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On This Day: Memorable pranks and a trio of April Fools' Day victories

With the 2020 MLS season on temporary hold, SportingKC.com is taking daily strolls down memory lane with an "On This Day" web series that celebrates memorable moments in team history. As one of Major League Soccer's proud charter members, Sporting has a decorated past full of thrilling victories, amazing goals, momentous off-the-field developments and more. "On This Day" pays tribute to these specific instances, turning back the clocks while treating fans to nostalgia and club history lessons. To catch up on the series as it unfolds, visit SportingKC.com/OnThisDay.



In many ways, April Fools' Day has been very kind to Sporting Kansas City. The club has battled an MLS opponent on April 1 on three previous occasions, emerging victorious each time.


Twenty years ago today, Kansas City continued their hot start to a historic 2000 season by smashing the Colorado Rapids 3-0 with goals from Miklos Molnar, Mo Johnston and Chris Klein.


Six years later, Arrowhead Stadium was treated to a season-opening 3-1 win over Columbus Crew SC that saw Davy Arnaud, Jack Jewsbury and Eddie Johnson find the back of the net.


And on this day in 2012, Sporting claimed a 1-0 road win over now-defunct Chivas USA on a C.J. Sapong goal assisted by Graham Zusi.


But let's be honest. April Fools' Day is all about the pranks, and this particular holiday has been less than kind to a handful of Sporting players who have been on the receiving end of hilarious jokes. Enjoy two classic April Fools' Day fibs in the space below.


2017: Colton Storm Catfished


Michael Harrington's Maxim Shoot