SPORTING KC ON THE ROAD TO FACE NEW ENGLAND ON SATURDAY
Sporting Kansas City (12-12-7, 43 points) continues its playoff push away from home this weekend, visiting the New England Revolution on Saturday at Gillette Stadium. Currently fifth in the Western Conference standings, Sporting KC (12-12-7, 43 points) will face a New England Revolution side (9-13-9, 36 points) that sits one point below the red line in the East. The interconference clash carries significant playoff importance for both clubs as Sporting KC wards off challenges from the sixth-place Portland Timbers (41 points) and seventh-place Seattle Sounders FC (38 points).
SKCTV and 38 The Spot will broadcast the match live at 6:30 p.m. CT, with three hours of live coverage beginning at 6 p.m. CT. Listeners in the Kansas City area can also follow the action live on ESPN 99.3 FM (English) and La Grande 1340 AM (Spanish), with The Final Whistle: Sporting KC Postgame Show airing immediately afterward on 99.3 FM.
No Other Pub in the Kansas City Power & Light District (1370 Grand Blvd.) will host an official watch party for the match, offering $7 specialty cocktails from Till Vodka. The interconference clash comes before the October international break, which will give Sporting KC a week off before finishing the 2016 regular season at Real Salt Lake on Oct. 16 and home to San Jose on Oct. 23.
SWOPE PARK RANGERS HOST LA GALAXY II IN USL PLAYOFFS ON FRIDAY
The Swope Park Rangers will begin their quest toward the 2016 USL Cup against LA Galaxy II at 7:30 p.m. CT on Friday at Children’s Mercy Victory Field in Swope Soccer Village in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. Tickets for the Swope Park Rangers home playoff match start as low as $12 and are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com. SPR Season Ticket Members can also secure their seats today via Account Manager with season ticket pricing in effect for the USL Cup Playoffs. The match will stream live on SportingKC.com.
The Rangers (14-10-6, 48 points) have won six of their last seven matches and defeated LA Galaxy II (12-7-11, 47 points) by a 2-1 scoreline on Aug. 27 at Children's Mercy Victory Field. Friday's winner will move onto the conference semifinals to face the winner between top-seeded Sacramento Republic FC and No. 8 seed Orange County Blues FC on the weekend of Oct. 8-9.
VOTING OPEN FOR SPORTING KC 2016 AWARDS
Voting is now open for Sporting KC’s 2016 team awards, to be presented at the club’s Pitch Black celebration on Saturday, Oct. 8 at Children’s Mercy Park. Media and fans can cast their online ballots through Friday at SportingKC.com/vote.
Pitch Black, presented by Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City, welcomes supporters of all ages to join Sporting KC players and coaches for an evening of drinks, dining and live entertainment at Children’s Mercy Park.
Individual tickets for Sporting Kansas City’s premier annual event are available online at SportingKC.com/PitchBlack.
SPORTING KC EARNS MASSIVE ROAD WIN AT SAN JOSE
Sporting KC claimed an invaluable 2-1 road victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night, jumping up to fifth place in the Western Conference with a gutsy performance at Avaya Stadium. Dom Dwyer headed the visitors ahead inside seven minutes, and while Simon Dawkins leveled terms shortly before halftime for San Jose (7-9-13, 34 points), a back-heel from defender Kevin Ellis gave Sporting KC three massive points in the club’s push for the MLS Cup Playoffs.
The result saw Sporting KC (12-12-7, 43 points) exorcise demons of past and present: Peter Vermes’ men earned their first win in San Jose since August 2000 — ending a dismal run of 18 straight league matches, including playoffs — and snapped a 12-game road winless run in MLS that began on April 17.
Now with 43 points from 31 games, Sporting KC is two points ahead of the sixth-place Portland Timbers and eight ahead of the seventh-place Seattle Sounders, who have three games in hand on both teams directly above them in the Western Conference standings. (Full story)
TIM MELIA UP FOR MLS SAVE OF THE WEEK
Tim Melia's first-minute save against the San Jose Earthquakes has advanced to the MLS Save of the Week semifinals. His impressive parry on Chris Wondolowski's blistering strike is up against Seattle's Stefan Frei in the semifinals, with fan voting open through 10:55 p.m. CT tonight.
Melia made three crucial saves on Saturday as Sporting KC claimed an invaluable 2-1 win at San Jose, vaulting to fifth place in the Western Conference with three regular season matches still to play.
MELIA AND ELLIS EARN TEAM OF THE WEEK HONORS
Desperately needing three points in a place it hadn't won for 16 years, Sporting KC received a pair of standout performances from goalkeeper Tim Melia and defender Kevin Ellis on Saturday night. Facing the San Jose Earthquakes in a pivotal Western Conference clash at Avaya Stadium, Melia produced three superb saves and Ellis scored arguably the most important goal of Sporting KC's season in the 81st minute. The end result was a 2-1 victory that snapped an 18-game winless run in San Jose and vaulted Peter Vermes' men to fifth place in the West.
Melia and Ellis were rewarded for their heroics on Monday, landing spots on the Bleacher Report Team of the Week as Sporting KC won its first MLS road game since April 9 at the New York Red Bulls. Melia was also included on the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week, his first such honor since starring in the win over New York. Ellis, meanwhile, received the weekly honor from ESPNFC.
RANGERS CLOSE OUT REGULAR SEASON WITH 2-1 VICTORY
The Swope Park Rangers clinched a fourth-place finish and a home playoff game following a 2-0 victory over Seattle Sounders FC 2 at Swope Soccer Village on Saturday night. Amer Didic opened the scoring with his first professional goal in the 11th minute, before Tyler Pasher added a second with 15 minutes remaining. SPR will now host LA Galaxy II at Swope Soccer Village in a Western Conference Quarterfinal on Friday.
AMER DIDIC LANDS ANOTHER USL TEAM OF THE WEEK HONOR
Swope Park Rangers rookie defender Amer Didic has been named to the USL Team of the Week for a record sixth time in Week 27. Didic scored his first professional goal and helped his side post a shutout to clinch a home playoff game in the 2-0 victory over Seattle Sounders FC 2 on Saturday.
The 21-year-old’s six Team of the Week inclusions is the most out of any player in the USL. Didic has made 27 appearances in his first professional season after a four-year college career at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas, with the Rangers going 11-5-4 when he starts, compared to 3-5-2 when he doesn’t. (Full Story)
ACADEMY SIDES LOOK TO STAY UNBEATEN ON SATURDAY
The Sporting KC Academy U-18s and U-16s are off to unbeaten starts in the 2016-17 U.S. Soccer Development Academy. Both sides will be in action this Saturday for a doubleheader against FC Dallas at Mohawk Soccer Complex in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The U-18s will kick off at noon CT before the U-16s take the field at 2:30 p.m. CT. Follow @SKCAcademy on Twitter for live updates throughout the 2016-17 season.
SPORTING KC UPHORIA STREAMLINED FOR 2016 HOME STRETCH
The official mobile app of Sporting KC has continued its impressive evolution just in time for the club’s playoff push. The latest version of Sporting KC Uphoria, available to download on the App Store and Google Play, now features a slick tab bar that makes the app easier than ever to navigate. Designed to bring fans closer to the team and enhance the match day experience at Children’s Mercy Park, Sporting KC Uphoria is neatly divided into four unique sections, each with its own special components. Click here to learn more.
CHANCE MYERS AND BLUE TO APPEAR AT WALMART THIS WEEKEND
Supporters are invited to join Sporting KC defender Chance Myers for an EA Sports FIFA 17 launch party from 2-3:30 p.m. CT at Walmart in Overland Park, Kansas (7701 Frontage Rd.). In addition to playing the new game with fans, Myers will be available for autographs and photo opportunities.
Walmart's soccer celebration continues Sunday from 1-2:30 p.m. CT when the Sporting KC mascot Blue will appear at the location in Shawnee, Kansas (16100 W. 65th St.) for interactive activities and photo opportunities with fans.
WESTLAKE ACE HARDWARE HELPFUL MOMENT OF THE MONTH
The Westlake Ace Hardware Helpful Moment of the Month is open for voting at SportingKC.com/helpful. Supporters can choose among three nominees for the month of September, with each voter receiving a $7 coupon to Westlake Ace Hardware locations in the Kansas City area. The grand prize includes a $300 Westlake gift card, a Sporting KC replica jersey and tickets to an upcoming match at Children's Mercy Park.
ENTER THE KC STAYCATION MARRIOTT SWEEPSTAKES
Kansas City Marriott Downtown and Sporting KC have launched a month-long, enter-to-win sweepstakes that will run during the month of September. Sporting KC fans can enter to win online by filling out the entry form on this page. The KC Staycation sweepstakes is offering up a prize package for one lucky Sporting KC supporter. The grand prize winner will receive the following:
- Two (2) complimentary nights at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown (Dates based on availability)
- One (1) complimentary dinner for two (2) at the MetropolitanKC
- Twenty-five (25) dollar voucher to CoffeeCentral
- Two (2) tickets to a Sporting KC home game
- One (1) VIP Parking pass
- Two (2) Sporting KC jerseys
- Two (2) Sporting KC scarves
ENTER THE GAIL'S HARLEY-DAVIDSON SWEEPSTAKES
Supporters can visit SportingKC.com/gailsharley and enter for a chance to win a brand new Sporting KC-branded Harley-Davidson Street 500 motorcycle and tickets to the club's regular season finale vs. San Jose Earthquakes on Oct. 23.
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.
