(October 17, 2013) - Sporting Kansas City returns to the pitch on Friday to take on D.C. United in their penultimate match of the 2013 MLS regular season. The game will be broadcast live on the NBC Sports Network, marking Sporting KC's fifteenth of sixteen nationally televised matches this season, and also over the airwaves on Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Gran D 1340 AM.
A limited number of tickets are still available for the regular season home finale at Sporting Park, scheduled to kickoff at 7 p.m. CT. Fans can purchase tickets online at Ticketmaster.com or at the Sporting Park Box Offices on Friday.
Sporting KC is in second place in the Eastern Conference with 52 points and one point behind the New York Red Bulls (53) and Portland Timbers (53) in the race for the Supporters' Shield. Conversely, D.C. United is in last place in League standings with 16 points from 32 games played.
With a win on Friday, Sporting KC will move into first place in the League and secure a top two seed in the Eastern Conference. A top two finish would secure home field advantage in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Friday's match features the 2012 and 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Champions. Sporting KC hoisted the trophy in 2012 after beating three-time winners Seattle Sounders FC in a penalty kick shootout at Sporting Park. D.C. United currently boast the title after defeating Real Salt Lake 1-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium earlier this month.
Sporting KC is unbeaten in their last six matches against D.C. United including three victories at Sporting Park. In 2013, the clubs have met on two previous occasions. Sporting KC earned a 1-0 victory at home in April before a 1-1 draw at RFK Stadium a month later.
Sporting KC had a bye last weekend and in their most recent outing held the Houston Dynamo to a scoreless draw at BBVA Compass Stadium. The result gave Sporting KC a valuable road point keeping them in contention to finish in first place in the Eastern Conference for the third consecutive season.
D.C. United is also coming off a draw in MLS play, tying the Philadelphia Union 1-1 at RFK Stadium. Nick DeLeon gave D.C. United the early lead in the 36th minute. Jack McInerney foiled the hopes for the home side, tallying the equalizer in second half stoppage time.
Sporting KC's Graham Zusi returned to Kansas City in advance of Friday's match after scoring in back-to-back World Cup Qualifiers for the United States Men's National Team against Jamaica and Panama. For all purchases over $65 at Sporting Style locations on Friday, fans will receive a Graham Zusi Fathead while supplies lasts.
Former manager Bob Gansler will be inducted into the inaugural class of Sporting Legends at halftime of Friday's match. Gansler led Kansas City to the Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup title in 2000, as well as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship in 2004.
October is Breast Cancer awareness month and as part of an MLS WORKS initiative, Sporting Kansas City players will be wearing pink shoelaces and wristbands. The match ball will also have pink accents. The national anthem on Friday will be sung by the Biker Chix, a local group influential in the fight against breast cancer.
The match sponsor, UMKC will be distributing Sporting Kansas City tote bags to the first 10,000 fans to enter the gates. Additionally, members from the UMKC Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity will be collecting canned foods at each gate at Sporting Park to benefit Harvesters Community Food Network.
Eighteen current Season Ticket Members will be randomly selected and matched with a Sporting KC player on the gameday roster to receive the player's game-worn uniform. The chosen Season Ticket Members will be announced on the Sporting Park videoboards throughout the match. Additionally, more than 100 fans at Sporting Park will be randomly selected to receive a free Sporting KC scarf throughout the match as part of the team's Fan Appreciation Week.
Sporting KC fans can track the match online by visiting SportingKC.com/GameOn or by following @SKCGameday on Twitter. The Final Whistle: Sporting KC Postgame Show will air live on Sports Radio 810 WHB with hosts Dave Borchardt and Andy Edwards leading the discussion and taking supporters' calls at 913-3-810-810.
