"This Week in Sporting,” is a weekly series that highlights the biggest storylines and news updates from Sporting Kansas City.
1. Sporting keeps NYCFC off the scoreboard
Following back-to-back home draws, Sporting Kansas City set out to take on reigning MLS Cup Champions, New York City FC last Saturday, May 7. Manager and Sporting Director Peter Vermes switched up the formation looking to stifle the red-hot NYCFC offense. The tactical change worked as Sporting held the Pigeons goalless at home for just the second time this season.
Sporting KC forward Daniel Salloi nearly gave Sporting the lead in the contest on multiple occasions. The first attempt was a half-volleyed attempt that was pushed aside, with the second shot on target coming in the form of a one-time shot that was smacked into the post by Sean Johnson. Goalkeeper Tim Melia earned his fourth clean sheet of the season as Sporting claimed their first road points.
2. Double match week
The schedule gets a little congested now as Sporting KC enters the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in the Round of 32. Sporting will host FC Dallas in a single-elimination cup match at Children’s Mercy Park on Tuesday, May 10 with tickets on sale at SeatGeek.com. As Sporting looks to claim their fifth Open Cup title, they will play four matches in the span of 12 days.
The MLS regular season resumes for Sporting KC on Saturday, May 14 when the club travels to Portland for a matchup with the Timbers. Kickoff for that contest is set for 9 p.m. CT, will air on 38 The Spot and will be available to stream via Sporting One in the Sporting KC Mobile App. After a trip to MLS Cup last season, the Timbers currently find themselves in 10th place in the Western Conference.
3. Davy Arnaud selected as newest member of Sporting Legends
Davy Arnaud was announced last Tuesday as the club's 12th Sporting Legend. Arnaud played for Kansas City from 2002-2011, scored 52 goals (third-most in club history), added 40 assists (sixth-most) and played 21,637 minutes across 273 appearances. Arnaud will have his name enshrined on the outside of The Victory Suite at Children’s Mercy Park on June 12 before Sporting’s match against the New England Revolution.
4. John Pulskamp re-signs with Sporting
Last Thursday, Sporting KC announced the re-signing of goalkeeper John Pulskamp to a three-year MLS contract through 2025 with an option for 2026. A former LA Galaxy Academy player, Pulskamp has been a member of the Sporting KC organization since April 2019. He has made 37 appearances across Sporting KC and SKC II and earned a call-up to the United States Men’s National Team for a training camp last December. Last season he became the third-youngest keeper in league history to win a regular season match in Sporting’s 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls.
5. SKC II claims victory in MLS NEXT Pro Game of the Week
Sunday afternoon at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence, Kansas, Sporting KC II took home a 4-2 victory against Real Monarchs. After the visitors jumped out to a 2-0 lead, Mataeo Bunbury scored two goals before the halftime break to pull SKC II back even. Cole McLagan’s first professional goal and Julian Vazquez’s solo effort lifted SKC II past the Monarchs as they claimed all three points from the MLS NEXT Pro match.
SKC II is back on the road this weekend with a showdown with Timbers2 on Sunday at 9 p.m. CT. The match will be available to stream at MLSNEXTPro.com.
6. Sporting joins Chiefs Royals and Current in support of Andover following a tornado
Four of Kansas City’s professional sports teams joined forces to help victims of the devastating tornado that ripped through Andover, Kansas a couple of weeks ago.
Sporting KC, along with the Kansas City Chiefs, KC Current and Kansas City Royals donated $80,000 toward organizations with boots on the ground in Andover, helping families to rebuild. The money went to groups such as the Salvation Army, Dr. Jim Farha Andover YMCA and the United Way of the Plains in their efforts to provide food and shelter to those affected.
7. Children’s Mercy Park selected as a top 5 highest rated American Sports Venue
Children’s Mercy Park, the world-class venue Sporting KC calls home was rated the fourth-highest stadium in the United States out of 117 sports venues. Betsperts averaged ratings across Google, Facebook, Tripadvisor and Yelp with Children’s Mercy Park scoring the highest of all soccer stadiums in the nation. The study took stadiums from MLB, MLS, the NBA, the NHL and the NFL with Sporting ranking the highest on both Google (4.8) and Tripadvisor (5.0).
8. Socios.com becomes official fan loyalty partner of Sporting KC
Sporting KC announced a multi-year partnership with Socios.com, a fan engagement and rewards company. The partnership forges a deeper connection with fans and fuels growth both on and off the field. Socios is partnering with 26 MLS clubs, creating a unique community for MLS fans and generating access to exclusive rewards, polls and opportunities.
