Statistically speaking, no goalkeeper is off to a better start in 2017 than Sporting Kansas City’s Tim Melia.
SBI Soccer took notice, awarding Melia SBI MLS Player of the Month honors as the Sporting KC goalkeeper conceded just two goals across four games in April.
Melia posted a 3-1-0 record during the month-long stretch, making 12 total saves and allowing just one non-penalty goal. The veteran’s distribution was also excellent, as he ranked among the top four MLS goalkeepers in passes completed for four straight weeks. His stunning, finger-tip stop to deny Darlington Nagbe on April 15 won MLS Save of the Week.
Now in his third season with Sporting KC, Melia is the 2017 MLS leader in shutouts (five), goals against average (0.38) and save percentage (83.3). Only two teams in MLS history have allowed fewer goals through eight games of a season than Sporting KC’s three.
Sporting Kansas City returns to Children’s Mercy Park tonight to host the New York Red Bulls at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are available at SeatGeek.com and the match will air live on FOX Sports Kansas City Plus and FOX Sports Midwest Plus.
