SPORTING KC IN SAN JOSE TO FACE EARTHQUAKES ON SUNDAY
Sporting Kansas City (4-3-0, 12 points) has dropped to fourth place in the Western Conference after suffering 2-1 defeats to the Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas last week. The club will play its second of three straight road matches on Sunday, traveling to face the San Jose Earthquakes (3-2-2, 11 points) in a 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff at Avaya Stadium.
ESPN, WatchESPN and ESPN Deportes will televise the match nationally, with a Spanish radio broadcast in the Kansas City area available on La Grande 1340 AM. In addition, The Final Whistle: Sporting KC Postgame Show will air immediately following the game on 99.3 FM. Sporting KC is seeking its first win at San Jose since August 2000, having collected 12 losses and five draws in their last 17 visits to the Earthquakes (including playoffs).
SPORTING KC TAKES FIRST ROAD LOSS OF 2016 AT FC DALLAS
Sporting KC took its first road loss of the 2016 season on Sunday, falling 2-1 to FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The result drops Sporting Kansas City (4-3-0, 12 points) to fourth place in the Western Conference, while FC Dallas (5-1-2, 17 points) moves atop the MLS Supporters’ Shield standings.
Midfielder Lawrence Olum put Sporting KC ahead in the 22nd minute, scoring his first MLS goal since 2014 off a corner kick from Benny Feilhaber, but FC Dallas drew level 13 minutes later through Michael Barrios. Second-half substitute Mauro Rosales then curled home a free kick in the 68th minute to snap Sporting KC’s two-game road winning streak. (Full story)
BRAD DAVIS JOINS ELITE COMPANY WITH 400TH APPEARANCE
Sporting KC midfielder Brad Davis joined elite company on Sunday with his 400th MLS appearance. The 2014 World Cup veteran is only the fifth MLS player to accomplish the feat and just the third active player to feature in 400 MLS games. Davis is now 12 games behind MLS legend - and fellow St. Louis native - Steve Ralston for fourth all-time in MLS appearances. Former Kansas City goalkeeper Kevin Hartman is first on the list with 465 appearances during the regular season and playoffs. (Full story)
SPORTING KC ANNOUNCES 20TH ANNIVERSARY BEST XI
Sporting KC announced last Wednesday the club's 20th Anniversary Best XI, presented by Bud Light. More than 12,000 fan votes at SportingKC.com determined a lineup that includes current players Matt Besler, Dom Dwyer and Graham Zusi, as well as present Manager Peter Vermes.
Unveiled on SKCTV before Sporting KC's match against the Colorado Rapids, the 20th Anniversary Best XI consists of one goalkeeper, three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards. Seven additional players received honorable mention to round out the commemorative 18-man squad. (Full story)
SPORTING KC FALLS TO COLORADO ON 20TH ANNIVERSARY NIGHT
Sporting KC suffered a 2-1 defeat to the Colorado Rapids last Wednesday at Children’s Mercy Park. Dom Dwyer moved into a tie for second on the MLS scoring charts with his fourth goal of 2016, but Colorado struck late in each half through Luis Solignac and Shkelzen Gashi to claim the road win. The match commemorated the 20th anniversary of Sporting Kansas City’s inaugural game, a 3-0 win over the Rapids on April 13, 1996, at Arrowhead Stadium. (Full story)
RANGERS RETURN TO USL ACTION WITH TRIP TO OKC
Following a bye weekend in the United Soccer League, Swope Park Rangers (2-0-1, 7 points) return to action Saturday, visiting OKC Energy FC (0-1-1, 1 point) at 7 p.m. CT at Taft Stadium in Oklahoma City. Marc Dos Santos' side will look to extend their unbeaten start to the season against an OKC outfit coached by former Sporting KC captain and goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen. The match will be streamed live on SportingKC.com.
RANGERS UNVEIL FESTIVITIES FOR FIRST GAME AT SWOPE
Swope Soccer Village will serve as the official home of the Swope Park Rangers in 2016, hosting the first of 13 USL matches at 7 p.m. CT on Wednesday, April 27. Tickets, starting as low as $12, are available via Ticketmaster.com or by calling 888-4KC-GOAL.
Click here for a full list of opening-night festivities on April 27 -- including $1 hot dogs, free appetizer vouchers to No Other Pub, complimentary coffee and a commemorative poster series.
ENTER-TO-WIN TRIVIA NOW OPEN FOR COPA AMERICA TICKETS
Sporting KC supporters can visit SportingKC.com/copa100/trivia and answer trivia questions for a chance to win two tickets to see the United States Men's National Team play Costa Rica in the Copa America Centenario on June 7 at Soldier Field in Chicago. The sweepstakes closes April 25 at 5 p.m. CT, and official rules can be found at SportingKC.com.
MLS INTRODUCES ELEVATED SECURITY STANDARDS
Major League Soccer announced on Tuesday elevated security standards that will be applied across all MLS stadiums to ensure a safe environment for soccer fans. Beginning Saturday, April 24, a new minimum standard Bag Policy and guest screening measures will be instituted in all 20 MLS venues bringing MLS events in line with security measures taken by the other professional sports leagues in North America. (Full story)
SPORTING CLUB NETWORK UNVEILS SPORTING SPRINGFIELD
Expansion of Sporting Kansas City’s Academy Affiliate program continued Tuesday as Missouri Elite FC and Springfield Soccer Club joined forces to form Sporting Springfield, now the sixth affiliate club in the state of Missouri. Players that participate and compete through the Academy Affiliate program will be directly connected to Sporting Kansas City’s Academy and youth development initiatives. In turn, they will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience while receiving heightened levels of training and development. (Full story)
SPORTING AND BLUE KC RECOGNIZE SPORTING SAMARITANS
Sporting KC and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City have teamed up this season to recognize Blue KC Sporting Samaritans, honoring individuals who make the Kansas City community a better place to live. Once a month, a Samaritan will be recognized on the pitch at Children's Mercy Park before a Sporting KC home game. Supporters can nominate members of their community to be the next Blue KC Sporting Samaritan by sharing their first-person experience with the nominee and why they should be selected at SportingKC.com/bluekc.
SKC ACADEMY TO VISIT LONESTAR SC FOR DOUBLEHEADER
The Sporting KC Academy U-18s and U-16s resume league play in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy on Saturday, meeting Lonestar SC for a doubleheader at Rouse High School in Leander, Texas. The U-18s will kick off at 10 a.m. with the U-16s following at 12:30 p.m. CT. Follow @SKCAcademy on Twitter for live updates throughout the season.
WIN A TRIP TO SEE SPORTING KC PLAY IN LA FOR FREE
Sporting KC supporters can enter the Sabates Eye Centers sweepstakes at SportingKC.com/Sabates for a chance to win a free trip to see Sporting KC play at LA Galaxy on June 2. The prize includes two game tickets, round-trip air fair, a two-night stay in Los Angeles, a rental car and Sporting KC gear. All entries must be received by 5 p.m. CT on April 30.
FOLLOW SPORTING KC
For news, photographs and instant updates throughout the 2016 season, follow Sporting KC on its Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat (sportingkc) accounts and visit the club's social media page.
