Sporting Kansas City Academy product Gianluca Busio and current goalkeeping standout Tim Melia are each up for a pair of end-of-season awards. Busio is up for the annual MLS Goal of the Year award, while Melia is in contention for MLS Save of the Year.
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Busio's Goal of the Year candidate came on May 29, 2021 in the 3-2 victory over Houston Dynamo FC at Children's Mercy Park. Trailing 1-0 at halftime in front of their first full-capacity crowd in 14 months, Sporting KC got back on level terms in the 51st minute when 19-year-old Busio curled a stunning free kick over the Houston wall and into the back of the net, via a kiss off the post.
After tallying two goals and three assists in the opening 13 games of the 2021 season, Busio was transferred to Venezia FC in the Italian Serie A in early August where he has gone from strength to strength, cementing his spot on the U.S. Men's National Team roster.
Melia produced his Save of the Year moment in Sporting's impressive 3-1 victory over Seattle Sounders FC at Lumen Field on July 25, 2021. Leading 2-1 early in the second half, Melia sprung to his right to get fingertips on Raul Ruidiaz's chipped effort that seemed destined for the back of the net. Melia's intervention saw the ball ricochet off the post as Sporting survived and eventually made the points safe through Cam Duke later in the half.
