Sporting KC vs Colorado Rapids
Sat., March 29 – 5 p.m. CT
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park | Commerce City, Colorado
English TV: 38 The Spot, SKCtv Network
English Radio: ESPN 102.9 FM
Spanish Radio: La Gran D 1340 AM
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Sporting KC heads West looking to secure the club’s first road points of the 2014 MLS regular season against the undefeated Colorado Rapids on Saturday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The match will be televised locally on KMCI’s 38 The Spot and across the Midwest on the Sporting Kansas City Television Network with coverage beginning at 4:30 p.m. CT. Radio broadcasts can be found on ESPN 102.9 FM and La Gran D 1340 AM.
Sporting KC has won just four games on the road against the Rapids all-time but is in the midst of a seven-game unbeaten streak versus Colorado dating back to 2009, including three draws in Commerce City. In the last meeting in the series, Benny Feilhaber opened the scoring in the 33rd minute and Graham Zusi notched a late game-winner to give Sporting KC the 2-1 victory at Sporting Park.
The club's official watch party will be at the Johnny’s Tavern in the KC Power and Light District (1310 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, MO). All in attendance will be entered to win two tickets to Sporting KC vs. Manchester City FC at Sporting Park on July 23 and tickets for Sporting KC’s MLS Cup rematch versus Real Salt Lake on April 5 at Sporting Park. Select Boulevard draft specials will be available and Sporting KC forward Soony Saad will be making a special appearance to meet fans, sign autographs and take photos.
Sporting KC and Colorado both earned victories last weekend against Western conference opponents Real Salt Lake and the Portland Timbers, respectively. The Rapids have scored three goals during the 2014 regular season and all have come from the penalty spot, including two in two minutes during last week’s 2-0 victory.
The win was the club’s first under new head coach Pablo Mastroeni, who joined the Rapids coaching staff after 12 seasons in Colorado during his 16-year MLS playing career. Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes also played for the Rapids (1997-1999) prior to arriving in Kansas City for the team’s 2000 MLS Cup season.
Mastroeni added seven players to the Rapids 2014 roster including Marc Burch, Marvin Chavez and Jose Mari who have each seen playing time in Colorado’s first two matches this season. Mari will serve a one-game suspension on Saturday after receiving two yellow cards against the Timbers last weekend. Colorado will be without Chris Klute (hamstring strain), Brian Mullan (knee surgery) and Dillon Serna (ankle sprain), but could be boosted by the return of Clint Irwin who has recovered from injury.
More than 800 Sporting Kansas City supporters will make the trip to Colorado for Saturday’s match. Fans can follow all the action online at SportingKC.com/GameOn or via @SKCGameday on Twitter.
