Sporting Kansas City returns home this weekend to take on the Colorado Rapids at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT and will be available to stream on MLS Season Pass. The game will also be broadcast locally on the radio via Sports Radio 810 WHB, while tickets are available via SeatGeek.com.
1. BACK HOME FOR CONSECUTIVE GAMES
Sporting Kansas City concluded a brutal stretch of the team’s 2025 schedule this past weekend, suffering a 5-2 defeat to the Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field. After four straight matches - including three on the road - against the league’s top teams, Sporting now returns home for back-to-back matches against the Colorado Rapids and Austin FC over the next two weekends.
Sporting is in the midst of a run that sees the team play nine straight games against teams currently above the playoff line. The next two matches, which close out that nine-game stretch, appear kinder on paper as the team welcomes seventh-place Colorado and ninth-place Austin to Children’s Mercy Park.
Sporting started in a 4-4-2 formation once again this past weekend and were able to get increased numbers in the final third, resulting in two goals in a tough road environment - above the team’s season average of 1.31 goals per road game. With 19 road goals this year, Sporting has already score more away goals than the team totaled in the last three seasons.
Sporting’s playoff hopes remain slim as the team sits 11 points out of the ninth and final postseason spot with seven games remaining.
2. LOOKING TO DO THE DOUBLE OVER RAPIDS
Sporting Kansas City returns home this weekend to take on the Colorado Rapids at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night, looking to complete a rare double over the club’s Western Conference foes.
Sporting has already met Colorado this season, seeing out a 2-1 victory at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on July 4, 2025. Erik Thommy set up Dejan Joveljic to give Sporting the lead within the game’s opening minutes before Thommy doubled the lead just after halftime off an assist from goalkeeper John Pulskamp. Rafael Navarro scored a late penalty kick to ensure a nervy ending but Sporting held on for a famous three points - their first in Colorado since March 29, 2014.
Sporting last hosted the Rapids on Sept. 18, 2024, cruising to a 4-1 victory at Children’s Mercy Park. Alan Pulido gave the hosts an early lead before doubling the lead early in the second half. Thommy came off the bench in the second half to bag a brace of his own and complete a comfortable night for the club.
Sporting leads the all-time series against Colorado 31-27-19, including a dominant 24-7-6 mark at home. Sporting last won the season series against the Rapids in 2021, going 1-0-2 in three meetings.
3. TOYE CONTINUES FINE FORM IN FRONT OF GOAL
Sporting Kansas City forward Mason Toye continued to cash in on his starting opportunities this past weekend, scoring his second goal of the season in the club’s 5-2 defeat to the Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field on Sunday night.
Earning his second start of the season one week after his first, Toye got in behind the Seattle backline on multiple occasions and eventually scored the equalizing goal for Sporting in the 36th minute to make the score 1-1.
Toye, who now has three goals in three career regular season starts against Seattle, got a step on the Seattle defense and beat them to the punch to meet Tim Leibold’s low cross and confidently fire beyond Stefan Frei for the 22nd goal of his MLS regular season career.
After recording an assist last week, Toye now has goal contributions in each of his first two starts for the club. Toye now has two goals and an assist for Sporting, having also scored a late equalizer in the 2-1 win over Charlotte FC on June 25.
4. LEIBOLD BAGS INCH-PERFECT ASSIST
Sporting Kansas City defender Tim Leibold delivered an inch-perfect assist this past weekend, setting up Mason Toye’s goal in the 5-2 defeat against the Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field on Sunday night.
With the team trailing 1-0 following an early Seattle goal, Leibold received a pass from Zorhan Bassong down the left wing and the German delivered a perfect first-time cross into the path of Toye who slotted home with ease to make the score 1-1.
It marked Leibold’s second assist of the season - having also set up Daniel Salloi’s goal in the 3-3 draw with Minnesota on March 15 - and eighth of his MLS regular season career. The German left back now has multiple assists in each of his three seasons with Sporting KC since joining ahead of the 2023 campaign.
Leibold now has a total of two goals and eight assists in 74 appearances for Sporting in all competitions.
5. BASSONG TALLIES ASSIST, RECEIVES CANADA CALL UP
Sporting Kansas City midfielder Zorhan Bassong has been selected to the Canada National Team for two friendly matches during the FIFA international window in September. Bassong and Canada will travel to face Romania on Sept. 5 at Arena Națională before visiting Wales on Sept. 9 at Swansea.com Stadium.
Bassong, who recorded his career-best third assist of the season this past Sunday in Seattle, will return to Canada after competing for the Reds at the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup earlier this summer. He made two tournament appearances in the group stage, helping the team to an emphatic 6-0 victory over Honduras and playing the full 90 minutes at left back in a 1-1 draw against Curacao.
Bassong has enjoyed a strong second season with Sporting in 2025, starting in 14 of 21 appearances across all competitions. He scored his first professional goal at FC Cincinnati on April 26 and recorded assists in a 3-3 home draw against the New England Revolution on May 24 and a 3-1 road win at the Houston Dynamo on May 31. Bassong donned the captain’s armband for the first time on Aug. 16 at Orlando City and added another assist on Sunday at Seattle.
