Sporting KC (11-6-3, 36 pts) vs New England Revolution (6-9-4, 22 pts)
Saturday, July 21, 2012 - 7:30 p.m. CT
LIVESTRONG Sporting Park | Kansas City, KS
English TV: KSMO-TV
Spanish Radio: La Gran D 1340 AM
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After a three-road game trip, Sporting Kansas City returns home to host the New England Revolution at 7:30 p.m. CT on Saturday at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. The match, sponsored by Kia, will be broadcast live on KSMO-TV and La Gran D 1340 AM.
Pre-game coverage will be available starting at 6:30 p.m. CT on Sports Radio 810 WHB and KSMO-TV’s First Kick airs live from LSP at 7 p.m. CT.
A limited number of tickets are still available for the match and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or at the LIVESTRONG Sporting Park box offices. Ticket holders are permitted to bring one sealed bottle of water (20-ounce or smaller), which will be uncapped at the stadium gates upon entry.
Saturday’s match is the first of four straight games at home for Sporting Kansas City over the next weeks, with two in MLS play and a pair of international friendlies against Montpellier Herault SC (July 24) and Stoke City FC (August 1). The club is 9-2-1 at home in 2012 in all competition and 15-4-7 at LSP in the MLS regular season since its opening one year ago.
Manager Peter Vermes, who will be on the sideline for his 100th MLS match (including playoffs) on Saturday, will be without midfielders Roger Espinoza (international duty) and Peterson Joseph (suspension) on Saturday. Michael Harrington could make his second straight start in defense for what would be the 150th MLS match (including playoffs) of his career, most among all current Sporting KC players.
Sporting Kansas City are coming off a 2-1 loss at Houston on Wednesday, their third game on the road in an eight-day span. Kei Kamara scored his team-leading seventh goal of the year, making him one of only four players with seven or more regular season goals in each of the last three MLS campaigns. Forward Bobby Convey also made his first appearance in two months on Wednesday after recovering from a lingering calf strain.
New England, currently in seventh place in the East, are in the midst of a three-game road trip of their own. Following a 2-1 loss in Montreal on Wednesday, the Revolution’s road trip continues in KC on Saturday and at Philadelphia next weekend.
The visitors have won just once on the road in 2012 under first-year Manager Jay Heaps. After going undefeated for five games since the start of June, New England suffered back-to-back losses in the past week against Canadian clubs Toronto FC and the expansion Montreal Impact.
Forward Saer Sene leads the team with eight goals in 18 appearances since being acquired from Bayern Munich in the offseason. Designated Player Jerry Bengston (international duty) and captain Shalrie Joseph (injury) missed Wednesday’s match, but MLS newcomer Lee Nguyen scored his fourth goal of the year in the loss.
Sporting Kansas City leads the all-time series with a 21-13-9 record and recorded a 3-0 victory over the Revolution in the team’s home opener earlier this year. The team is 11-6-4 all-time at home against New England during the regular season and Sporting KC is unbeaten in their last six meetings with the Revolution at home in all competition.
Sporting Kansas City supporters can also follow Saturday's game online via @SKCGameday on Twitter and the MLSSoccer.com MatchCenter, or on mobile devices with Sporting Explore and MLS MatchDay apps.
