Nicest rivalry in sports?
Sure, maybe so.
Nevertheless, Sporting Kansas City and Minnesota United FC have wasted no time becoming familiar foes ever since the latter joined Major League Soccer as an expansion side in 2017. The Midwestern clubs have met nine times in all competitions over the previous three seasons, with Manager Peter Vermes' men owning a 5-2-2 record in the series.
The 10th meeting was originally slated for Saturday, April 25, at world-class Children's Mercy Park, where Minnesota has lost on each of its first five visits while getting outscored 14-1. Needless to say, the Loons might not be overly heartbroken about the postponement of this fixture.
Although Sporting and Minnesota won't lock horns this weekend, Kansas City fans can turn back the clocks and revel in all five wins over the Loons since 2017. Let's get to it.
Sporting 3-0 Minnesota (June 3, 2017)
Two years before Ike Opara joined the Loons, he was in the midst of an MLS Defender of the Year campaign in Sporting blue. The center back opened the scoring on the stroke of halftime with a blistering long-range strike, setting the stage for a dominant second period that produced further goals from Jimmy Medranda and Saad Abdul-Salaam. Sporting outshot Minnesota 27-7 and limited the Loons to a single attempt on target.
Sporting 4-0 Minnesota | U.S. Open Cup (June 14, 2017)
Eleven days after thrashing the Loons in the regular season, Sporting booted Minnesota from the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and took their first step toward hoisting the 2017 tournament title. Opara struck yet again, this time heading home off a corner kick, before Gerso Fernandes, Dom Dwyer and Daniel Salloi all got in on the scoring act. Salloi's goal was his very first for Sporting, igniting a strong run of form that also saw him net the match-winner in the 2017 Open Cup Final against the New York Red Bulls.
Sporting 4-1 Minnesota (June 3, 2018)
A year later, Salloi put Minnesota to the sword once more. He gave the hosts an early lead, and although Minnesota replied instantly with an absolute banger from Tyrone Mears, the Loons never really had a chance. Wan Kuzain opened his MLS scoring account in the 35th minute, Cristian Lobato made it 3-1 a few minutes later, and Diego Rubio added icing to the cake with a late tally of his own.
Sporting 2-0 Minnesota (Aug. 25, 2018)
Sporting's club-record fourth consecutive shutout win in the regular season was highlighted by Rubio and Yohan Croizet goals in the second half. Minnesota outshot Sporting 16-12, but goalkeeper Tim Melia had eight saves to keep the Loons off the scoresheet.
Sporting 1-0 Minnesota (Aug. 22, 2019)
In desperate need of three points to keep their dwindling playoff hopes alive, Sporting delivered in a nationally televised clash on ESPN. Minnesota spent extended periods of time on the back foot and eventually relented in the 88th minute when Erik Hurtado received a slick pass from Johnny Russell and finished ruthlessly past goalkeeper Vito Mannone to give the hosts a 1-0 victory.
