Fast Facts: Sporting KC at Columbus Crew - July 16, 2014

Mikey Lopez - Sporting KC at Columbus Crew - July 16, 2014

Go in-depth behind Sporting Kansas City's 2-1 win over the Columbus Crew at Crew Stadium on Wednesday.


  • Sporting KC defeated the Columbus Crew 2-1 on Wednesday night on goals from C.J. Sapong and Benny Feilhaber.
  • With the win, Sporting KC (9-5-5, 32 pts.) surpasses D.C. United (9-5-4, 31 pts.) for
  • sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference.
  • The win on Wednesday marks the first time in club history that Sporting KC has won four straight MLS road games in the same season.
  • Sporting KC has won six road matches in 2014, most in MLS.
  • Since 2011, no team has more regular season road wins (26) than Sporting KC.
  • Forward C.J. Sapong earned his first MLS start since March 15 on Wednesday, joining Dom Dwyer and Soony Saad in the attack.
  • Sapong scored the first goal of the match in the 42nd minute of play. The goal was Sporting KC's second off a corner kick in the 2014 season and first since the home opener on March 15.
  • Benny Feilhaber tallied the assist on Sapong's goal, his team-leading fifth assist in 2014.
  • Feilhaber now has 18 assists in his MLS career during the regular season -- half of which have come in a KC uniform during the MLS regular season.
  • The goal was Sapong's first of the season but 19th of his MLS career, tying him with Teal Bunbury for 10th most in club history.
  • Sporting KC is undefeated all-time (18-0-2) when Sapong scores in MLS competition.
  • Sporting KC is also undefeated when scoring first (9-0-4) and when leading at halftime (6-0-1) in MLS matches in the 2014 season.
  • With Sapong's header on Wednesday, the team's six headed goals are tied for second most in MLS this season (behind only New York with eight).
  • Aurelien Collin was shown a straight red card on Wednesday in the 55th minute by Edvin Jurisevic, who also issued a red card to Collin on his MLS debut in 2011 which was later rescinded.
  • Columbus equalized with the man advantage in the 69th minute on an own goal credited to Igor Juliao. It marked the team's first own goal allowed in 2014.
  • The own goal snapped a streak 376 minutes since Sporting KC last conceded a goal in MLS to Columbus. Sporting KC scored eight goals in that time.
  • The Crew's Wil Trapp was shown a second yellow card in the game's 89th minute.
  • The ejection was Trapp's second in as many matches against Sporting KC.
  • Sporting KC has received five red cards during the 2014 season, while the team's opponents have received seven.
  • Sporting KC's Benny Feilhaber tallied the game-winner in second half stoppage time (93+).
  • Feilhaber's strike is the latest game-winning goal of the season for Sporting KC. The team has scored nine goals in the 76th minute or later in 2014.
  • In the all-time series against Columbus, Sporting KC has scored 25 of the team's 79 goals in the 76th minute or later.
  • The goal is Feilhaber's second of the season and first since March 29th in Sporting KC's 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
  • The goal is Feilhaber's 10th in MLS regular season play -- half of which have come in a Sporting KC uniform during the MLS regular season.
  • Jacob Peterson and Igor Juliao each earned an assist on the play.
  • Peterson now has 14 assists in his MLS career and four with Sporting KC during the regular season.
  • The assist is Juliao's first of his Major League Soccer career.
  • Feilhaber led all players with four chances created on Wednesday.
  • Matt Besler led all players with three interceptions on Wednesday.
  • Sporting KC midfielder Mikey Lopez made his MLS debut for Sporting KC on Wednesday, joining Lawrence Olum and Feilhaber in the midfield.
  • Lopez becomes the 27th different player to appear in an MLS match for Sporting KC in 2014, tied with Chivas USA for most of any club.
  • Of those 27 players, 11 were 23 years of age or younger at the start of the 2014 season.
  • Through 19 games this MLS regular season, Sporting KC has featured 19 different starting lineups.
  • Sporting KC is 7-1-1 in 2014 when Lawrence Olum starts and 12-3-3 over the last two years with Olum in the starting XI.
  • Sporting KC is 3-0-1 in 2014 when Soony Saad starts and 12-3-4 over the last two years with Saad in the starting XI.
  • Andy Gruenebaum played for Columbus from 2006-13, making 82 MLS appearances (including postseason).
  • Wednesday marked Gruenebaum's second start for his hometown club (2-0-0).
  • The Columbus Crew are winless in seven games (0-3-4) and have one victory in their last 16 matches after starting 3-0-0.
  • Sporting KC is 24-21-6 all-time against the Crew (79 goals scored, 78 goals allowed). Sporting KC has a 11-12-4 record in Columbus.
  • Sporting KC has won 238 MLS regular season matches, surpassing the Columbus Crew for sole possession of third most in League history.
  • Sporting KC (56.91%) and Columbus Crew (55.89%) rank first and second in average possession, respectively.
  • Sporting KC ranks first in chances created from set plays (44) in 2014, 11 more than any other team.
  • Sporting KC ranks third in shots per game (13.95) in 2014 and first in fewest shots allowed per game (9.11) this year.