Preview: Sporting KC to face Phoenix Rising FC Trialists in second preseason tune-up

Sporting Kansas City vs. Phoenix Rising FC Trialists
2019 Preseason presented by Children's Mercy
Wednesday, Jan. 23 | 11:30 a.m. CT
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex | Scottsdale, Arizona
Updates | @SKCmatchday on Twitter

While most of the club’s supporters endure bitterly cold temperatures across the Midwest, Sporting Kansas City have continued their preparations for the new campaign in the sun-drenched warmth of Arizona.

Up next for Manager Peter Vermes side is Wednesday’s friendly against the Phoenix Rising FC Trialists. Kickoff at Phoenix Rising FC Soccer Complex is slated for 11:30 a.m. CT as Sporting embark on the next step of their 2019 preseason, presented by Children’s Mercy.

Four different players found the back of the net in Friday’s preseason curtain raiser, a 4-0 victory over Sporting Arizona FC. Johnny Russell and Yohan Croizet hammered home before Swope Park Rangers duo Justin Bilyeu and Felipe Hernandez bagged late goals to round out a contest that was played across three 30-minute periods. Vermes gave playing time to 32 players over the course of the match and voiced his satisfaction with the overall performance shortly after the final whistle.

“We played three different teams and mixed the group up quite a bit. I like the fact that all three teams resembled how we want to play,” Vermes said on Friday. “There’s already a good, solid foundation of fitness to be able to play 30 minutes like we did. All three teams got a clean sheet, and each group scored at least one goal, which was good as well.”

Sporting have taken the field for multiple training sessions since then and will aim to make more progress Wednesday when they face a team of Rising FC trialists. Vermes has a sizeable squad to call upon, with the 26 first-team players joined by a bevvy of Rangers, Sporting KC Academy members and unsigned MLS SuperDraft picks. The 11th-year manager, who was named the 2018 MLS Sporting Executive of the Year earlier this month, will have a watchful eye on these newcomers as they look to integrate into the team.

“One of our objectives was to look at the new guys coming in and see how they have grasped some of the concepts very early on,” Vermes said on Friday. “Obviously we haven’t had a chance to do all of that at this point, but we got to see how they grasped some of those concepts and how their individual qualities work within the way we play and with the players around them.”

Led by head coach Rick Schantz, Phoenix Rising FC are hoping to take one step further in 2019 after falling just short of a USL championship last season. With co-owner and former Chelsea legend Didier Drogba leading the attack, Phoenix suffered a 1-0 loss at Louisville City FC in the 2018 USL Cup Final on Nov. 8.

Drogba has since retired from playing, but the Rising roster does include two former Sporting KC players in Amadou Dia and James Musa. Phoenix will test a group of trialists on Wednesday before facing Sporting KC with their complete team on Feb. 7. 

Sporting KC 2019 Preseason Schedule & Results

*Matches to be played concurrently

Sporting KC 2019 Preseason Roster (as of Jan. 22)

* Swope Park Rangers
^ Sporting KC Academy
** Unsigned MLS SuperDraft pick
^^ Trialist