SPORTING KC TO HOST RIVALS REAL SALT LAKE ON SATURDAY
Sporting KC (5-6-2, 17 points) continues its three-game home stand Saturday at 7:30 p.m. CT against Real Salt Lake (5-3-2, 17 points) as part of MLS Heineken Rivalry Week. The match will air on 38 The Spot and SKCTV with three hours of live coverage beginning at 7 p.m. CT. Listeners can also follow the action on Sports Radio 810 WHB (English) and La Grande 1340 AM (Spanish), and The Final Whistle: Sporting KC Postgame Show will air immediately following the game on 810 WHB.
A limited number of tickets for the rivalry match are still available and can be secured at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 888-4KC-GOAL. The first 10,000 fans through the gates on Saturday will receive free cell phone wallets courtesy of match sponsor Mazuma Credit Union.
SPORTING KC OUSTS ORLANDO CITY IN HISTORIC 2-1 VICTORY
Sporting KC bounced back into the victory column Sunday with a thrilling 2-1 win over Orlando City SC at sold-out Children’s Mercy Park. Dom Dwyer’s 50th goal for the club in all competitions drew Sporting KC level in the 74th minute, setting the stage for substitute Jacob Peterson to cap his heroic cameo with the match-winner five minutes later.
A national television audience on ESPN saw Sporting KC unleash an offensive barrage to the tune of 34 shot attempts, an all-time club record and third most in MLS regular season history, as Manager Peter Vermes collected his 100th MLS coaching win since taking over in 2009. (Full story)
TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR U.S. MNT VS. BOLIVIA IN KANSAS CITY
Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster.com for the international friendly between the United States Men's National Team and Bolivia on May 28 at Children's Mercy Park. The U.S. will visit Kansas City for its final tune-up before hosting the Copa America Centenario, a prestigious international tournament headlined by the U.S., Mexico, Argentina and Brazil that includes 16 nations from North, Central and South America.
Sporting KC captain Matt Besler and winger Graham Zusi have both played for the U.S. Men’s National Team this year and are in contention to feature at the Copa America Centenario, which will be played in 10 cities across the U.S. from June 3-26. The competition is a celebration of the 100th anniversary of CONMEBOL and the Copa America, and will be the first edition of the tournament played outside of South America.
ROGER ESPINOZA LEADS SPORTING KC'S TEAM OF THE WEEK TRIO
Sporting KC midfielder Roger Espinoza received MLS Team of the Week honors after turning in a dominant performance in Sunday's 2-1 win over Orlando City SC. In addition to providing the game-winning assist to Jacob Peterson, Espinoza set single-game MLS career-highs with six shot attempts and six chances created while also adding three tackles, three interceptions and three recoveries. Other Sporting KC players to receive Team of the Week recognition include captain Matt Besler and forward Jacob Peterson, who became the fourth player in club history to score a goal and an assist as a substitute. (Full story)
SWOPE PARK RANGERS TAKE 2-1 WIN OVER TULSA ROUGHNECKS FC
The Swope Park Rangers claimed a 2-1 victory over Tulsa Roughnecks FC on Saturday night at Swope Soccer Village to halt the club’s four-game winless streak. Two second-half strikes from winger Tyler Pasher made the difference for SPR, while Sammy Ochoa scored his fifth goal of the season for Tulsa. (Full story)
Pasher was named to the USL Team of the Week after his two-goal, game-winning performance in the triumph. (Full story)
RANGERS ON THE ROAD SATURDAY TO FACE RIO GRANDE VALLEY FC
The Swope Park Rangers (3-3-1, 10 points) are back on the road this Saturday to face Rio Grande Valley FC (3-2-2, 11 points) at UTRGV Soccer and Track Complex in Edinburg, Texas. The contest will kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT with a live stream on SportingKC.com.
SWOPE PARK RANGERS SIGN BRAZILIAN MIDFIELDER
The Swope Park Rangers have signed Brazilian midfielder Ayrton Pinheiro Victor, the club announced last Friday. Ayrton, who will join pending the receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC), becomes the seventh player on the Rangers’ squad to occupy a Foreign Player roster spot. (Full story)
PACHUCA AND SANTOS LAGUNA TO MEET IN KANSAS CITY ON JUNE 21
Children's Mercy Park will host a friendly between storied Mexican clubs C.F. Pachuca and Santos Laguna on June 21 in conjunction with Univision Kansas City, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City and the Consulate of Mexico in Kansas City. Tickets for the match, presented by Kansas City Southern, will go on sale to the general public on Friday at 10 a.m. CT via Ticketmaster.com. That same day, fans can also purchase tickets at the Children's Mercy Park box office from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT. (Full story)
SPORTING KC ACADEMY DUO JOINS U.S. U-17 TRAINING CAMP
Sporting Kansas City Academy forward Maxi Rugova and midfielder Grayson Barber have joined a U.S. U-17 Men's National Team training camp that began this weekend and runs through Sunday at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. (Full story)
SPORTING KC ACADEMY IN USSDA ACTION SATURDAY
The Sporting KC Academy will play a triple-header against FC Dallas on Saturday as the 2015-16 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season hits the home stretch. The U-18s kick off the action at noon CT, followed by the U-16s at 2:30 p.m. and the U-14s at 4:30 p.m. All three games will be played at Rogers State University in Claremore, Oklahoma. Follow @SKCAcademy on Twitter for live updates as the U-18s and U-16s look to secure spots in the USSDA Playoffs next month.
ENTER TO WIN LIONEL MESSI AND ARGENTINA PLAY IN CHICAGO
Sporting KC supporters can visit SportingKC.com/copa100 and record their predictions for the 2016 Copa America Centenario. All who participate will be entered to win two tickets to see Lionel Messi and Argentina play Panama on June 10 at Soldier Field in Chicago. The sweepstakes is open through May 23 at 5 p.m. CT, and official rules can be found at SportingKC.com.
SPORTING KC FANS CAN ENTER TO WIN A FREE TRIP TO PORTLAND
Fans can visit amfam.com/sportingkc to enter the sweepstakes for a free, all-inclusive trip to see Sporting KC play at the Portland Timbers on Aug. 7. The winner will receive airfare for four, Sporting KC gear, four game tickets to the Sporting KC vs. Portland Timbers match, a $1,000 bank card, and two hotel rooms for two nights in close proximity to Providence Park. (Register here)
NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR BLUE KC SPORTING SAMARITANS
Sporting KC and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City have teamed up this season to recognize Blue KC Sporting Samaritans, honoring individuals who make the Kansas City community a better place to live. Once a month, a Samaritan will be recognized on the pitch at Children's Mercy Park before a Sporting KC home game. Supporters can nominate members of their community to be the next Blue KC Sporting Samaritan by sharing their first-person experience with the nominee at SportingKC.com/bluekc.
KC STEAK COMPANY MEAT AND GREET SWEEPSTEAKS NOW OPEN
During the entire month of May, supporters can visit SportingKC.com/kcsteak and enter the Kansas City Steak Company Meat and Greet SweepSteaks. A winner will receive a one-year supply of steaks from the Kansas City Steak Company and a dinner with a Sporting KC player for up to six people at the Three Points Club, Sporting KC's rooftop event space in downtown Kansas City.
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.
