When it rains, it pours.
Such was the case for Sporting Kansas City this week, just as it has been for much of a record-setting 2018 regular season.
Sunday's 3-0 away win over FC Dallas, which came four days after a 4-1 road thumping of Vancouver Whitecaps FC, vaulted Sporting KC to the summit of the Western Conference and clinched a home playoff game at Children's Mercy Park for the first time since 2013.
It all sets up nicely for Sporting KC ahead of their Decision Day finale against LAFC, kicking off at 3:30 p.m. CT Sunday inside Children's Mercy Park (buy tickets). The club can still finish anywhere between first and fourth, but a win (and almost certainly a draw) would clinch top spot.
Sporting KC's latest triumph, their first at Toyota Stadium since 2011, proved historic on a number of levels. It was the first time ever that Kansas City had recorded back-to-back road wins of at least three goals, while forward Johnny Russell became just the fourth player in club history to hit double-digits in goals and assists in the same MLS season.
But the biggest record-breaker came in the 64th minute on Sunday, when Roger Espinoza prodded home from close range to put Sporting KC ahead 2-0. That play gave Sporting KC 62 regular season goals and 30 away goals in 2018, setting all-time bests in both categories.
Russell would add a penalty kick in the late stages to bring both totals to 63 and 31, respectively, providing the cherry on top of a perfect week for Manager Peter Vermes' side.
SPORTING KC: MOST GOALS IN A REGULAR SEASON
<strong>#</strong> |
<strong>Season</strong> |
<strong>Goals</strong> |
<strong>Games</strong> |
<strong>Goals/Game</strong> |
1 |
2018 |
63 |
33 |
1.91 |
2 |
1996 |
61 |
32 |
1.91 |
3 |
1997 |
57 |
32 |
1.78 |
4 |
2005 |
52 |
32 |
1.63 |
5 |
2003 |
48 |
30 |
1.60 |
SPORTING KC: MOST ROAD GOALS IN A REGULAR SEASON
<strong>#</strong> |
<strong>Season</strong> |
<strong>Goals</strong> |
<strong>Games</strong> |
<strong>Goals/Game</strong> |
1 |
2018 |
31 |
17 |
1.82 |
2 |
2005 |
29 |
16 |
1.81 |
3 |
2007 |
23 |
15 |
1.53 |
4 |
1997 |
22 |
16 |
1.38 |
5 |
2014 |
23 |
17 |
1.35 |
With a highly anticipated Decision Day duel with LAFC still to play, Sporting KC can point to 2018 as the club's best offensive campaign ever. Goals have flowed steadily throughout the year, and from numerous sources. Espinoza's second-half strike marked the first time in team history that 13 different players have scored multiple goals in the same season. Russell and Daniel Salloi lead the side with 10 goals each, while Diego Rubio (8), Felipe Gutierrez (7), Gerso Fernandes (5), Ilie Sanchez (4) and a host of others have also made impacts in attack.
Moreover, Sporting KC has set or equaled club records for assists (67) and shots in a season (575) while amassing 200 shots on target for the first time since 1998. They have also recorded all-time bests during the Opta era (2010-present) in chances created (456) and big chances created (77). More specifically, their 77 big chances created in 2018 are 34 more than any other season since Opta began tracking the stat.
SPORTING KC: MOST SHOTS IN A REGULAR SEASON
<strong>#</strong> |
<strong>Season</strong> |
<strong>Shots</strong> |
<strong>Shots/Game</strong> |
1 |
2018 |
575 |
17.4 |
2 |
2012 |
542 |
15.9 |
3 |
1996 |
514 |
16.1 |
4 |
2017 |
514 |
15.1 |
5 |
501 |
501 |
14.7 |
SPORTING KC: MOST ASSISTS IN A REGULAR SEASON
<strong>#</strong> |
<strong>Season</strong> |
<strong>Assists</strong> |
<strong>Assists/Game</strong> |
1 |
2000<br>
2018 |
67<br>
67 |
2.09<br>
2.03 |
3 |
1997 |
64 |
2.00 |
4 |
1996 |
59 |
1.84 |
5 |
1998 |
53 |
1.66 |
SPORTING KC: MOST BIG CHANCES CREATED
(MLS REGULAR SEASON, 2010-PRESENT)
<strong>#</strong> |
<strong>Season</strong> |
<strong>Big Chances</strong> |
<strong>Per Game</strong> |
1 |
2018 |
77 |
2.33 |
2 |
2017 |
43 |
1.26 |
3 |
2013 |
42 |
1.23 |
4<br> |
2015<br>
2016 |
38<br>
38 |
1.12<br>
1.12 |
While Sporting KC's attack has remained potent throughout the season, its backline has largely stuck to its stingy ways, as well. After leading MLS in most defensive metrics in 2017, Sporting KC has followed up with another stout campaign this year. They rank second in MLS with 13 shutouts and their 1.18 goals allowed per game are third-fewest in the league.
Pair a high-flying offense with a strong backline, and you've got the makings of a team that has its best goal differential in Sporting KC history. Their plus-24 mark through 33 matches is six better than the previous best from 2000. It should be noted that Kansas City's two best seasons for goal differential came in 2000 and 2013, the same years they won MLS Cup.
SPORTING KC: BEST GOAL DIFFERENCE
(ALL-TIME, MLS REGULAR SEASON)
<strong>#</strong> |
<strong>Season</strong> |
<strong>GF</strong> |
<strong>GA</strong> |
<strong>GD</strong> |
1 |
2018 |
63 |
39 |
24 |
2 |
2000 |
47 |
29 |
18 |
3 |
2013 |
47 |
30 |
17 |
4 |
2012 |
42 |
27 |
15 |
5 |
2011 |
50 |
39 |
11 |
With a No. 1 seed still to play for, Sporting KC fans click here to get tickets to Sunday’s regular season finale as Sporting KC hosts its Fan Appreciation Match. Countless prizes will be up for grabs exclusively through the Sporting KC Uphoria app, including the following:
- A pair of 2019 Sporting KC season tickets
- Player-autographed merchandise
- VIP experiences
- 50 percent off authentic jerseys
- Discount offers at SportingStyle and concessions
In addition, tickets for Sporting KC’s freshly clinched home playoff tilt at Children’s Mercy Park are now on sale via SeatGeek.com. Season Ticket Members will automatically retain their seats for all playoff matches, excluding the MLS Cup final, and can contact their Client Services Executive for questions and further information.
Lastly, here are Sporting KC’s seeding scenarios going into Decision Day. All 11 MLS matches will kick off simultaneously at 3:30 p.m. CT.
Sporting KC can clinch a No. 1 seed if…
- Sporting KC beats LAFC, OR
- Sporting KC ties LAFC, AND
FC Dallas fails to beat Colorado by 15 or more goals
Sporting KC can clinch a No. 2 seed if…
- Sporting KC ties LAFC, AND
FC Dallas beats Colorado by 15 or more goals, OR - Sporting KC loses to LAFC, AND
Colorado beats or ties FC Dallas, AND
San Jose beats or ties Seattle
