"The Week in Review,” is a weekly series that highlights the biggest storylines and news updates from Sporting Kansas City.
1. Sporting’s comeback win over CF Montreal
Saturday night, Sporting Kansas City earned a 2-1 come from behind victory over CF Montreal on the road at Stade Saputo. Romell Quioto scored in the 13th, for Montreal before Roger Espinoza blasted a Major League Soccer goal of the year contender from 44 yards out. Espinoza blocked a service, dispossessed Quioto at midfield, picked his head up and caught Sebastian Breza off his line with a chipped effort from long, long-range to level the match.
In the 63rd minute, midfielder Remi Walter made a terrific effort to get on the end of a Khiry Shelton centering pass. Walter latched onto the ball and fired it past Breza with a one-touch shot. Tim Melia and Sporting’s backline stood firm, denying an onslaught of Montreal attacks. Melia would go on to make four saves en route to Sporting’s 2-1 win.
2. Double matchweek
Fresh off the comeback win, Sporting will play a midweek match on the road against Minnesota United, and a weekend match at Real Salt Lake. Last season, Sporting faced Minnesota three times, drawing the first meeting 0-0 before beating the Loons 4-0. Sporting suffered a 2-1 defeat in their most recent meeting. Sporting faced Real Salt Lake earlier this season, knocking off their rivals 1-0 at home thanks to an 81st minute Johnny Russell goal. RSL knocked Sporting out of the MLS Cup Playoffs last season only adding fuel to the fire of the longtime grudge between the two sides.
Sporting’s match against Minnesota on Wednesday is set for 7 p.m. CT and will air nationally on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. The Sunday showdown in Salt Lake begins at 8:30 p.m. CT on 38 The Spot and can be streamed for free in the Sporting KC mobile app or online at SportingKC.com.
3. Sporting parts ways with Nikola Vujnovic
Friday, Sporting announced that the club and forward Nikola Vujnovic mutually agreed to terminate his contract. Vujnovic joined Sporting in February on loan from FK Vozdovac out of Serbia. The forward started four of his nine MLS appearances. The Montenegrin international scored against FC Dallas in the club’s 4-2 extra-time win in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32.
4. SKC II keeps win streak alive
It was a weekend of winning for Sporting and their MLS NEXT Pro affiliated Sporting KC II. The second team traveled to Colorado for a clash with Colorado Rapids 2 at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium. In a match that yielded 11 yellow cards, SKC II escaped with all three points in a convincing 2-0 win. Cole McLagan scored his second game winning goal of the season on SKC II’s only corner, and forward Julian Vazquez netted his fourth goal of the campaign as insurance. This win increases SKC II’s road win streak to four matches and they will look to keep it rolling against Real Monarchs on Saturday.
5. SKC II inks two Sporting KC Academy products to academy contracts
SKC II’s impressive lineup of talented MLS NEXT Pro contracted players and Sporting KC Academy products was bolstered by two more Academy kids on Friday. Midfielder Edgar Bazan and defender Nati Clarke signed academy contracts with SKC II on Friday, taking the next step in the pro player pathway. Bazan, 16, joined the Academy in 2017, rising all the way up to the U17 level in MLS NEXT this season. Clarke, 17, started playing for the Academy in 2016. Both have represented the U.S. Youth National Team with Bazan joining up with the U17s as recently as Jan. 18, 2022.
6. Eight regular season home matches remain for Sporting
With 20 MLS matches in the books already, just 14 regular season matches remain. Sporting will play eight of those at Children’s Mercy Park and will be joined by new signings William Agada and Erik Thommy soon. Within the next month, Sporting will play home matches on three straight Saturdays, beginning with Supporters’ Shield leaders LAFC. Tickets for all remaining Sporting matches are on sale at SeatGeek.com and there is still time to purchase the Captain’s Flex Pack, providing fans with eight ticket vouchers to matches at Children’s Mercy Park.
