Busio and Salloi bag MLS Team of the Week honors

Sporting Kansas City Academy products Gianluca Busio and Daniel Salloi were selected to the MLS Team of the Week today after leading the team to a dramatic 2-1 win over LAFC on Saturday afternoon at Children’s Mercy Park.

Three days after bagging a brace to spur a 3-1 home triumph over the Colorado Rapids, Salloi stayed red hot with a brilliant 87th-minute strike that decided the contest. He also drew a red card on LAFC’s Tristan Blackmon after the defender fouled Salloi to deny an obvious goal scoring opportunity.

Busio, meanwhile, recorded the game-winning assist to Salloi, won a game-high five tackles and 12 duels, and completed 59 of 68 passes as part of an all-action midfield performance.

Team of the Week (3-5-2, left to right): Marko Maric (HOU) – Gudmundur Thorarinsson (NYC), Aljaz Struna (MTL), Julian Araujo (LA) – Daniel Salloi (SKC), Alvaro Medran (CHI), Gianluca Busio (SKC), Luciano Acosta (CIN), Nani (ORL) – Ricardo Pepi (DAL), Chicharito (LA)

Coach: Luchi Gonzalez (DAL)

Bench: Brad Stuver (ATX), Andreu Fontas (SKC), Joao Paulo (SEA), Albert Rusnak (RSL), Cristian Dajome (VAN), Adrien Hunou (MIN), Thiago Andrade (NYC)

Sporting center back Andreu Fontas notably landed a spot on the MLS Team of the Week bench after anchoring a defensive effort that limited an explosive LAFC side to just six total shot attempts. He also logged game-highs in passes (69), recoveries (10) and interceptions (six).

Manager Peter Vermes’ men (7-3-2, 23 points) will look to continue their winning ways on Sunday when the club visits LA Galaxy (7-3-0, 21 points) for a marquee Fourth of July showdown at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. The Western Conference clash will kick off at 9:30 p.m. CT with three hours of live coverage beginning at 9 p.m. CT on Bally Sports Kansas City, Bally Sports Midwest Plus, BallySports.com and the Bally Sports app. The contest will also air locally on Sports Radio 810 WHB (English) and La Grande 1340 AM (Spanish), with The Final Whistle postgame show immediately following on 810 WHB.