Go in-depth behind Sporting Kansas City's 1-0 win against Cruz Azul at Sporting Park on Wednesday with this match's fast facts.
- Sporting KC defeated Cruz Azul 1-0 in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday at Sporting Park.
- The win marks Sporting KC's second ever win against a Mexican opponent. The first was in 2002 against Santos Laguna.
- Sporting KC are now 2-5-2 all-time in competitive matches against Mexican teams.
- The loss marks Cruz Azul's first ever defeat in the CCL quarterfinals. Prior to Wednesday, Cruz Azul was a perfect 6-0-0 in the quarterfinal round with only one goal conceded.
- Wednesday's loss was Cruz Azul's second all-time in CCL competition against an MLS opponent. Cruz Azul is now 5-2-0 all-time against MLS teams in CCL.
- The second leg will take place in Mexico City next Wednesday (March 19). The game will air live on FOX Sports 2 and Galavision.
- The team with the aggregate lead at the conclusion of the second leg will advance to the semifinals to face the winner between LA Galaxy (USA) and Tijuana (MEX).
- Sporting KC is unbeaten in the 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League with a 3-0-2 record. The only other unbeaten team in the tournament is Toluca (MEX).
- Kevin Ellis gave Sporting KC the 1-0 lead in the 17th minute.
- The match was Ellis' debut in a competitive international match.
- Sal Zizzo also debuted in CCL competition while wearing a Sporting KC uniform.
- Claudio Bieler assisted on Ellis' goal. Bieler led Sporting KC with six assists in the 2014 preseason.
- The goal was the second of Ellis' professional career and first in a competitive match.
- His first came in an international friendly against CD Guadalajara in 2011.
- Sporting KC used all three substitutions on Wednesday with Jacob Peterson entering the match to replace Sal Zizzo. C.J Sapon replaced Benny Feilhaber and Dom Dwyer entered for Claudio Bieler.
- Eric Kronberg earned his fourth shutout in CCL competition on Wednesday, breaking a tie with Tony Meola and moving into first on the all-time chart for most shutouts in international competition.
- Seth Sinovic was shown a yellow card in the 77th minute on Wednesday for delaying a restart. Sinovic will miss the second leg due to yellow card accumulation.
- Cruz Azul's Rogelio Chavez and Alejandro Castro were also shown their second yellow cards in the competition on Wednesday and will miss the second leg in Mexico City.
- Aurelien Collin served his one-game suspension on Wednesday after receiving his second yellow card in the final match of the group stage.
- Sporting KC advanced to the quarterfinals by finishing atop of Group 2 with two wins and two draws. Group 2 was comprised of Sporting KC, Real Esteli (NCA) and CD Olimpia (HON).
- Cruz Azul maintained a perfect record in group play with two victories against Herediano (CRC) and two wins over Valencia (HAI). Cruz Azul was one of two teams to complete the group stage with a perfect 4-0-0 record.
- Wednesday's loss was Cruz Azul's first in the 2013-14 edition of the tournament.
- Cruz Azul are 12-9-2 all-time in CCL away from home.
- Former MLS All-Star Michael Farfan was in the 18 man-roster for the first time since going on loan to Cruz Azul.
- Sporting KC are 6-3-4 in CCL all-time and 7-8-7 all-time in competitive international matches.
- At home, Sporting KC are 3-3-6 in competitive international matches.
- Wednesday marked the team's ninth shutout in competitive international matches.
- With the victory on Wednesday, Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes remains unbeaten against international opponents.
- Cruz Azul currently leads Liga MX with an 8-1-1 record in 2014. Their lone League loss was in the club's last outing. Cruz Azul has now lost back-to-back matches for the first time this season.
- Sporting KC qualified for the 2013-14 edition of the CONCACAF Champions League by winning the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against the Seattle Sounders FC in a penalty kick shootout in 2012.
- Cruz Azul finished as runner-up in the 2013 Liga MX Clausura Liguilla to qualify.
