C.J. Sapong

C.J. Sapong
17
Forward
  • Sporting Kansas City
  • 6' 1"
  • 185 lbs.
  • 12-27-1988
  • Manassas, VA

Click here to view Sapong's 2013 MLS regular season highlights

Drafted in the first round of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft out of James Madison University, Sapong was named the 2011 MLS Rookie of the Year with five goals and five assists in his first professional season and scored in the 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs. He tied for the team lead with nine goals in 2012 after debuting for the U.S. Men’s National Team in January 2012.

MLS:

2013: Sapong has appeared in all seven of Sporting Kansas City's matches this season. He notched his first assist of the season against Toronto on March 9th.

2012: After an impressive rookie season landed Sapong the 2011 MLS Rookie of the Year accolade, he didn’t take his foot off the pedal. Sapong added another nine goals and two assists during the 2012 regular season. In Sporting KC’s most recent outing, Sapong scored the game-winner in the 82nd minute. The goal marked his fifth game-winning goal of the season, tying Preki’s 1997 campaign for third most in a single season in club history. Sapong ranks sixth on the MLS chart for game-winning goals in 2012. Sapong scored the first and last goal of the 2012 regular season. He also scored the first and last goal of the 2011 MLS season (including playoffs). Sapong scored in the regular season home finale in both 2011 and 2012 and Sporting Kansas City is now 13-0-2 in MLS competition (including playoffs) when C.J. Sapong scores. Sapong’s goal against Philadelphia in Sporting KC's regular season finale was his 14th regular season goal, tying for him for 10th most among college draft choices in their first two MLS seasons. He matches Teal Bunbury’s goal count through two seasons and trails only Scott Sealy (19 goals from 2005-2006) among KC draft picks all-time. Sapong scored goals in three of the team's first four MLS matches, including game-winning goal in second-half stoppage time of 1-0 victory at D.C. United in season opener. Awarded AT&T Goal of the Week for Week 12. Sapong played in all five Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches and scored two goals in competition, both coming in a 3-0 win over the Dayton Dutch Lions. Scored goals in back-to-back games against the Houston Dynamo (Video) on September 14 and New York Red Bulls (Video) on September 19. Sapong was also awarded the 2012 MLS Celebration of the Year alongside Kei Kamara.

2011: Selected with the 10th overall pick in the first round of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft. Started season opener on March 19 vs. Chivas USA and scored in second minute of professional debut. It was the fastest goal scored by a rookie who started their debut in MLS history, surpassing mark set by teammate Michael Harrington. Scored first-ever MLS goal at Sporting Park with game-winner against San Jose Earthquakes on June 17. On October 15, Sapong scored within seconds of entering the game to help Sporting Kansas City beat New York and clinch a spot in the playoffs. Scored the second goal in the 2-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids in the second leg of the playoffs Finished the season as the only Sporting player to play in all 34 games and tallied five goals and five assists.  Sapong was named the 2011 Rookie of the Year.

NATIONAL TEAM:
Sapong was invited to the U.S. Men’s National Team’s 2012 January camp alongside Teal Bunbury and Graham Zusi.  Sapong came on as a substitute and was capped twice in the friendlies against Venezuela and Panama.

COLLEGE:
Two-time NSCAA First Team All-South Atlantic Region in 2009 and 2010. First player at James Madison to win conference First-Team honors four times. 2010 Hermann Trophy Watch List, CAA  Player of the Year. 2009 First Team Eastern College Athletic Conference All-Star, Second Team All-State. 2007 Third Team NSCAA All-South Atlantic Region, CAA Rookie of the Year, VaSID Rookie of the Year and First Team All-State.
 
YOUTH:
Northwest Region and Cardinal District Player of the Year, First Team All-Area, First Team All-Examiner, Four-time All-District, Two-time All-Region, Washington Post All-Metro while at Forest Park High School. Led PWSI Magnum to VYSA state champions in 2002, 2005 and 2006. Super-20 Nationals with D.C. United Youth Academy, PDL final four with Reading United.
 
PERSONAL: 
Favorite restaurant is Oklahoma Joes.  Enjoys dancing and reading Harry Potter. Favorite soccer player is Thierry Henry.  Eats French toast, sausage and eggs from First Watch before every game. Favorite saying is "What is life if you don't take your pants off and slide on ice?" Favorite soccer memory is scoring in his first game with Sporting Kansas City.

Career Statistics (Regular Season)

Year Club GP GS G MIN A SHT SOG FC OFF Y R
2013 Sporting Kansas City 12 8 1 794 1 21 8 17 3 0 0
2012 Sporting Kansas City 31 24 9 2210 2 61 24 38 16 2 0
2011 Sporting Kansas City 34 22 5 2096 5 53 25 30 5 0 0
Career Totals 77 54 15 5100 8 135 57 85 24 2 0

2013 Season Statistics

Competition Club GP GS G MIN A SHT SOG FC OFF Y R
MLS Regular Season Sporting Kansas City 12 8 1 794 1 21 8 17 3 0 0

2012 Season Statistics

Competition Club GP GS G MIN A SHT SOG FC OFF Y R
MLS Playoffs Sporting Kansas City 2 2 0 170 0 8 2 1 0 0 0
MLS Regular Season Sporting Kansas City 31 24 9 2210 2 61 24 38 16 2 0

2011 Season Statistics

Competition Club GP GS G MIN A SHT SOG FC OFF Y R
MLS Playoffs Sporting Kansas City 3 3 1 270 0 5 5 8 0 0 0
MLS Regular Season Sporting Kansas City 34 22 5 2096 5 53 25 30 5 0 0
GP: Games Played, GS: Games Started, G: Goals, MIN: Minutes Played, A: Assists, SHT: Shots, SOG: Shots on Goal, FC: Fouls Committed, OFF: Offsides, Y: Yellow Cards, R: Red Cards, GF: Goals For, GA: Goals Against, SO: Shutouts, SV: Saves, PKA: Penalty Kick Attempts, PKG: Penalty Kick Goals, PKS: Penalty Kick Saves

Regular Season Game Log

Date Match Result Appearance MINS G A SHT SOG FC FS Y R
5/12/2013 KC @ HOU W 1-0 Subbed On 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
5/8/2013 SEA @ KC L 1-0 Started 90 0 0 1 0 0 4 0 0
5/5/2013 CHV @ KC W 0-4 Subbed On 23 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0
4/27/2013 POR @ KC L 3-2 Started 90 0 0 3 2 0 0 0 0
4/20/2013 KC @ LA L 0-2 Started 67 0 0 2 1 2 5 0 0
4/17/2013 KC @ NY W 1-0 Started 90 0 0 3 1 2 4 0 0
4/5/2013 DC @ KC W 0-1 Started 90 0 0 3 1 1 2 0 0
3/30/2013 MTL @ KC W 0-2 Started 89 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0
3/23/2013 KC @ NE T 0-0 Started 90 0 0 2 1 4 0 0 0
3/16/2013 CHI @ KC T 0-0 Started 90 0 0 3 1 2 5 0 0
3/9/2013 KC @ TOR L 1-2 Subbed On 45 0 1 2 0 1 2 0 0
3/2/2013 KC @ PHI W 3-1 Subbed On 27 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 0
10/24/2012 PHI @ KC W 1-2 Started 90 1 1 3 2 3 2 0 0
10/20/2012 KC @ NY T 0-0 Started 90 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0
10/7/2012 KC @ CLB T 1-1 Started 90 1 0 7 2 0 3 0 0
9/28/2012 CHI @ KC W 0-2 Started 90 0 1 2 1 2 3 0 0
9/22/2012 KC @ MTL T 0-0 Started 90 0 0 1 1 2 1 0 0
9/19/2012 KC @ NY W 2-0 Started 90 1 0 3 2 2 1 0 0
9/14/2012 HOU @ KC T 1-1 Started 90 1 0 10 4 0 0 0 0
9/1/2012 TOR @ KC W 1-2 Started 86 0 0 1 1 1 2 0 0
8/26/2012 NY @ KC T 1-1 Subbed On 76 0 0 2 0 3 2 1 0
8/18/2012 KC @ TOR W 1-0 Subbed On 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8/11/2012 DC @ KC W 1-2 Subbed On 6 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0
8/4/2012 KC @ NE W 1-0 Unused Sub 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7/28/2012 CLB @ KC L 2-1 Unused Sub 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7/21/2012 NE @ KC T 0-0 Started 87 0 0 1 0 2 3 0 0
7/18/2012 KC @ HOU L 1-2 Subbed On 45 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
7/14/2012 KC @ CLB W 2-0 Subbed On 52 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0
7/7/2012 HOU @ KC T 0-0 Started 68 0 0 1 0 1 2 0 0
7/4/2012 KC @ MTL W 3-1 Started 90 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0
6/29/2012 CHI @ KC L 1-0 Started 72 0 0 2 0 1 3 0 0
6/23/2012 KC @ PHI L 0-4 Started 74 0 0 1 0 2 4 0 0
6/20/2012 KC @ SEA T 1-1 Subbed On 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
6/16/2012 TOR @ KC W 0-2 Started 90 1 0 2 1 1 1 0 0
5/27/2012 SJ @ KC W 1-2 Started 90 1 0 3 1 3 1 0 0
5/19/2012 KC @ COL T 2-2 Unused Sub 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5/12/2012 KC @ CHI L 1-2 Started 74 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0
5/5/2012 MTL @ KC L 2-0 Started 66 0 0 1 1 1 2 0 0
4/21/2012 KC @ POR L 0-1 Started 90 0 0 4 0 2 3 0 0
4/18/2012 KC @ VAN W 3-1 Started 62 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
4/14/2012 RSL @ KC W 0-1 Started 90 0 0 3 0 3 0 0 0
4/7/2012 LA @ KC W 0-1 Started 87 0 0 1 0 1 3 0 0
4/1/2012 KC @ CHV W 1-0 Started 72 1 0 3 3 2 0 0 0
3/25/2012 DAL @ KC W 1-2 Started 90 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0
3/17/2012 NE @ KC W 0-3 Started 90 1 0 5 3 2 3 0 0
3/10/2012 KC @ DC W 1-0 Subbed On 15 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0
10/22/2011 KC @ DC W 1-0 Subbed On 22 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 0
10/15/2011 NY @ KC W 0-2 Subbed On 17 1 0 2 2 1 0 0 0
10/1/2011 KC @ SJ T 1-1 Subbed On 18 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0
9/28/2011 CLB @ KC W 1-2 Started 90 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
9/23/2011 PHI @ KC T 1-1 Subbed On 28 0 0 2 2 0 1 0 0
9/17/2011 KC @ RSL L 0-1 Subbed On 21 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0
9/10/2011 HOU @ KC W 0-3 Started 90 1 0 2 1 2 0 0 0
9/5/2011 LA @ KC T 2-2 Started 90 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0
8/27/2011 DAL @ KC L 3-2 Started 90 0 0 3 2 0 3 0 0
8/21/2011 DC @ KC W 0-1 Started 90 0 0 3 2 2 3 0 0
8/17/2011 POR @ KC W 1-3 Started 90 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0
8/6/2011 SEA @ KC L 2-1 Started 65 0 0 1 1 0 2 0 0
8/3/2011 RSL @ KC W 0-2 Subbed On 16 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0
7/30/2011 NE @ KC T 1-1 Started 90 0 0 2 1 1 3 0 0
7/23/2011 TOR @ KC W 2-4 Started 53 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0
7/16/2011 KC @ HOU T 1-1 Started 90 0 0 2 1 2 2 0 0
7/9/2011 CHV @ KC T 1-1 Started 90 0 0 3 1 2 1 0 0
7/6/2011 COL @ KC T 1-1 Subbed On 29 0 0 3 2 0 1 0 0
7/2/2011 KC @ POR W 2-1 Started 89 1 1 2 1 1 0 0 0
6/25/2011 VAN @ KC W 1-2 Started 81 0 0 4 2 0 2 0 0
6/22/2011 KC @ PHI T 0-0 Subbed On 45 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6/17/2011 SJ @ KC W 0-1 Started 90 1 0 3 1 1 1 0 0
6/12/2011 KC @ DAL W 4-1 Started 90 0 1 2 0 1 4 0 0
6/9/2011 CHI @ KC T 0-0 Subbed On 31 0 0 3 1 0 1 0 0
6/4/2011 KC @ TOR T 0-0 Subbed On 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
5/28/2011 KC @ COL T 1-1 Started 54 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
5/21/2011 KC @ SEA L 0-1 Subbed On 17 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
5/14/2011 KC @ LA L 1-4 Subbed On 23 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 0
4/30/2011 KC @ NY L 0-1 Started 45 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
4/23/2011 KC @ NE L 2-3 Started 90 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0
4/16/2011 KC @ CLB L 0-1 Started 90 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0
4/2/2011 KC @ VAN T 3-3 Started 90 0 1 3 1 1 0 0 0
3/26/2011 KC @ CHI L 2-3 Started 90 0 0 1 0 3 4 0 0
3/19/2011 KC @ CHV W 3-2 Started 90 1 0 5 1 1 2 0 0
GP: Games Played, GS: Games Started, G: Goals, MIN: Minutes Played, A: Assists, SHT: Shots, SOG: Shots on Goal, FC: Fouls Committed, OFF: Offsides, Y: Yellow Cards, R: Red Cards, GF: Goals For, GA: Goals Against, SO: Shutouts, SV: Saves, PKA: Penalty Kick Attempts, PKG: Penalty Kick Goals, PKS: Penalty Kick Saves