Sporting KC Facts
- Sporting KC defeated Columbus Crew SC 3-2 at Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday.
- With the win, Sporting KC leaps up to fourth place in the Western Conference standings.
- Sporting Kansas City started the same midfield trio (Benny Feilhaber, Soni Mustivar and Roger Espinoza) for the fifth straight game in all competitions.
- Feilhaber scored Sporting KC’s first goal on Sunday by converting a penalty kick. The PK was his third from the spot and fourth goal this year in MLS competition.
- Graham Zusi made his first MLS appearance since May 21, joining Dom Dwyer and Jacob Peterson in a three-pronged attack.
- It was Zusi who scored the second goal for Sporting KC on Sunday, his first of 2016.
- Zusi has now scored 25 goals during MLS play in the regular season. His last goal was also against Columbus on Aug. 22, 2015.
- Roger Espiniza earned the assist on Zusi’s goal, the 18th of his MLS regular season career and his 20th for Sporting KC in all competitions.
- Matt Besler tallied the game-winner for Sporting KC on Sunday, the third goal of his career.
- Besler’s goal was the first goal in Sporting KC regular season history scored by a defender and assisted by two defenders (Jimmy Medranda and Ike Opara).
- Besler’s last goal came on October 22, 2011 against D.C. United.
- Sporting KC is 6-1-1 in its last eight games versus Crew SC.
- Sporting KC is 5-1-0 versus Crew SC at Children’s Mercy Park with 14 goals for and seven goals allowed. Prior to Sunday, these two teams last met here in May 2014, a 2-0 win for the hosts.
- Sporting KC is 15-5-5 versus interconference foes since 2014 and 10-1-4 at home versus interconference foes since May 2013.
- Across MLS, Jimmy Medranda ranks first in tackles (28), first in interceptions (36) and third in duels won (38) since May 20.
- Sunday marks the first time Sporting KC scored three goals in 2016.
Columbus Crew SC Facts
- Crew SC were without playmaker Federico Higuain (hernia surgery) on Sunday.
- Crew SC are 0-7-3 in their last 10 MLS road games dating back to 2015 (including playoffs).
- With Besler’s goal on Sunday, Crew SC have now allowed 10 goals after the 75th minute this season, most in MLS.
- Ola Kamara scored both goals for Crew SC on Sunday and is now first in MLS with 1.02 goals per 90 minutes played (minimum 300 minutes played).
General Facts
- Children’s Mercy Park welcomed 19, 332 fans tonight, the 80th consecutive sellout in MLS competition.
