Sporting Kansas City’s 2018 campaign delivered thrills from beginning to end, packing entertainment, emotion and drama on a weekly basis as Manager Peter Vermes’ side ascended to the top of the Western Conference table and brought the MLS Cup Playoffs back to Children’s Mercy Park.
In a year chalk full of stunning goals, wild wins and momentous developments off the pitch, assembling the top 12 moments of 2018 was no easy task. There simply hasn’t been a dull moment over the last 12 months, which is why this season will be fondly remembered well into the future.
Nevertheless, SportingKC.com has taken its best shot at counting down the dozen moments of 2018 that stood out above the rest. The countdown will run from Dec. 20-31, beginning with No. 12 on Dec. 20 and culminating with the No. 1 moment of 2018 on New Year’s Eve.
The Countdown: #12: Winning in Atlanta |#11: Signing Kalen Ricketson |#10: The comeback vs. Houston | #9: The opening of Pinnacle
The hype before kickoff was palpable, and it all centered around newly acquired LA Galaxy striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. This was, after all, an international soccer icon whose persona dwarfs his 6-foot-5 frame, whose legend blankets the sport, who likens himself to a lion, who set the soccer world on fire with his scintillating MLS debut in a 4-3 win over LAFC one weekend earlier.
But in a marquee matchup at StubHub Center on April 8, a Sporting KC side led by Tim Melia and Johnny Russell roared the loudest, taking the bite out of LA Galaxy in a resolute 2-0 victory televised before a national audience on FS1.
Ibrahimovic, who entered the game in the second half, saw three venomous strikes saved by the brilliant Melia, who delivered one of his best career performances between the posts. The goalkeeper finished with 10 saves, setting a new career-high and a regular season club record that had been unsurpassed for almost 23 years.
Melia made four of his 10 stops from shot attempts inside the box, thwarting a Galaxy team that threw increased numbers forward after Daniel Salloi and Russell struck in quick succession near the hour mark to give Sporting KC a 2-0 cushion. The 31-year-old did particularly well to deny Ashley Cole just before halftime and ultimately etched his name into the club record books, offering a reminder of why he was named the league's best goalkeeper last season.
“That was a huge team performance from minute one," said Melia, who marked his 100th competitive appearance for Sporting KC in style. "Everyone was in good balance, good shape and everyone was competing. That is something I don't think we have done this year yet, competing from zero to 90-plus minutes. And I think because of that competition and the way we came out, we got the result we deserved."
On the opposite end of the pitch as Melia, Russell provided the dagger that proved too much for LA to overcome with a sensational solo effort in the 61st minute. After deftly splitting a pair of defenders, Russell calmly poked the ball past Galaxy goalkeeper David Bingham for the second goal of his debut MLS season. The goal and win surely made for an excellent birthday gift, as the 28-year-old Russell became just the third Kansas City player ever to score a regular season goal on his birthday.
