-yard sledgehammer that blazed high.

Leagues Cup 2024 | West Region Group 4
Children's Mercy Park | Kansas City, Kansas
Attendance: 14,047
Weather: 84 degrees and sunny

Sporting Kansas City: Tim Melia; Khiry Shelton, Robert Castellanos, Andreu Fontas (Robert Voloder 73'), Tim Leibold (Zorhan Bassong 81'); Nemanja Radoja, Remi Walter; Stephen Afrifa (Alenis Vargas 84'), Erik Thommy, Daniel Salloi; Willy Agada

Subs Not Used: Ryan Schewe, Logan Ndenbe, Chris Rindov, Dany Rosero, Danny Flores, Cielo Tschantret, Sebastian Cruz

Chicago Fire FC: Spencer Richey; Arnaud Souquet (Andrew Gutman 79'), Tobias Salquist, Jaylen Shannon (Omari Glasgow 56'); Fabian Herbers, Kellyn Acosta, Brian Gutierrez, Gaston Gimenez (C), Maren Haille-Selassie; Tom Barlow (Christian Koffi 62'), Georgios Koutsias

Subs Not Used: Chris Brady, Jeff Gall, Javier Casas, Federico Navarro

Scoring Summary:
CHI -- Georgios Koutsias 1 (Brian Gutierrez 1) 22'
SKC -- Robert Castellanos 1 (Remi Walter 1) 39'
SKC -- Willy Agada 1 (Stephen Afrifa 1) 76'

Misconduct Summary:
CHI -- Jaylen Shannon (yellow card; unsporting behavior) 53'

Referee: Rubiel Vazquez
Assistant Referee: Nick Uranga
Assistant Referee: Kyle Atkins
Fourth Official: Alyssa Nichols
VAR: Benjamin Pineda
AVAR: Shirley Perello