International Friendly
Wednesday, October 12, 2011, 7:30 p.m. CT
Spanish TV: ESPN Deportes
English Radio: SportingMembership.com
LIVESTRONG Sporting Park | Kansas City, Kansas
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 77 degrees
Attendance: 17,142
Video Highlights: Click here
Score 1 2 F
Sporting Kansas City 0 2 2
CD Guadalajara 1 1 2
Sporting Kansas City: Eric Kronberg; Seth Sinovic (Korede Aiyegbusi 46), Lawrence Olum, Aurelien Collin, Chance Myers (Michael Harrington 46); Davy Arnaud (Kevin Ellis 61), Graham Zusi (Birahim Diop 46), Jeferson (Scott Lorenz 87); Omar Bravo (Milos Stojcev 53), C.J. Sapong (Soony Saad 46), Kei Kamara (Craig Rocastle 46)
Subs not used: Jon Kempin
CD Guadalajara: Luis Ernesto Michel (Victor Hugo Hernandez 61); Arturo Ledesma, Mario De Luna, Hector Reynoso (Kristian Alvarez 14), Jonny Magallón (Jose Luis Verduzco 83); Edgar Mejia, Antonio Gallardo (Patricio Araujo 46), Marco Fabián (Antonio Salazar 53); Jesus Sánchez (Xavier Baez 59), Carlos Fierro (Erick Torres 46), Julio Nava (Jorge Mora 40)
Subs not used: Uriel Navarro, Isao Torres, Alberto Medina
Stats: KC CHV
Shots 20 5
Shots on Goal 4 2
Saves 0 2
Fouls 13 16
Offside 3 4
Corner Kicks 4 1
Misconduct Summary:
CHV – Kristian Alvarez (Caution; Unsporting Behavior) 16
KC – Aurelien Collin (Caution; Tactical Foul) 19
CHV – Antonio Gallardo (Caution; Dissent) 44
KC – Lawrence Olum (Caution; Reckless Tackle) 78
CHV – Jorge Mora (Caution; Reckless Tackle) 86
KC – Craig Rocastle (Ejection; Serious Foul Play) 94+
Scoring Summary:
CHV – Marco Fabian (penalty kick) 20
KC – Soony Saad (Milos Stojcev) 75
KC – Kevin Ellis (unassisted) 86
CHV – Erick Torres (unassisted) 88
Sporting Kansas City drew 2-2 with CD Guadalajara in an international friendly match at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park on Wednesday night. The first career goal for Home Grown defender Kevin Ellis looked to have won the match late for Sporting Kansas City in the 86th minute, but an 88th minute strike from substitute Erick Torres earned the draw for CD Guadalajara.
CD Guadalajara midfielder Marco Fabián scored the game’s first goal, converting a first half penalty kick to put CD Guadalajara in front, but substitute forward Soony Saad finished a through ball from Milos Stojcev in the 75th minute before a dramatic ending in front of 17,142 fans.
Sporting Kansas City Designated player Omar Bravo played 53 minutes against his former team on Wednesday night. Bravo played a total of ten seasons with CD Guadalajara and ranks second on the club’s all-time goalscoring charts.
CD Guadalajara created the match’s first chance in the eighth minute of play. Jesús Sánchez was played in on goal, but before the forward could release a shot, he was tackled by a recovering Aurelien Collin. The ball then fell to Fabián, who rolled his shot just wide of the empty net after Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Eric Kronberg had committed himself to the effort from Sanchez.
Sporting Kansas City created their first chance of the match in the 13th minute. On the ball and pushing forward, defender Seth Sinovic picked out Kamara running down the right flank. Kamara cut a pass back across goal for Jeferson, who hit his first time effort over the bar and out of play.
CD Guadalajara edged in front from the penalty spot in the 20th minute. Collin was whistled for a foul in the area after pulling down Carlos Fierro reaching for a pass across goal. Fabián stepped up and sent Kronberg the wrong way to put CD Guadalajara in front.
Six minutes later, Bravo got into the action, heading over inside the area. Graham Zusi found a pocket of space on the edge of the box and curled a right-footed cross into the area. Bravo, making a darting run towards goal, met the service with his head but his attempt sailed just over the bar.
In the 30th minute, Sporting Kansas City created their best chance of the first half. Winning the ball in the right channel, Kamara burst into the penalty area before hitting a rasping low shot that CD Guadalajara goalkeeper Luis Michel could only touch against the far post. The ensuing rebound fell to Zusi, who’s shot was headed away by Kristian Álvarez.
Five minutes later it was Zusi and Kamara again at the center of the attack for Sporting Kansas City. Cutting the ball onto his right foot to the right of the penalty area, Kamara swung a cross into the box that was headed down just wide of goal. One minute later, Jeferson pushed forward on a counter, but his low drive rolled just past the post.
The 37th minute saw CD Guadalajara on the attack again, and once again it was Fabián lurking in the area. A cross from the right flank from defender Jonny Magallón found Fabián at the far post. Fabián, who finished an audacious overhead kick this summer against FC Barcelona in the World Football Challenge, attempted to create something similar. Leaving his feet to connect with the cross, Fabián’s shot was blocked over the crossbar by Collin.
Sporting Kansas City created the final chance of the half in the 41st minute. In space outside the penalty area, Jeferson picked out Bravo with a delicate chip in behind the CD Guadalajara backline. Bravo ran onto the pass, but Michel had advanced quickly to down the angle, and blocked Bravo’s shot away for a corner.
Wholesale changes were in order for both sides in the second half, and it was two substitutes who combined to make the breakthrough for Sporting Kansas City in the 75th minute. Receiving a pass from Lawrence Olum, Stojcev drove at the CD Guadalajara goal before slipping a left-footed pass in behind the defense for Saad. In alone against substitute Victor Hugo Hernández, Saad finished calmly through the goalkeeper’s legs to level the score for Sporting Kansas City.
In the 86th minute, Sporting Kansas City got the go ahead goal through Ellis. After a foul was called on the edge of the penalty area, Jeferson whipped an inswinging free kick towards the far post. Hernández went to ground to deal with the effort, but the ball skipped past him to Ellis, who finished from close range at the far post for his first goal since signing a Home Grown contract prior to the start of the 2011 season.
Ellis’ goal would not be the winner, however, as Torres would equalize just two minutes later. Running onto an errant backpass, Torres placed a low effort calmly beyond Kronberg with a defender on his back to level the score for the visitors.
Sporting Kansas City will resume MLS play with a postseason berth on the line at 3:00 p.m. CT on Saturday, October 15th in their regular season home finale against the New York Red Bulls at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. The match, presented by Sprint, will feature Breast Cancer Awareness Night and Fan Appreciation Night, and a victory will secure Sporting Kansas City’s spot in the 2011 MLS Cup playoffs.
Tickets can be purchased at the LSP Box Offices or online at Ticketmaster.com.
FAST FACTS
• Sporting Kansas City is 0-0-2 all-time against Club Deportivo Guadalajara, after earning a 1-1 draw during the 2009 MLS preseason in Mexico.
• Club Deportivo Guadalajara is 1-0-1 all-time in Kansas City, after earning a 2-1 win against Club America in 2009 at Arrowhead Stadium.
• Sporting Kansas City striker Omar Bravo faced his former club for the first time since signing with Major League Soccer in August 2010. Bravo played 53 minutes and received a standing ovation from the sell-out crowd upon his exit.
• Sporting Kansas City striker Soony Saad scored his second goal in all competition for the first team on Wednesday, slotting his shot past Victor Hugo Hernandez in the 75th minute. Saad made his fifth appearance for the first team in all competition this season on Wednesday.
• Sporting Kansas City midfielder Milos Stojcev earned his third assist of the season for the first team in all competition on the goal.
• Sporting Kansas City midfielder Kevin Ellis scored his first career goal in all competition for the first team on Wednesday, capitalizing on a rebound in the 86th minute.
• Ellis made his third appearance of the season for the first team in all competition on Wednesday, replacing Davy Arnaud in the 61st minute.
• LIVESTRONG Sporting Park hosted its second international club friendly on Wednesday, after opening in June. The state-of-the-art venue also hosted Newcastle United FC in July as Sporting KC held the English Premier League club to a scoreless draw.
• Club Deportivo Guadalajara Manager Fernando Quirarte was on the sideline for his second match for the club after taking the helm prior to their 0-0 draw with Toluca on Sunday.
• CD Guadalajara played their fifth and final match on US soil in 2011 on Wednesday. After playing three matches in the 2011 World Football Challenge against Real Madrid, Juventus and FC Barcelona this summer, CD Guadalajara earned a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Fire last month.
• Sporting Kansas City is 4-4-7 all-time against clubs from Mexico, and 2-1-4 when facing Mexican clubs in Kansas City.
• Prior to Wednesday, Sporting Kansas City’s last match against a Mexican club came in June 2009 during SuperLiga when the club faced Atlas and Santos Laguna within a week span.
• Sporting Kansas City’s first team has now played 38 matches in all competition in 2011, with two MLS regular season matches remaining on the schedule.
• Sporting Kansas City will resume MLS play at 3:00 p.m. CT on Saturday, October 15th against the New York Red Bulls. With a victory, Sporting Kansas City can secure a spot in the 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs.
• Sporting Kansas City will then conclude the 2011 MLS regular season on Saturday, October 22nd at D.C. United.
• Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Eric Kronberg played 90 minutes on Wednesday, making his ninth appearance of the season for the Sporting Kansas City first team in all competition.
• Sporting Kansas City defender Lawrence Olum made his second appearance of the season for the first team on Wednesday in all competition, playing 90 minutes.
• Sporting Kansas City midfielder Craig Rocastle played his first match in LIVESTRONG Sporting Park on Wednesday.
• Sporting Kansas City defender Scott Lorenz made his fourth appearance of the season for the first team in all competition on Wednesday.
• Sporting Kansas City defender Korede Aiyegbusi made his fifth appearances of the season for the first team in all competition on Wednesday.
• Sporting Kansas City allowed their fifth penalty kick in all competitions on Wednesday.
• CD Guadalajara midfielder Marco Fabian is tied with striker Omar Arellano for the team lead with three goals in the 2011 Apertura.
• Sporting Kansas City was without four players for Wednesday’s match due to international duty. Teal Bunbury (USA), Shavar Thomas (Jamaica), Peterson Joseph (Haiti) and Roger Espinoza (Honduras) were all with their national teams during the FIFA international match dates this past weekend.
