Seeing Red: KC-Chicago Rivalry

Lately, it feels like every time Sporting Kansas City plays Chicago Fire, there is a red card. In fact, the last three games Sporting KC has played against Chicago there has been a total of three red cards...all received by Sporting KC. The most recent came earlier this season when Roger Espinoza was sent off in the 62nd minute at Toyota Park. Jimmy Nielsen and Omar Bravo were the victims a year ago.

All-time, Sporting KC has 10 ejections in 41 regular season matches against the Chicago Fire, which is the most SKC has versus any other team in MLS. Chicago has seven red cards in those matches to equal 17 total ejections in the SKC-Chicago rivalry, or about one every two-and-a-half games.

Those 17 red cards between the two teams are the most combined between Sporting KC and any other opponent in the League. Keep in mind, Chicago entered the League two years after its inception.

Up next, the Kansas City-San Jose clash has 15 ejections and there are three other SKC engagements with a mere 13 red cards during their encounters.

Basically, there are a lot of red cards when Sporting KC and Chicago play each other.

Rivalry? What, rivalry?