The Sporting KC Show, held throughout the season on Sports Radio 810 WHB, is now available on Spotify and iTunes. With Nate Bukaty and Carter Augustine hosting the weekly program, Sporting KC fans now have a place to go to catch up on club storylines, player achievements, guest interviews and more.
A new episode of the Sporting KC Show Podcast dropped Tuesday night as hosts Nate Bukaty and Carter Augustine were joined by Sporting Kansas City midfielder Ilie Sanchez to recap Sunday's epic 4-2 victory over Real Salt Lake in the second leg of the Western Conference Semifinals at Children's Mercy Park.
Ilie converted a second-half penalty kick in audacious panenka style on Sunday to give Sporting KC a 3-1 lead and a 4-2 advantage on aggregate. RSL grabbed a goal back and would have advanced on away goals had they found a late equalizer, but instead Daniel Salloi's no-look strike deep into stoppage time sealed the deal in an instant classic between fierce rivals.
The result vaults top-seeded Sporting KC into the Western Conference Championship of the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs, where they will face the No. 5 seed Portland Timbers. Manager Peter Vermes' side will visit Portland on Nov. 25 before hosting the decisive second leg on Nov. 29. Tickets for the second-leg encounter at Children's Mercy Park, slated to kick off at 8:30 p.m. CT, are now available at SeatGeek.com.
Before welcoming Ilie to the show, Bukaty and Augustine reflected on the standout performance delivered by midfielder Felipe Gutierrez, who became just the second player in Sporting KC history to record two assists in a playoff match. They also caught up with Sporting KC color commentator Matt Lawrence, who called Sunday's game on Sports Radio 810 WHB and ESPN 94.5 FM.
Ilie has reached professional career-highs in 2018 with five goals and four assists while playing every minute of all 39 matches for Sporting KC in all competitions. His cheeky penalty kick in the 67th minute on Sunday proved pivotal as the hosts emerged victorious in their first home playoff game since edging RSL in the 2013 MLS Cup.
"I went down the middle because I had a feeling that the goalkeeper (Nick) Rimando would try to jump (in one direction) to stop the ball," said Ilie, who also revealed that Rimando had some words for the Sporting KC midfielder just before the penalty was taken.
"It happens almost every time, and the goalkeeper is just trying to do his job and put you under pressure," Ilie said. "He took the ball, gave it to me and said 'Make sure you go one way or the other. Try to kick it as far away from me as you can.' In that moment, I had already decided that I was going through the middle. I could not believe those words, and I am glad I did not change my mind."
Episode Summary
- 4:15 - Bukaty and Augustine discuss Felipe Gutierrez's standout performance and the nail-biting end to the match
- 11:45 - Lawrence recaps the second leg and Sporting KC's recent attacking form
- 20:50 - Lawerence breaks down the final half-hour of Sunday's game
- 25:11 - Bukaty gives his case for Peter Vermes as MLS Coach of the Year
- 30:27 - Ilie describes the thought process behind his panenka penalty kick
- 37:23 - Ilie lauds the Children's Mercy Park fans for their role in the win
- 44:26 - Bukaty and Augustine give a quick preview of the international break
In a separate radio appearance, Sporting KC defender Brad Evans joined KCUR 89.3 on Tuesday afternoon to shed insight on a wild conference semifinal series and his storied career as an MLS veteran and U.S. international. The 33-year-old Evans has now progressed to three straight Western Conference Championships, having done so with Seattle Sounders FC in 2016 and 2017.
Listen to the entirety of both podcasts below.
Ilie Sanchez and Matt Lawrence on The Sporting KC Show
Brad Evans on KCUR 89.3
