"The Week in Review,” is a weekly series that highlights the biggest storylines and news updates from Sporting Kansas City.
1. Sporting suffers road defeat to Austin
Sporting Kansas City slipped to a 4-3 defeat Saturday night in Austin, Texas. Andreu Fontas sank a rebound attempt following an Erik Thommy free kick that goal keeper Brad Stuver spilled, giving him his first goal of the season. Willy Agada increased Sporting KC's lead to two in the 23rd with his third Sporting KC goal in as many starts for his new team. Austin halved the lead before Johnny Russell sank his kick from the spot, sending Stuver the wrong way. Austin found the back of the net three times in the second half to take all three points. Sporting has scored three goals in back-to-back first halves for the first time ever in club history.
2. Children's Mercy Park the backdrop for Sporting KC vs. Portland
Sporting returns to Children's Mercy Park, after their one-match road trip to Austin, for a showdown with the Portland Timbers on Sunday, Aug. 21. Kickoff will be at 6:30 p.m. CT with national coverage available on FS1 in English and FOX Deportes in Spanish. Sporting's last home outing produced a 4-2 victory over the LA Galaxy in which Thommy and Agada opened their Sporting scoring accounts. Daniel Salloi added a fourth goal to ice the match as the hosts cruised to a win.
Portland got the better of Sporting in their most recent meeting, however, the two sides fought to a 1-1 draw in their last clash in Kansas City. Salloi scored a stoppage-time equalizer in the 92nd minute to earn Sporting a point at home after the Timbers took the lead in the 17th minute. In eight matches at Children's Mercy Park Sporting is 3-1-4 with the lone loss coming on April 4, 2013.
3. Agada and Thommy honored last week
Thanks to their performances against the LA Galaxy on Saturday, Aug. 6, Agada and Thommy were formally recognized by Major League Soccer with weekly honors. The opening goal of the contest, Thommy's volley from inside the 18, was one of four goals nominated for AT&T Goal of the Week for Week 24. Agada's brace earned him a spot on the MLS Team of the Week presented by Audi bench. Both Agada and Thommy made just their second start for Sporting against the Galaxy, making impacts early in their Sporting KC careers.
4. SKC II triumphs over Timbers2
Sunday evening at Children's Mercy Victory Field, Sporting KC II took down Timbers2 by way of a 2-0 victory. Bakary Bagayoko scored in the third minute and Josh Coan converted a penalty late in the second after Cam Duke drew the foul. Coan showed out for SKC II providing the assist on Bagayoko's goal as well. Forward Josip Hmura made his first-ever SKC II start after signing with the club 10 days prior. SKC II's win on Sunday snapped a four-match losing streak and gives them some momentum heading into the final four matches of the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro season.
5. Edgar Bazan shines in first half of MLS NEXT All-Star Game
Last Wednesday, SKC II midfielder Edgar Bazan started in the first-ever MLS NEXT All-Star Game as a part of All-Star week in Minnesota. Bazan forced a turnover in the first minute that nearly produced the first goal of the match and followed that up six minutes later with another interception. He laid a pass off that was then centered to Cruz Medina and the San Jose Earthquakes Academy Product fired home for a West goal. Bazan played the entirety of the first half before being subbed off at halftime. The East mounted a late-match comeback to claim a 2-1 win. Bazan rejoined SKC II this past weekend and started in the 2-0 win over Timbers2.
6. Governor Laura Kelly and Rep. Sharice Davids visit Children’s Mercy Park
Governor Laura Kelly joined Sporting Kansas City leadership and Representative Sharice Davids for a tour of Children’s Mercy Park on Thursday as one of the stops on her statewide economic development tour, Prosperity on the Plains. FIFA announced that thousands of soccer fans from across the globe will be coming to the Kansas City metro region in 2026 for the FIFA World Cup, in June. The event promises to be a huge economic boost for Kansas and was won through bi-state cooperation. Children’s Mercy Park will potentially be used as a practice and training site during the tournament.
