- Sporting KC faced the New York Red Bulls on Sunday night to open their 20th season in Major League Soccer.
- Sunday was the MLS debut for defender Amadou Dia, who started and played the full 90 minutes at right back for Sporting Kansas City.
- The start marked the first time a SuperDraft selection has played for Sporting Kansas City in a season opening match since C.J. Sapong in 2011.
- Sporting KC selected Dia 20th overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft in January.
- Sporting KC is 12-5-3 all-time in regular season openers.
- Sporting KC is 12-2-6 in regular season home openers, with their only losses coming in 1999 and 2009.
- Sporting KC acquired 13 new players since last facing the New York Red Bulls in the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs. The New York Red Bulls signed 15 players since that match.
- Sporting KC is undefeated in five MLS home openers at Sporting Park, scoring five goals and conceding two.
- Sporting Kansas City had 39 interceptions on Sunday, tying a team high for home matches at Sporting Park which was previously set on May 5, 2013.
- Sporting KC is 9-3-4 in the month of March over the last six seasons, including a 5-0-3 record at home.
- Sporting KC is 12-8-5 during the month of March all-time.
- Sporting KC and the New York Red Bulls are two of five teams (LA, RSL, SEA) to make the MLS Cup Playoffs each of the last four seasons.
- Bernardo Anor, Krisztian Nemeth and Luis Marin also made their debuts in Sporting KC uniforms on Sunday.
- Marin became the 14th keeper to start an MLS regular season match in Sporting KC history.
- Ike Opara returned to the pitch for the first time since March 29, 2014, when he suffered a season ending ankle injury.
- Roger Espinoza also started for Sporting Kansas City on Sunday after spending the last two seasons with Wigan Athletic. Prior to Wigan, Espinoza played five MLS seasons in Kansas City. Sunday marked Espinoza's 100 MLS start of his KC career (including postseason).
- With the start, Benny Feilhaber made his 75th appearance for Sporting KC in all competitions.
- The match was nationally televised on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes.
- Sporting Kansas City opened the scoring in the 50th minute.
- Ike Opara headed a Benny Feilhaber cross past Luis Robles. The goal was Opara's seventh in MLS regular season play and first since October 5, 2013.
- The assist was Feilhaber's 20th MLS assist during the regular season and 11th in a Sporting KC uniform.
- Sunday marked the second time in team history that the first goal of the season was scored by a defender. The other occasion was Aurelien Collin's goal in a 1-1 draw against FC Dallas on March 15, 2014.
- Sporting KC conceded their first goal of the 2015 season in the 54th minute. Lloyd Sam scored from distance, assisted by Felipe.
- Sporting Kansas City center back Matt Besler was ejected in the 70th minute after receiving a second yellow card. The ejection was Besler's second of his career.
- With Sunday's appearance, Jacob Peterson has now played 200 regular season games in MLS.
- Dom Dwyer and Graham Zusi led all players with five chances created on Sunday.
- Amadou Dia led all players with eight interceptions. Opara was second with seven.
- Opara was tied with New York's Damien Perrinelle with the most duels won (11).
- Roger Espinoza, Opara and Seth Sinovic led all players in aerial duels won. Sinovic was 6 for 6
- Graham Zusi led all players in successful crosses/corners with four.
- Sporting Park welcomed 19,784 fans on Sunday, marking the 54th consecutive MLS sellout.
- Sporting KC returns to action on Saturday at FC Dallas with kickoff scheduled at 7:30 p.m. CT.
