League

Preview: Sporting KC to face Sporting Arizona FC in first preseason tune-up on Friday

Graham Zusi having a strike - 2019 Preseason

Sporting Kansas City vs. Sporting Arizona FC
2019 Preseason presented by Children's Mercy
Friday, Jan. 18 | 11:30 a.m. CT
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex | Scottsdale, Arizona
Live Updates: @SKCMatchday on Twitter


It may have been a short offseason, but Sporting Kansas City players, coaches and fans won’t be complaining about that any time soon.


After coming within one victory of a Western Conference Championship and an MLS Cup appearance in late 2018, Sporting will take the field at Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex on Friday for their first tune-up of the 2019 preseason, presented by Children's Mercy. The curtain-raising scrimmage comes against Sporting Arizona FC, with kickoff slated for 11:30 a.m. CT and live updates available via @SKCMatchday on Twitter.


Friday's contest will likely see Manager Peter Vermes split his 39-man preseason squad into three teams, with each unit logging 30 minutes of playing time. Sporting's roster for the game includes all 26 players under contract as well as four members of the Swope Park Rangers, five Sporting KC Academy players, trialist Daniel Johnson — who has spent the last two seasons with the Chicago Fire — and unsigned MLS SuperDraft selections Kamar Marriott, Franky Martinez and Camden Riley.


Four fresh faces have joined Sporting this offseason, all of whom could feature on Friday. Hungarian international Botond Barath and MLS veteran Rodney Wallace have arrived to bolster the backline, U.S. international Kelyn Rowe has deepened the midfield corps, and forward Erik Hurtado will look to make an impact up top.

The Kansas City Star's Sam McDowell reported Wednesday that striker Krisztian Nemeth, who had offseason surgery to repair a nerve issue in his abdomen, will sit out Friday's scrimmage but should return to full training next week. Another absentee will be the versatile Jimmy Medranda, who continues to rehab from a season-ending knee injury he suffered last summer.


Founded in 1989, Sporting Arizona FC are a member of the Southwest Conference of the United Premier Soccer League. Lance Thompson became the club's new head coach this month and inherits a side that finished first in the Southwest Conference last year and advanced to the 2018 UPSL National Championship before falling 3-2 to Milwaukee Bavarian SC.


Sporting enter 2019 riding an eight-year playoff streak, having set club records during the 2018 regular season for goals (65), assists (69) and goal difference (plus-25). A palpable buzz surrounds the preseason camp as Vermes' men prepare for the first leg of their Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 matchup against Deportivo Toluca FC on Feb. 21 at Children's Mercy Park. The fixture will be the earliest competitive match in club history, underscoring the importance for all players to hit the ground running in Scottsdale.


Sporting KC 2019 Preseason Schedule

<strong>DATE</strong>
<strong>OPPONENT</strong>
<strong>TIME (CT)</strong>
<strong>VENUE</strong>
Friday, Jan. 18
Sporting Arizona FC
11:30am
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex (Scottsdale)
Wednesday, Jan. 23
Phoenix Rising FC Trialists
11:30am
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex (Scottsdale)
Wednesday, Jan. 30
FC Tucson Trialists
12pm
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex (Scottsdale)
Thursday, Feb. 7
Phoenix Rising FC<br> (two 75-minute matches)
7pm
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex (Scottsdale)
Wednesday, Feb. 13
Houston Dynamo&nbsp;<strong>*</strong>
5pm
Kino Sports Complex (Tucson)
Wednesday, Feb. 13
FC Tucson&nbsp;<strong>*</strong>
5pm
Kino Sports Complex (Tucson)

*Matches to be played concurrently


Sporting KC 2019 Preseason Roster

<strong>NO.</strong>
<strong>PLAYER</strong>
<strong>POSITION</strong>
<strong>AGE</strong>
1
Adrian Zendejas
Goalkeeper
23
2
Botond Barath
Defender
26
3
Ike Opara
Defender
29
4
Andreu Fontas
Defender
29
5
Matt Besler
Defender
31
6
Ilie Sanchez
Midfielder
28
7
Johnny Russell
Forward
28
8
Graham Zusi
Defender
32
9
Krisztian Nemeth
Forward
30
10
Yohan Croizet
Midfielder
26
11
Kelyn Rowe
Midfielder
27
12
Gerso Fernandes
Forward
27
13
Gianluca Busio
Midfielder
16
15
Seth Sinovic
Defender
31
16
Graham Smith
Defender
23
17
Roger Espinoza
Midfielder
32
18
Eric Dick
Goalkeeper
24
19
Erik Hurtado
Forward
28
20
Daniel Salloi
Forward
22
21
Felipe Gutierrez
Midfielder
28
22
Rodney Wallace
Defender
30
26
Jaylin Lindsey
Defender
18
28
Tyler Freeman
Forward
16
29
Tim Melia
Goalkeeper
32
75
Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal
Midfielder
20
94
Jimmy Medranda
Defender
24
Justin Bilyeu *
Defender
24
Felipe Hernandez *
Midfielder
20
Wilson Harris *
Forward
19
Will Little *
Midfielder
20
Mo Abualnadi ^
Defender
17
Jake Davis ^
Midfielder
17
Tucker Lepley ^
Midfielder
17
Sean Karani ^
Midfielder
18
Brooks Thompson ^
Goalkeeper
16
Kamar Marriott **
Midfielder
22
Franky Martinez **
Defender
23
Camden Riley **
Midfielder
22
Daniel Johnson ^^
Midfielder
23

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