Sporting KC vs Vancouver Whitecaps
Wednesday, July 3, 2013 - 8 p.m. CT
Sporting Park | Kansas City, Kan.
English TV: KSMO-TV
Spanish Radio: La Gran D 1340 AM
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Sporting Park will play host to a cross-conference battle on Wednesday when Sporting Kansas City takes on the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The lone meeting between the two clubs during the 2013 MLS regular season is set to kick off at 8 p.m. CT.
The match will be broadcast live on KSMO-TV with pre-game coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. CT. A limited number of tickets are still available for the match including recently released Standing Room Only tickets.
The Vancouver Whitecaps FC are in the midst of a three-game winning streak, defeating the New England Revolution, Chivas USA and D.C. United. The Whitecaps FC have scored two or more goals in six of their last seven matches and boast a 5-1-2 record when scoring two or more goals in a match this season.
Sporting KC is also coming off a victory after defeating the Columbus Crew 3-2 on Saturday in front of a sold out crowd of more than 20,000 at Sporting Park. Kei Kamara notched two goals in the contest, including the game-winner, and he now has four goals in his last four games for Sporting Kansas City. Claudio Bieler also added his eighth goal of the season on Saturday, tying him with Dominic Oduro for fifth in the League for most goals scored to date this season.
Bieler is one goal behind Vancouver's Camilo Sanvezzo (9). The Brazilian striker scored six goals and added two assists in the month of June for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Sporting Kansas City is undefeated against the Whitecaps FC. The two teams have met on three occasions since Vancouver joined Major League Soccer in 2011. The last meeting resulted in a 3-1 victory in favor of Sporting Kansas City at BC Place with goals from Aurelien Collin, Martin Bonjour (own goal) and Kamara.
Vancouver's Rulssel Teibert is tied for second in the League with six assists in MLS competition, one more than Sporting KC playmaker Graham Zusi. However, the Whitecaps FC will be without Teibert and two other players due to international duty onWednesday. Simon Thomas (Canada), Teibert (Canada) and Carlyle Mitchell (Trinidad & Tobago) are with their respective national teams in advance of CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Jay DeMerit (left torn Achilles tendon) and Omar Salgado (right foot fracture) will also miss Wednesday's match due to injury.
Sporting KC's Mechack Jerome and Peterson Joseph are with Haiti preparing for CONCACAF Gold Cup action, as well. Paulo Nagamura is recovering from a left ankle sprain and will also miss the match.
The first 5,000 fans into the mid-week match-up will receive cooler bags courtesy of Wednesday's match sponsor, Providence Medical Center. Parking lots will open three hours prior to kickoff at 5 p.m. CT.
Andy Edwards and Dave Borchardt will host The Final Whistle: Sporting KC Postgame Show on Sports Radio 810 WHB immediately after the match in the Boulevard Members Club, which is open to all ticket holders postgame.
Sporting KC supporters can find in-game updates at SportingKC.com/GameOn and by following @SKCGameday on Twitter. Fans outside the local viewing area can watch live on Direct Kick and MLS LIVE.
