"This Week in Sporting," presented by The Smile Generation, is a weekly series that highlights the biggest storylines and news updates from Sporting Kansas City.
1. Playoffs Clinched
Sporting Kansas City (16-7-7, 55 points) punched their ticket to the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs in resounding fashion, earning a 2-1 road win over Western Conference leaders Seattle Sounders FC (17-7-7, 58 points) on Saturday afternoon at Lumen Field.
Remi Walter hammered home his first MLS goal in the fourth minute and captain Johnny Russell extended his club-record scoring streak to seven matches with a wonderfully crafted 79th-minute winner as second-place Sporting climbed within three points of Seattle at the top of the West and secured their 10th playoff appearance in 11 seasons.
Saturday's momentous result saw Sporting Manager Peter Vermes take sole possession of fourth place in MLS history with 171 regular season coaching wins and set a league record by clinching his 17th appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs as a player or a coach. Sporting also became just the second club in MLS history to win at Seattle twice in the same regular season and equaled a single-season club record with their eighth away victory of the 2021 campaign.
2. Fab Frenchmen
Sporting Kansas City midfielder Remi Walter was formally recognized today for his goal-scoring performance in a 2-1 road victory against Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday, receiving a place on the MLS Team of the Week presented by Audi. In addition to firing Sporting ahead with an excellent goal inside four minutes, Walter completed 40 of 45 passes at 89 percent, won five of seven duels and added seven recoveries.
Center back Nicolas Isimat-Mirin, Walter's fellow French countryman, marked his return to the lineup on Saturday after an extended stay on the sideline with a hamstring injury. Making his first start since Aug. 7, Isimat-Mirin spearheaded a defensive effort that drew praise from Manager Peter Vermes after the match.
"I thought he was tremendous," Vermes said of Isimat-Mirin. "I think he shows the quality that he brings both with the ball and also defensively. He is a special player in that part of the field, for sure. Between his reading of the game, his ability for 1v1 defending, his athleticism, he’s just the whole package together. He’s a very, very, very good central defender. It really assists our team in a different way."
3. The Ultimate Team Goal
Sporting Kansas City forward Johnny Russell is a finalist for the AT&T MLS Goal of the Week award after capping off a remarkable 38-pass sequence with a well-taken finish in Saturday's 2-1 win at Seattle. The brilliantly orchestrated team goal, punctuated by Roger Espinoza's diagonal through ball to set Russell free down the right flank, is up against goals from LA Galaxy’s Sebastian Lletget, Toronto FC’s Jozy Altidore and San Jose's Benji Kikanovic. Fans can cast their vote in the Twitter poll below between now and Friday.
4. Double Matchweek
Sporting enters the penultimate week of the MLS regular season aiming to close a three-point gap at the top of the table with six points at stake this week.
Manager Peter Vermes' side (16-7-7, 55 points) will first host the LA Galaxy (13-11-7, 46 points) at 7:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday. Tickets for Fan Appreciation Night at Children's Mercy Park are available online at SeatGeek.com and the midweek match, sponsored by Tito's Handmade Vodka, will air live nationally on FS1 and FOX Deportes in addition to local radio broadcasts on Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Grande 1340 AM.
On Sunday, Sporting will renew the team's rivalry with Minnesota United FC (12-10-9, 45 points) with a visit to the Twin Cities for a 12 p.m. CT kick off on Halloween at Allianz Field. The match will be nationally televised on ESPN and ESPN Deportes with local radio coverage available on ESPN 94.5 FM and La Grande 1340 AM. Fans are invited to attend the club's official watch party at International Tap House (403 E. 18th St.) in Kansas City.
5. Movies at the Park
On Friday, Sporting Club Special Events will continue the Movie in the Park series at Children's Mercy Park with a free outdoor showing of Hocus Pocus. Guests can reserve seats in advance online and gates will open at 6:30 p.m. CT, followed by the film at 7 p.m. CT. The event, presented by Tito's Handmade Vodka, will feature a costume contest and all guests 21 years of age and over are eligible for a prize pack from Tito's.
6. Tune In Tuesday
The Sporting KC Show will air on Sports Radio 810 WHB from 6-7 p.m. CT on Tuesday with hosts Nate Bukaty, Aly Trost and Conall McCourt. The Sporting KC Show Podcast is available on Spotify, iTunes and SportingKC.com, giving supporters a weekly destination to catch up on club storylines, player achievements, guest interviews and more.
7. Youngsters in Action
Sporting Kansas City II (4-19-8, 20 points) will conclude their USL Championship campaign with a road match against Oakland Roots SC (10-13-8, 38 points) at 9 p.m. CT on Saturday at Laney College Field. The match-up will stream live on ESPN+ and fans can follow @SportingKCII on Twitter for in-game updates.
The Sporting Kansas City Academy will also be in action on Saturday as the U-17s travel to take on cross-state rivals St. Louis City SC. Kick off is set for 12 p.m. CT and fans can follow @SKCAcademy on Twitter for in-game updates throughout the MLS NEXT season.
