Sporting KC vs Toronto FC
Saturday, July 13, 2013 - 7:30 p.m. CT
Sporting Park | Kansas City, KS
English TV: KSMO-TV
English Radio: Sports Radio 810 WHB
Spanish Radio: La Gran D 1340 AM
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Sporting Kansas City and Toronto FC will meet for their second of three matches during the 2013 MLS regular season on Saturday. The matchup, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, will be televised on KSMO-TV and will kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT with pregame coverage beginning at 7 p.m. CT. Fans can also listen to the match on Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Gran D 1340. Limited tickets are still available online at ticketmaster.com or at the Sporting Park Box Offices.
Sporting KC is 8-4-4 against Toronto FC all-time and 6-1-1 at home against the Reds. Sporting Kansas City is unbeaten in seven of their last eight matches against the Canadian side. Toronto's last win against Sporting KC came on March 9, 2013 at Rogers Centre. Robert Earnshaw scored twice for the home side and Claudio Bieler added one for the visitors as Toronto FC won 2-1. Earnshaw and Bieler both lead their clubs in goals scored with six and eight, respectively.
Sporting Kansas City is also unbeaten in seven of their last eight league matches. Peter Vermes' side is coming off a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park last weekend and currently sits in second place in the Eastern Conference behind the Montreal Impact. Benny Feilhaber and Graham Zusi provided the goals for Sporting KC. Zusi's strike was voted MLS Goal of the Week with 35.6% of the vote.
Toronto FC, who had a bye last weekend, is currently 2-8-7 and sits in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. Their last match was a 3-3 draw to Montreal on July 3. Former Sporting KC winger Bobby Convey assisted on Jeremy Brockie's sixth minute equalizer. Toronto FC midfielder Michael Thomas was in the gameday roster for his first match since joining Toronto FC in a trade from Sporting KC last week.
Toronto FC has four players unavailable due to international duty. Kyle Bekker, Doneil Henry, Ashtone Morgan and Jonathan Osorio are all with the Canadian national team for CONCACAF Gold Cup matches.
Sporting KC's Mechack Jerome and Peterson Joseph are with Haiti playing CONCACAF Gold Cup matches, as well. Paulo Nagamura will miss his fourth consecutive match with a left ankle sprain.
Parking lots will open at 4:30 p.m. CT on Saturday and all fans are encouraged to arrive early due to other events in the area. Additionally, the first 10,000 fans through the gates will receive a retractable banner, courtesy of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City.
Those in attendance will also have the opportunity to pick up their free tickets to the Macklemore and Ryan Lewis concert on July 29 at the Power and Light District. The concert will be part of the five-day fan festival in downtown Kansas City surrounding the MLS All-Star Game which will be played at Sporting Park on July 31. Tickets will be available pregame and at halftime for ticket holders on the Sprint Plaza. Non-ticket holders will be allowed to enter the Sprint Plaza after the final whistle to pick up a ticket. Fans can also meet Sporting KC midfielder Mikey Lopez and defender Kyle Miller at the Blue Cross Blue Shield tent in the Sprint Plaza at 5:45 p.m. CT.
Sporting Kansas City has also instituted a new policy for the Boulevard Members Club on Saturday. The Members Club will be open pregame to all Members Stand Season Ticket Members as well as the first 500 Season Ticket Members from other seating sections in the stadium. The Boulevard Members Club will be open to all ticket holders at the conclusion of the match and fans will have their final opportunity to obtain a silver ticket to the Silversun Pickups concert at 8 p.m. CT on July 30 at the Power and Light District.
Sporting KC supporters can find in-game updates at SportingKC.com/GameOn and by following @SKCGameday on Twitter.
