With his team in need of a win or draw to secure first place in the Western Conference on Decision Day, captain Matt Besler saved a vintage performance for the final match of the regular season.
The center back stuffed the stat sheet in Sunday's wild 2-1 victory over LAFC at sun-drenched Children's Mercy Park, propelling Sporting KC to top spot in the West, a No. 1 overall seed in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs and a Knockout Round bye to the conference semifinals, slated for Nov. 4 and 11.
Besler earned MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week honors for the second straight week after racking up eight clearances, five interceptions and four successful duels against an LAFC side that entered Sunday with an eye-watering 35 away goals through 16 matches. His comprehensive anchoring of the Sporting KC defense ultimately limited LAFC to just three shots on goal, one of which was their controversially awarded penalty kick that Carlos Vela slotted home in the 63rd minute.
While Besler commanded the backline in resolute fashion, homegrown forward Daniel Salloi stayed red-hot in attack. The 22-year-old was named to the Team of the Week bench after scoring his third game-winner in as many games, having bagged the decisive goal in wins over Vancouver Whitecaps FC and FC Dallas earlier this month. Salloi put all four of his shot attempts on target, and none were more important than his 72nd-minute strike that beat LAFC goalkeeper Tyler Miller and put Sporting KC ahead 2-1.
Salloi snatched Sporting KC Golden Boot honors on the final day of the 2018 regular season, netting his 11th league goal and his 13th in all competitions to narrowly beat out Johnny Russell in both categories. The Hungarian also tied a club record with six game-winning goals in a single regular season. Salloi enters the playoffs in scintillating form with four goals in his last three games.
With the No. 1 seed locked up, Sporting KC receives a Knockout Round bye and will begin their postseason campaign in the two-legged Western Conference semifinals, playing away in the first leg on Sunday, Nov. 4, before hosting the decisive second leg on Sunday, Nov. 11. Kickoff times and broadcast details will be announced in the near term.
Tickets for Sporting KC’s first home playoff match on Nov. 11 are now on sale via SeatGeek.com. Season Ticket Members have first right to their seats for all playoff matches, excluding the MLS Cup final, and can contact their Client Services Executive for questions and further information.
Sporting KC will learn its conference semifinal opponent upon the conclusion of the single-elimination Knockout Round on Thursday night. Manager Peter Vermes’ side will face the lowest-seeded team to advance from the Knockout Round, with No. 4 FC Dallas hosting No. 5 Portland Timbers on Wednesday (8:30 p.m. CT, ESPN+) and No. 3 LAFC hosting No. 6 Real Salt Lake on Thursday (9:30 p.m. CT, ESPN2).
