Weekly Update: April 2, 2014

Molly Dreska

BESLER AND ZUSI ON USMNT ROSTER FOR FRIENDLY AGAINST MEXICO TONIGHT
Sporting KC defender Matt Besler and midfielder Graham Zusi are among 20 players on the U.S. Men's National Team roster for tonight's international friendly against Mexico. The No. 14-ranked USMNT will play No. 20-ranked Mexico at 10 p.m. CT at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. The match will be shown live on ESPN, WatchESPN and UniMas with radio coverage available on the ESPN Deportes Radio Network. Johnny's Tavern in the KC Power & Light District will host the official watch party for American Outlaws - Kansas City.

SPORTING KC AND REAL SALT LAKE MEET IN MLS CUP REMATCH ON SATURDAY
Sporting Kansas City and Real Salt Lake meet in an MLS Cup rematch at Sporting Park on Saturday. The match will kickoff at 7:30 p.m. CT and be aired on 38 The Spot and SKCTV across the Midwest. A limited number of tickets are available via TIcketmaster.com or by calling 888-4KC-GOAL.

Saturday’s meeting between the cross conference foes is the lone meeting scheduled during the MLS regular season and the first since the two teams met in MLS Cup last December.

SPORTING KC EARNS 3-2 VICTORY OVER COLORADO
Sporting KC defeated the Colorado Rapids 3-2 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday. Dom Dwyer scored the game-winning goal in second half stoppage time to help the visitors earn the come-from-behind victory. Winger Graham Zusi played a hand in all three goals for Sporting KC, tallying the opening goal of the match and adding two assists. Sal Zizzo also recorded two assists in the victory.

Both of the Rapids goals came from the penalty spot on Saturday and were converted by Vicente Sanchez. For more, read the full match recap on SportingKC.com.

SPORTING KC RECALLS GOALKEEPER JON KEMPIN
Sporting Kansas City announced on Wednesday that the club has recalled goalkeeper Jon Kempin from his loan to OKC Energy FC. The 20-year-old homegrown player will resume training with Sporting Kansas City on Thursday and will be available for the team's MLS Cup rematch against Real Salt Lake at 7:30 p.m. CT on Saturday at Sporting Park. Kempin will then re-join OKC Energy FC for their match-up at LA Galaxy II on Monday night.

Now in his fifth professional season, Kempin was loaned to the team's USL PRO affiliate in mid-March and has trained under OKC Energy FC head coach and former MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Jimmy Nielsen for the past three weeks ahead of their inaugural season. The Leawood, Kan. native has extensive experience for the United States at the Youth National Team level and most recently joined the U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team in 2013.

Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum, acquired from the Columbus Crew in the offseason, is questionable for Saturday's match due to a right ankle sprain suffered in training.

SPORTING KC SIGNS MIDFIELDER VICTOR MUNOZ
Sporting KC signed Madrid native Victory Munoz on Tuesday. He will be added to the team’s roster pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate.

Munoz spent eight years in the Real Madrid academy system and was a member of Spain’s under-15, under-16 and under-17 youth national teams. After being recruited to Celta de Vigo’s academy, Munoz moved to the United States in 2010 to pursue a college education.

Munoz started his freshman season at Iona College before transferring to UCLA for his remaining three years of eligibility. Munoz was selected by D.C. United in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft and appeared in four games for D.C. United during the 2014 preseason but was released by the club last month.

UPHORIA NAMED FINALIST FOR PRODUCT INNOVATION BY THESTADIUMBUSINESS AWARDS
The StadiumBusiness Awards announced its finalists for the 2014 awards on Monday and Sporting Kansas City’s official mobile app made the shortlist for the Product Innovation category. Uphoria, designed by Sporting Innovations, is the fan-facing mobile component of the Sporting Innovations FAN360 fan engagement platform. It is a mobile experience that has revolutionized the way fans consume live sporting events.

Learn more about the prestigious nomination.

DOM DWYER NOMINATED FOR MLS GOAL OF THE WEEK
Sporting KC forward Dom Dwyer has been nominated for MLS Goal of the Week for his 92nd-minute goal in Saturday’s 3-2 victory at Colorado. The Sporting KC forward’s goal is one of five nominees for the weekly award alongside Montreal’s Marco Di Vaio, Columbus’ Justin Meram, New York’s Peguy Luyindula and Real Salt Lake’s Alvaro Saborio. It’s Dwyer’s first career nomination for the award and first for Sporting KC in the 2014 season.

Voting for this week’s award is open through Thursday evening and is available online at MLSSoccer.com or at SportingKC.com. The winner will be announced Friday morning on MLSSoccer.com.

RECYCLE YOUR GAME TO COLLECT DONATED SOCCER EQUIPTMENT DURING NATIONAL RECYCLING MONTH
Recycle Your Game collects new or gently used soccer equipment and donates the collected items to children in underprivileged communities. Any fan that donates their soccer gear at a Recycle Your Game collection spot will receive a 10% off coupon for Sporting KC apparel at any of the Sporting Style locations in Sporting Park

Fans can donate at this weekend’s home game against Real Salt Lake as well as at the following Sporting Club Network events:

SCN Futsal Clinic: Monday, April 7, 5:30-7 p.m. at Wyandotte HS Futsal Courts
Coaching Education: Monday, April 14, 6-7:30 p.m. at Lone Elm Soccer Park, Olathe, KS

GRAHAM ZUSI VOTED MLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sporting KC midfielder Graham Zusi was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week on Monday by the North Amercian Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week 4 of the 2014 MLS season. Zusi scored the opening goal in Saturday’s 3-2 win at Colorado before providing the game-tying and game-winning assists in the come-from-behind road victory.

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