"The Week in Review,” is a weekly series that highlights the biggest storylines and news updates from Sporting Kansas City.
1. Sporting sinks San Jose 1-0
Sporting Kansas City earned a clean sheet, 1-0 win over Western Conference foes the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night at Children's Mercy Park. Just one score was needed as forward Daniel Salloi netted an unassisted goal from inside the 18 in the 10th minute. After goalkeeper John Pulskamp kept the visitors off the scorer's sheet for 80 more minutes, Salloi picked up his 13th career match-winning goal, tied for the most in club history with Preki and Dom Dwyer. Sporting has now won back-to-back matches for the first time this season, trouncing Portland 4-1 a week earlier.
With the win on Saturday, Sporting leapfrogged San Jose and the Houston Dynamo, improving their position in the West with six matches left. They have won three of their last four thanks to a well-balanced attack headlined by newcomers Willy Agada and Erik Thommy. In his fifth Sporting KC start, Thommy led all players in shots (six), chances created (four), passing accuracy (96.7 percent), duels won (nine) and recoveries (eight), earning himself a spot on the MLS Team of the Week presented by Audi.
2. Sporting surpasses 1000 competitive matches
Saturday was a historic fixture for Sporting as they surpassed 1000 competitive matches played in club history. From 1996 to 2022, Sporting has amassed two MLS Cups, four U.S. Open Cups, one Supporters' Shield and 19 playoff appearances. In 27 seasons, Sporting boasts an impressive 412-375-213 record in all competitions. Historically, one of the best clubs in Major League Soccer, Sporting has been a model of consistency winning four domestic titles in the last decade, tied for the most among American MLS clubs since 2012.
3. Two-match road trip
Following back-to-back home wins, Sporting KC is back on the road for consecutive road matches. First up, Sporting will hit up Hollywood for a battle with the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday. Kickoff for the clash is set for 7 p.m. CT with coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. CT on 38 The Spot, in the Sporting KC Mobile app and online at SportingKC.com. Sporting last locked horns with LA on Aug. 6 sending them back to tinsel town with a 4-2 defeat thanks to goals from Agada, Thommy and Salloi.
Sporting wraps up the road stand in Houston on Saturday, Sept. 10th against the Dynamo. That match kicks at 7:30 p.m. CT and will also be broadcast on 38 The Spot. Former Sporting KC midfielder and current Dynamo head coach Paulo Nagamura awaits his former club after they handed him a 1-0 loss on March 5 at Children's Mercy Park. Once the road trip is over Sporting will play their final three regular season home matches for the 2022 season back-to-back-to-back from Sept. 13 through Oct. 2.
4. United States Women's National Team at Children's Mercy Park
The United States Women's National Team returns to Children's Mercy Park this Saturday for a friendly with Nigeria. A week ago, head coach Vlatko Andonovksi announced the roster for the upcoming match in Kansas City.
U.S. Women's National Team roster by position (club)
- GOALKEEPERS (3): Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
- DEFENDERS (6): Alana Cook (OL Reign), Emily Fox (Racing Louisville FC), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign), Kelley O’Hara (Washington Spirit), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC)
- MIDFIELDERS (7): Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC); Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon), Taylor Kornieck (San Diego Wave FC), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign), Kristie Mewis (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit)
- FORWARDS (7): Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC), Mallory Pugh (Chicago Red Stars), Midge Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC)
Tickets are on sale at ussoccer.com and kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. CT with broadcast coverage available at noon on FOX. The four-time FIFA World Cup winners will look to remain unbeaten in Kansas City when they take on Nigeria, currently ranked 46 in the world by FIFA. The four-time Olympic games gold medalists last appeared in Kansas City on Oct. 21, 2022, playing to a scoreless draw against South Korea. After being named a 2026 FIFA World Cup host city, Kansas City will welcome a U.S. national team back to the Soccer Capital of America for a 22 time.
5. Declan Jogi named Sporting KC Academy Director
Sporting Kansas City announced Thursday that Declan Jogi was promoted to Sporting KC Academy Director after coaching in the academy since 2015. Jogi is the third Academy Director in club history after Jon Parry guided the organization from 2008 until earlier in 2022. Jogi brings a wealth of youth soccer experience into his new position having coached Sporting's U-13s from 2015-2017 and the U-14s for the last five years. As the Academy Director, Jogi will guide the Academy staff consisting of coaches from the U-12 through U-19 levels as well as the large Academy Affiliates network that spans the Midwest.
The coaching staff was also announced on Thursday ahead of the 2022-23 MLS NEXT season. Chris O'Neal leads the U-17s, Luis Pacheco guides the U-15s and Colby Childress is in charge of the U14s after transitioning to older age groups having coaches the U-15, U-13 and U-12s respectively. Jogi will also be the U-19 coach on top of his role as Academy Director while former Sporting KC midfielder and SKC II captain Christain Duke joins the technical staff, running the U-12 and U-13 teams.
6. SKC II suffers defeat to Earthquakes II
On the topic of the pathway to the pros, SKC II was bested by Earthquakes II Sunday afternoon at Children's Mercy Victory Field. The 4-1 final scoreline does not reflect the flow of the match as SKC II was within one after forward Bakary Bagayoko sunk his second goal of the season on defender Esai Easley's second assist. First-team loanee Cam Duke nearly leveled the match but pinged his attempt off the woodwork. Two late Earthquakes II goals sealed SKC II's fate.
The final two matches of the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro season are on the horizon. The team will host Rapids 2 on Monday, Sept. 5 for the final home match of the season before heading to St Louis for MLS NEXT Pro Decision Day on Sunday, Sept. 18. Tickets for the final home fixture are on sale at SeatGeek.com and kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT. All SKC II and MLS NEXT Pro matches can be watched for free at MLSNEXTPro.com.
7. The Victory Project and Compass Minerals donate equipment to Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City
The Victory Project, Sporting KC's charitable foundation, and Compass Minerals partnered to provide soccer equipment to The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City in support of their soccer teams. As a part of the Victory Project's Soccer For All pillar, the partners donated cleats, shin guards, socks, shorts, balls, water bottles, bags and even a portable bench to make soccer more accessible for children with limited financial resources. Sporting KC midfielder Jake Davis and forward Khiry Shelton lent a hand in delivering the gear to the team's first practice.
