Sporting Kansas City (8-0-1) meets the Columbus Crew (3-0-1) for the Disney Pro Soccer Classic championship on Saturday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The match, scheduled to kickoff at 7 p.m. CT, will air live on ESPN3 and is a battle of unbeaten teams in the 2014 preseason.
The Columbus Crew earned two wins and a draw in the group stage of the Pro Soccer Classic, defeating MLS counterparts Toronto FC and the Philadelphia Union before playing to an exciting 4-4 draw against USL PRO’s Orlando City SC.
The Crew opened the group stage with a 3-1 victory over Toronto with goals from Argentine Designated Player Federico Higuain, defender Josh Williams and trialist Adam Bedell. In their second match of the tournament, the Crew defeated the Philadelphia Union 1-0. Higuain was again on the scoresheet as he converted the game-winning penalty kick in the 87th minute of play.
Perhaps the the most action-filled game of the preseason came in the Crew's last outing as they concluded a 4-4 draw against Orlando City. The Crew conceeded the first goal of the match in the 30th minute of play. Ryan Finley equalized in the 43rd minute, assisted by University of Michigan product Justin Meram. The Crew went down a goal on three more occasions, but each time found a way to equalize. Ethan Finlay converted a penalty kick, Meram finished a quality strike from the top of Orlando's 18-yard-box and Finlay struck again in second-half stoppage time moving the score to 4-4 at final whistle.
Sporting Kansas City holds a perfect record in the Disney Pro Soccer Classic heading into Saturday, earning victories over the New York Red Bulls, Fluminense FC U-23's and the Montreal Impact.
Sporting KC first defeated the New York Red Bulls 1-0 with Jacob Peterson scoring the lone goal of the match. Next, Sporting KC beat Fluminense FC U-23's 3-0 with Paulo Nagamura notching two goals and Jimmy Medranda adding his first in a KC uniform.
Like the Crew, Sporting KC came from behind in their third group stage match on Wednesday. Sanna Nyassi scored for Montreal within 30 seconds after kickoff. Sporting leveled the score at 1-1 as Dom Dwyer converted a penalty kick. Shorly after, Montreal was awarded a spot kick which Felipe snuck by homegrown goalkeeper Jon Kempin. Moments before halftime, Dwyer finished a Graham Zusi service to tie the score at 2-2. Offseason signee Sal Zizzo notched the game-winner in the 75th minute on a one-time volley. Defender Seth Sinovic and trialist Alex Martinez each earned an assist on the play.
The Columbus Crew, under new Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter, have been amongst the most active teams in MLS this offseason. United States Men's National Team defender Michael Parkhurst is arguably their largest acquisition and will help fill the void from the loss of former captain Chad Marshall.
Sporting KC has added only two players to the team's roster since winning MLS Cup on Dec. 7. Zizzo came to the club in a trade with the Portland Timbers and Andy Gruenebaum, who spent his last eight seasons with the Crew, also arrived in January.
For in-game updates during the Disney Pro Soccer Classic championship, follow @SKCGameday on Twitter or visit SportingKC.com/GameOn.
