Several years from now, when Sporting Kansas City fans reminisce about their favorite all-time moments at the heralded soccer cathedral that is Children's Mercy Park, there's a reasonable chance that Saturday's match against Houston Dynamo FC will rise to the forefront on the discussion.
Indeed, Sporting Kansas City's 3-2 victory unfolded with more emotion, entertainment, pomp and circumstance than a high-budget Hollywood film. An instant classic in every sense of the definition, the game has etched itself into club folklore.
And here's why.
1. The return to full capacity
Almost fifteen months after hammering the Dynamo in a sold-out 2020 home opener, Sporting welcomed its first full-capacity crowd since the onset of COVID-19 on Saturday. The opponent? It just had to be Houston.
An electric atmosphere created by 20,086 spectators saw Children's Mercy Park rattle with energy. Members of the Cauldron, the South Stand and everywhere in between were once again together in full voice. It was, simply put, a beautiful moment.
2. The free kick
You know exactly what I'm talking about. That 30-yard masterclass from Gianluca Busio. That jaw-dropping, physics-defying stroke of genius from a wunderkind who turned 19 years old one day earlier. With 51 minutes on the clock and Sporting down 1-0, Busio stepped up to deliver one of the greatest goals in club history.
We'll never forget it.
3. The comeback
Busio's magic kickstarted a rampant 14-minute period in which Sporting scored three times. Red-hot striker Alan Pulido won and buried a penalty kick before Gadi Kinda bagged what ultimately stood as the game-winner. This devastating second-half salvo blew the proverbial roof off of Children's Mercy Park and effectively blew away the Dynamo.
Only eight games into the year, Sporting's four comeback wins are one shy of a single-season club record. There is just no quit in Manager Peter Vermes' team.
4. The adidas PRIMEBLUE jerseys
My two cents: Sporting's light-colored adidas PRIMEBLUE jerseys, made of recycled ocean plastics, looked terrific. Regardless of how you felt about them, the fact that Sporting donned a new and unique look made the game that much more memorable.
5. The halftime show
Sporting dominated proceedings from start to finish but found themselves trailing 1-0 at intermission. That set the stage for one of the coolest halftime events you could possibly enjoy at a sporting event: a flying disc show featuring uber-talented canines. The volume levels of the Children's Mercy Park crowd every time a dog completed an acrobatic catch were only eclipsed by Sporting's three second-half goals.
6. The postgame scenes
This, Sporting fans, is the stuff we have been longing for since March of 2020. This, Sporting fans, is a moment that each of you deserved to soak up and celebrate to the fullest.
