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 |#8: Melia silences Zlatan |#7: Fireworks in Vancouver |#6: Johnny Russell's hat-trick | #5: Clinching a home playoff game in Dallas | #4: Peter Vermes' contract extension | #3: Finishing first on Decision Day
On the morning of Sept. 4, Sporting KC announced that the club had signed captain Matt Besler to a new contract. This alone would have been a defining player announcement for the 2018 campaign, but Sporting KC weren’t finished. Far from it.
An hour later, the club revealed Roger Espinoza had inked a new contract. An hour after that, it was Ilie Sanchez. And by lunchtime, Graham Zusi had rounded out an MLS All-Star quartet who had pledged their multi-year futures to Sporting KC.
This, in effect, was four major deals wrapped into one. Besler, Espinoza, Ilie and Zusi have all contributed to Sporting KC’s most successful era in club history, highlighted by four major championships since 2012 and a team-record eight-year playoff streak. Given the fact that all four players have hit the primes of their respective careers, it would have been hard for Sporting KC to keep all four veterans under the restraints of an MLS salary cap. But the club managed precisely that, ensuring the return of a battle-tested veteran core for the next few years.
“These players have consistently performed at a high level and helped the club achieve tremendous success,” Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes said at the time. “Their winning mentality, work ethic, team-first attitude and all of the contributions they make outside of the soccer field in the community are integral to our strong culture, and we are excited to continue our pursuit of all of our goals with them in Kansas City.”
Besler, in many ways the face of the franchise, is Sporting KC’s all-time leader in appearances, starts and minutes played across all competitions. The Kansas City native has garnered numerous league honors and represented the U.S. Men’s National Team 47 times.
Like Besler, Zusi joined Sporting KC in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft and has become a club legend. He ranks second all-time behind Besler in appearances and second all-time behind Preki in assists. The midfielder turned winger turned right back has 55 caps for the U.S. MNT, having represented the USA alongside Besler at the 2014 World Cup and multiple Concacaf Gold Cups.
Espinoza, the tireless midfield bulldog, has amassed more than 250 appearances for Sporting KC over two separate stints while also competing in two World Cups and an Olympics for Honduras. He had a career year in 2018 with three goals and nine assists.
Ilie has been one of the premier defensive midfielders in MLS since signing for Sporting KC in early 2017. During that time, the Spaniard has started 80 of Sporting KC’s 81 games in all competitions, playing every minute in each appearance. He earned MLS All-Star and Sporting KC team MVP honors in 2018.
These four players are safe bets to shoulder major responsibilities yet again in 2019 when Sporting KC contends for more trophies, including a shot at the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League which begins in February.
