Sporting Kansas City opened the club's 2024 preseason schedule with a 4-1 victory over Florida International University on Saturday afternoon in a 60-minute scrimmage at FIU Soccer Stadium in University Park, Fla.
Daniel Salloi opened the scoring in the fourth minute as the 27-year-old forward ran onto a through ball from Erik Thommy behind the Panthers backline and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner.
Willy Agada came off the bench in the 16th minute and put his name on the scoresheet seven minutes later with a well-struck finish from the top of the penalty area to double Sporting Kansas City's lead.
Sporting Kansas City introduced a new 11 players onto the pitch for the second 30 minutes and club captain Johnny Russell added to Sporting's advantage in the 40th minute with a deflected shot from 25 yards out that looped over the FIU goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
Stephen Afrifa, an FIU alum selected by Sporting Kansas City in MLS SuperDraft 2023, sealed the scoring for SKC on his old stomping grounds with a goal in the 52nd minute, cutting inside from the left flank and sending his shot inside the far post.
The hosts struck last with a consolation goal from Eduardo Mustre in the 55th minute as the CF Pachuca product headed home a corner from Andrew Bennett to put the Panthers on the board with five minutes remaining.
With one week of preseason training in the books, Sporting Kansas City will continue the club's preparation for the 2024 MLS campaign against fellow MLS foe Charlotte FC at 12 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 26 at FIU Soccer Stadium.
Sporting Kansas City at Florida International University
Jan. 20, 2024 – FIU Soccer Stadium (University Park, Fla.)
Sporting Kansas City 4, Florida International University 1
Scoring Summary:
SKC -- Daniel Salloi (Erik Thommy) 4'

SKC -- Willy Agada (unassisted) 23'

SKC -- Johnny Russell (Remi Walter) 40'

SKC - Stephen Afrifa (unassisted) 52'
FIU - Eduardo Mustre (Andrew Bennett) 55'
Sporting Kansas City Lineup (First 30 Minutes)
John Pulskamp; Jake Davis, Robert Castellanos, Robert Voloder, Tim Leibold; Danny Flores, Felipe Hernandez, Erik Thommy; Marinos Tzionis, Alenis Vargas (Willy Agada 16'), Daniel Salloi
Sporting Kansas City Lineup (Second 30 Minutes)
Tim Melia; Nati Clarke, Chris Rindov, Andreu Fontas, Zorhan Bassong; Nemanja Radoja, Remi Walter, Ethan Bryant; Johnny Russell, Khiry Shelton, Stephen Afrifa
