SPORTING KC WINS THIRD LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP CHAMPIONSHIP
Sporting Kansas City claimed the club's third U.S. Open Cup championship since 2004 and the team's third major title in the past four seasons last Wednesday, prevailing 7-6 in an eight-round penalty kick shootout after a 1-1 draw with the Philadelphia Union at PPL Park in Chester, Pennsylvania. With the triumph, Sporting KC brings home the Dewar Challenge Trophy and secures a berth in the 2016/17 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League to compete against the best teams in North America, Central America and the Caribbean region.
Sporting KC forward Krisztian Nemeth scored his fifth goal of the tournament, tying teammate Dom Dwyer for most in this year's competition, with a 65th minute goal that leveled the match at 1-1 after Sebastien Le Toux had struck for the opening goal in the 23rd minute. Tim Melia matched his career-high with seven saves through 90 minutes of regulation and two 15-minute extra time periods, then made two saves in the decisive penalty kick shootout.
Approximately 1,000 Sporting KC supporters were among the more than 14,000 fans in attendance at PPL Park. Sporting KC players and coaches returned to Kansas City on Thursday and celebrated the Open Cup championship with fans during a free public event on the Sprint Plaza at Sporting Park prior to the 2015 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship.
SPORTING KC EARNS VITAL 1-0 ROAD WIN OVER PORTLAND TIMBERS
Sporting KC moved into fourth place in the Western Conference with a 1-0 road win at the Portland Timbers on Saturday night thanks to Krisztian Nemeth's stunning strike in the 83rd minute and six saves from Tim Melia in the shutout. The victory puts Sporting KC on the brink of qualifying for the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs with three games remaining in the regular season.
Three days after winning the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship via a penalty shootout in Philadelphia, Sporting KC crossed the country to play the club's fourth game in an 11-day span and did so in a manner nearly as dramatic as the Cup final. Nemeth scored the vital game-tying goal at mid-week and added another highlight-reel moment on Saturday, receiving the ball inside midfield and embarking on a 50-yard run in which he eluded three Timbers defenders before burying his shot into the back of the net past Adam Kwarasey.
Nemeth has now scored 15 goals in all competitions this season, though arguably none as impressive as his heroics at Providence Park. Moreover, his 22 combined goals and assists across all competitions in 2015 are most by a newcomer in club history since the inaugural 1996 season.
With Week 31 in the books, just seven points separate first place from seventh place in the Western Conference. Sporting KC currently sits fourth in the logjam, four points behind leaders LA Galaxy albeit with a game in hand. If Sporting KC reaches 51 points, three more than their current total, they'll be guaranteed a fifth consecutive berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Sporting KC will be off from MLS action until Friday, Oct. 16 when their final road game of the regular season takes them to San Jose.
LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR SATURDAY'S PITCH BLACK AT SPORTING PARK
Sporting KC will host the club's annual awards gala at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday at Sporting Park and a limited number of tickets remain available for admission to Pitch Black, presented by Aristocrat Motors and Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City.
The party takes place on the pitch with guests joined by Sporting KC players and coaches for a night of festivities that will feature food, drinks and entertainment. The four-hour event begins with a cocktail reception in the UMB Field Club, followed by dinner and bar service out on the field.
Music will be provided courtesy of an on-site disc jockey and live performers will entertain those in attendance. Sporting Kansas City's team awards (vote online through tonight) will then be presented in each of the following categories:
- Most Valuable Player, presented by Aristocrat Motors and Mercendes-Benz of Kansas City
- Offensive Player of the Year, presented by Sabates Eye Centers
- Defensive Player of the Year, presented by Ivy Funds
- Goal of the Year, presented by NECA/IBEW Power Partners
- Newcomer of the Year, presented by Henry Wurst, Inc.
- Bob Gansler Academy Player of the Year
- Sporting Club Network Club of the Year, presented by Price Chopper
- Academy Affiliate of the Year
- Victory Project Humanitarian of the Year
The night wraps up with a post-party that will include opportunities to participate in a silent auction benefiting The Victory Project and cheer on the U.S. MNT, featuring Matt Besler and Graham Zusi, in the CONCACAF Cup against Mexico.
All ticket holders are encouraged to wear cocktail attire with a Sporting twist. For more information, visit SportingKC.com/PitchBlack.
TIM MELIA NAMED MLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sporting KC goalkeeper Tim Melia was voted MLS Player of the Week for Week 31 of the 2015 season, Major League Soccer announced on Tuesday. Melia recorded the only MLS shutout in Week 31, his eighth of the season, in a 1-0 road win at the Portland Timbers on Saturday.
Melia kept his second clean sheet in a month's time at Providence Park, becoming the first goalkeeper to hold the Timbers scoreless at home twice in one season in the club's five-year history. In doing so, he extended Portland's scoreless streak against Sporting KC to 392 minutes dating back to 2013.
Melia, in his first season as an MLS starter, logged six saves in the victory and is the first KC goalkeeper since Kevin Hartman in 2008 to make six saves in four different matches during a regular season campaign. He is 14-6-5 as a starter for Sporting KC this season with a 1.14 goals against average across all competitions. Melia started all five matches in the club's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship run, making seven saves in last week's final in addition to two stops in the penalty shootout.
KRISZTIAN NEMETH UP FOR MLS GOAL OF THE WEEK
Three days after scoring the game-tying goal at the Philadelphia Union in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final, Krisztian Nemeth scored the match-winner in Sporting KC's 1-0 win over Portland Timbers on Saturday. His superb 83rd-minute goal is one of five nominees for MLS Goal of the Week for Week 31. Fan voting will remain open until Friday morning at 1:59 a.m.
FOUR SKC PLAYERS JOIN NATIONAL TEAMS FOR INTERNATIONAL MATCHES
Four Sporting KC players have joined their national teams for major international matches this week. Defender Matt Besler and winger Graham Zusi are with the U.S. Men's National Team for the CONCACAF Cup against Mexico at 8:30 p.m. CT on Saturday (FOX Sports 1, Univision, UDN). Forward Krisztian Nemeth joined Hungary for their final two UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers on Thursday against the Faroe Islands and on Sunday at Greece (FOX Sports 2). Defender Marcel de Jong is on Canada's roster for an international friendly against Ghana at 6:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.
TIM MELIA AND MATT BESLER EARN TEAM OF THE WEEK HONORS
Goalkeeper Tim Melia and defender Matt Besler earned Team of the Week selections Monday on MLSsoccer.com and Bleacher Report, and given their body of work over two games last week, it's easy to see why.
Melia made seven saves through 120 minutes last Wednesday, then stopped two penalty kicks in the decisive shootout to help clinch Sporting KC’s third Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship in team history. Besler was equally effective, holding Philadelphia’s dynamic attack in check before burying his penalty kick during the shootout.
Despite a 3,000-mile flight to Portland and just two day’s rest, the duo showed no sign of weakening at Providence Park. Melia’s six saves fell one short of an MLS career-high he set in the Rose City less than a month ago. Besler, meanwhile, led all players with nine clearances as Sporting KC notched their third shutout against Portland this year.
Melia and Besler weren't the only ones to receive Team of the Week recognition. SI.com's Best XI of Week 31 included homegrown center back Kevin Ellis and rookie outside back Saad Abdul-Salaam, who both featured in the pair of wins last week.
FOUR NEW FUTSAL COURTS OPEN ACROSS WYANDOTTE COUNTY
Sporting Club and the Unified Government co-hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday at Welborn Park (2520 N. 55th Street) in Kansas City, Kansas to officially open four new futsal court locations in Wyandotte County. Mayer/CEO Mark Holland was in attendance and futsal clinics, featuring Sporting KC players, were held at each of the following four locations:
- Bethany Park (Central Avenue and N. 11th Street)
- Highland Park (South 50th Street and Shawnee Drive)
- Westheight Park (Wood Avenue and N. 20th Street)
- Welborn Park (2520 N. 55th Street)
THREE-GAME PLAYOFF PACKAGE ON SALE FOR SEASON TICKET MEMBERS
Season Ticket Members now have the opportunity to purchase a three-game playoff ticket package for their current seat location(s). An invoice is available through the Sporting KC Account Manager online through 10 a.m. CT on Monday, Oct. 12.
OCTOBER EDITION OF ELEVEN MAGAZINE NOW AVAILABLE ON SPORTINGKC.COM
Sporting KC introduced the October issue of Eleven, the club's official digital magazine, on Saturday. The latest edition is highlighted by exclusive coverage of the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champions as the team enters the final month of the MLS regular season.
Dom Dwyer graces the cover of the October issue and leads the team with 11 goals scored during the MLS regular season. Dwyer and Krisztian Nemeth, also featured in this issue, each added five goals in the U.S. Open Cup en route to Sporting KC hoisting the Dewar Challenge Trophy on Wednesday.
Follow Eleven on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to stay up-to-date with all the latest news. Download the September or August issues to catch up on previous editions.
SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED FOR AUDI 2015 MLS CUP PLAYOFFS
Major League Soccer announced Friday the schedule for the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs. For the first time, all postseason matches will be shown live on national television across the League’s partner networks. The 2015 MLS Cup will air at 3 p.m. CT on Sunday, Dec. 6 on ESPN and UniMás in the United States.
The Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs features an expanded format with 12 teams qualifying – including bids to the top six teams in points from each conference at the end of the regular season. The top two seeds in each conference will earn first-round byes, while the third and fourth seeds will host the fifth and sixth seeds in single elimination Conference Knockout Round matches. The higher-seeded teams will also host the second leg of the two-game, aggregate goal Conference Semifinals and Conference Championships series.
SPORTINGKC.COM LAUNCHES NEWLY DESIGNED WEBSITE
SportingKC.com launched a new version of its website on Wednesday, featuring a sleek interface and a responsive design. The new-look website provides an optimal viewing and interaction experience — easy reading and navigation with a minimum of resizing, panning, and scrolling — across a wide range of devices from desktop computers to mobile phones.
SETH SINOVIC'S UNCORK FOR A CAUSE CHARITY PROGRAM SET FOR OCT. 23
Sporting KC defender Seth Sinovic's 2015 Uncork for a Cause charity program will kick off Oct. 23 with a special event to raise awareness and funding for The Victory Project.
In 2013, Sporting Club – the parent organization of Sporting Kansas City – launched The Victory Project, which unites the team’s supporters, players and staff to make a tangible difference in the lives of children who are battling cancer and all of life’s challenges. These challenges could be related to a child’s health, physical, developmental or socio-economic status.
Fans can join Sinovic, his teammates and special guests from 7-9 p.m. CT on Oct. 23 for the exclusive gathering at The InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza. The event also serves as the release party for Sinovic's very own 2012 Sonoma Reserve Red Wine. Only one barrel of this Cabernet blend was bottled for Sinovic's charity program.
For tickets and additional information about the event, visit UncorkforaCause.com. To learn more about The Victory Project, visit VictoryKC.org.
TICKETS ON SALE FOR 2015 BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP AT SWOPE SOCCER VILLAGE
Tickets for the 2015 Big 12 Soccer Championship are now available at Big12Sports.com/buytickets or by calling 888-4KC-GOAL. The Championship will take place Nov. 4, 6 and 8 at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City.
Single day passes are on sale for $10 with three-day championship passes available for $15. A 15-ticket team pack is also available for $120.
Sporting Club and the University of Kansas will again co-host this year’s championship, which will feature the Big 12’s top eight teams competing for the Conference’s postseason title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship.
In conjunction with the Championship, the Kansas City Sports Commission will be hosting a free soccer clinic for boys and girls ages 6-12 on Saturday, November 7. The clinic will be held from 8:30-10:30 a.m. as a part of their youth clinic series at Swope Soccer Village. In addition to a free t-shirt and goodie bag, all clinic participants will receive a voucher for free admission to the Big 12 Championship match on Sunday, November 8. To register for the clinic, visit SportKC.org.
The quarterfinal and semifinal rounds of the championship will be streamed live on Big12Sports.com, while the championship match will be broadcast on FOX Sports 1. This year’s championship at Swope Soccer Village will be the third straight hosted in Kansas City.
FOLLOW SPORTING KC ONLINE
Sporting KC fans looking to keep up with the club online have a place to go. The Social Media page on SportingKC.com features Twitter account information for the team, its players and several staff members. Supporters may also take advantage of the Media Recap page for all the latest independent news coverage.
