Sporting Kansas City vs. Colorado Rapids
2018 Preseason presented by Children's Mercy
Saturday, Feb. 3 | 11:30 a.m. CT
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex | Scottsdale, Arizona
Live Updates: @SportingKC and @SKCMatchday on Twitter
Sporting Kansas City will go head-to-head with the Colorado Rapids on Saturday to close out the first leg of the club's 2018 preseason, presented by Children's Mercy. Kickoff is set for 11:30 a.m. CT at Phoenix Rising FC Soccer Complex in Tempe, Arizona, and live updates will be available via Twitter at @SportingKC and @SKCMatchday.
Manager Peter Vermes' men have collected victories in each of their first two tune-ups, dispatching a group of Phoenix Rising FC trialists 2-1 last weekend before posting a 4-0 win over UPSL side Sporting Arizona on Wednesday. Saturday's battle against Colorado marks the first time Sporting KC faces Major League Soccer opposition in 2018.
Six different players have scored Sporting KC's six goals during the preseason campaign, including strikes from Homegrown products Daniel Salloi and Gianluca Busio as well as forward Gerso and midfielder Cristian Lobato. Vermes has dispersed minutes evenly over the first two contests, both of which have unfolded in three 30-minute periods.
Saturday's game in Tempe will run 120 minutes, with two 45-minute periods followed by a 30-minute period. While Sporting KC are looking for their third consecutive preseason triumph, the Rapids are three days removed from a 2-1 defeat to Columbus Crew SC in their first friendly of the year. Olathe, Kansas-born defender Kortne Ford scored Colorado's lone goal in a match that took place in Casa Grande, Arizona.
Sporting KC will return to Kansas City on Saturday night prior to the second phase of preseason training, which will run from Feb. 9-25 in Tucson, Arizona. Vermes' side is slated to play four games in the Mobile Mini Sun Cup, a preseason tournament that features 11 MLS clubs plus Phoenix Rising FC (USL), San Antonio FC (USL) and Sporting Arizona (UPSL).
Sporting KC 2018 Preseason Schedule
<strong>DATE</strong> |
<strong>OPPONENT</strong> |
<strong>TIME (CT) /<br>
RESULT</strong> |
<strong>VENUE</strong> |
Saturday, Jan. 27 |
Phoenix Rising FC trialists |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2018/01/27/preseason-recap-sporting-kc-opens-preseason-2-1-victory-over-phoenix-rising-fc">W 2-1</a> |
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex<br>
Scottsdale, AZ |
Wednesday, Jan. 31 |
Sporting Arizona |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2018/01/31/preseason-recap-sporting-kc-earns-4-0-win-over-sporting-arizona">W 4-0</a> |
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex<br>
Scottsdale, AZ |
Saturday, Feb. 3 |
Colorado Rapids |
11:30am |
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex<br>
Scottsdale, AZ |
Wednesday, Feb. 14 |
New York Red Bulls |
12pm |
Kino Sports Complex<br>
Tucson, AZ |
Saturday, Feb. 17 |
Phoenix Rising FC <a href="https://www1.ticketmaster.com/phoenix-rising-v-sporting-kc-scottsdale-arizona-02-17-2018/event/19005375EFCE33D5"><strong>(tickets)</strong></a> |
4pm |
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex<br>
Scottsdale, AZ |
Wednesday, Feb. 21 |
New England Revolution |
12pm |
Kino Sports Complex<br>
Tucson, AZ |
Saturday, Feb. 24 |
TBD <a href="http://www.ticketmaster.com/2018-mobile-mini-sun-cup-tucson-arizona-02-24-2018/event/19005375916317FA?artistid=2442417&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=11"><strong>(tickets)</strong></a> |
3, 5 or 7:15pm |
Kino Sports Complex<br>
Tucson, AZ |
Sporting KC 2018 Preseason Roster
<strong>NO.</strong> |
<strong>PLAYER</strong> |
<strong>POSITION</strong> |
<strong>AGE</strong> |
<strong>1</strong> |
<strong>Adrian Zendejas</strong> |
<strong>Goalkeeper</strong> |
<strong>22</strong> |
<strong>3</strong> |
<strong>Ike Opara</strong> |
<strong>Defender</strong> |
<strong>28</strong> |
<strong>4</strong> |
<strong>Kevin Ellis</strong> |
<strong>Defender</strong> |
<strong>26</strong> |
<strong>5</strong> |
<strong>Matt Besler</strong> |
<strong>Defender</strong> |
<strong>30</strong> |
<strong>6</strong> |
<strong>Ilie</strong> |
<strong>Midfielder</strong> |
<strong>27</strong> |
<strong>7</strong> |
<strong>Gerso</strong> |
<strong>Forward</strong> |
<strong>26</strong> |
<strong>8</strong> |
<strong>Graham Zusi</strong> |
<strong>Defender</strong> |
<strong>31</strong> |
<strong>11</strong> |
<strong>Diego Rubio</strong> |
<strong>Forward</strong> |
<strong>24</strong> |
<strong>14</strong> |
<strong>Khiry Shelton</strong> |
<strong>Forward</strong> |
<strong>24</strong> |
<strong>15</strong> |
<strong>Seth Sinovic</strong> |
<strong>Defender</strong> |
<strong>30</strong> |
<strong>19</strong> |
<strong>Cristian Lobato</strong> |
<strong>Midfielder</strong> |
<strong>28</strong> |
<strong>20</strong> |
<strong>Gianluca Busio</strong> |
<strong>Forward</strong> |
<strong>15</strong> |
<strong>21</strong> |
<strong>Andrew Dykstra</strong> |
<strong>Goalkeeper</strong> |
<strong>32</strong> |
<strong>22</strong> |
<strong>Soony Saad</strong> |
<strong>Forward</strong> |
<strong>25</strong> |
<strong>23</strong> |
<strong>Colton Storm</strong> |
<strong>Defender</strong> |
<strong>23</strong> |
<strong>26</strong> |
<strong>Jaylin Lindsey</strong> |
<strong>Defender</strong> |
<strong>17</strong> |
<strong>27</strong> |
<strong>Roger Espinoza</strong> |
<strong>Midfielder</strong> |
<strong>31</strong> |
<strong>29</strong> |
<strong>Tim Melia</strong> |
<strong>Goalkeeper</strong> |
<strong>31</strong> |
<strong>30</strong> |
<strong>Daniel Salloi</strong> |
<strong>Forward</strong> |
<strong>21</strong> |
<strong>41</strong> |
<strong>James Musa</strong> |
<strong>Midfielder</strong> |
<strong>25</strong> |
<strong>55</strong> |
<strong>Amer Didic</strong> |
<strong>Defender</strong> |
<strong>23</strong> |
<strong>90</strong> |
<strong>Kharlton Belmar</strong> |
<strong>Forward</strong> |
<strong>25</strong> |
<strong>92</strong> |
<strong>Yohan Croizet</strong> |
<strong>Midfielder</strong> |
<strong>25</strong> |
<strong>94</strong> |
<strong>Jimmy Medranda</strong> |
<strong>Midfielder</strong> |
<strong>24</strong> |
<strong>Emiliano Amor</strong> |
<strong>Defender</strong> |
<strong>22</strong> |
|
<strong>Matt Lewis</strong> |
<strong>Defender</strong> |
<strong>21</strong> |
|
<strong>Zach Wright</strong> |
<strong>Forward</strong> |
<strong>22</strong> |
|
Will Bagrou ^ |
Forward |
21 |
|
Hadji Barry * |
Forward |
25 |
|
Sebastian Cruz ** |
Midfielder |
17 |
|
Eric Dick ^ |
Goalkeeper |
23 |
|
Cameron Duke ** |
Defender |
16 |
|
Felipe Hernandez * |
Midfielder |
19 |
|
Rodrigo Saravia |
Defender |
24 |
|
Graham Smith ^ |
Defender |
22 |
|
Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal * |
Midfielder |
19 |
|
Wilfred Williams ^ |
Defender |
21 |
Bold: Under contract with Sporting KC
^ Unsigned MLS SuperDraft pick
* Swope Park Rangers
** Sporting KC Academy
