The nicest rivalry in sports? Can't be too sure about that in the postseason.
The stakes will be as high as ever on Thursday when top-seeded Sporting Kansas City hosts Minnesota United FC in the Western Conference Semifinals of the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs. The tantalizing showdown at Children's Mercy Park will kick off at 7:31 p.m. CT with live coverage on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports app, ESPN 94.5 FM and La Grande 1340 AM.
Thursday's game features a pair of teams looking to extend their impressive runs of form and keep their MLS Cup dreams alive. Sporting have clicked on all cylinders since the start of October, finishing first in the conference standings before surviving a scare from the San Jose Earthquakes in an epic Round One encounter. The Loons, meanwhile, boast the longest active unbeaten streak in MLS and had little trouble dispatching the Colorado Rapids for their first-ever playoff win last weekend.
Thursday also serves up a battle between familiar foes, as Sporting and Minnesota have met three times this season and on 13 occasions in all competitions since the Loons joined MLS in 2017.
In the space below, we revisit the three previous meetings from 2020. And if the collective results are any indication, Thursday's clash will be close to the bitter end.
July 12: Sporting 1-2 Minnesota
The Group D opener of the MLS is Back Tournament in Walt Disney World saw Sporting dominate the first 60 minutes and take a 1-0 lead into halftime. Khiry Shelton fired Manager Peter Vermes' men ahead on a near-post breakaway finish assisted by Alan Pulido.
The game's complexion changed completely when Sporting goalkeeper Tim Melia was sent off for a red card offense in the 74th minute. The Loons cashed in on their numerical advantage by restoring parity with a 92nd-minute own goal before Kevin Molino struck the match-winner five minutes later. This marked the first time Sporting had lost an MLS match in regulation when leading after 91 minutes.
Aug. 21: Minnesota 1-2 Sporting
Sporting gained revenge for their late-game mishap at the MLS is Back Tournament by handing the Loons a 2-1 defeat in their Allianz Field home opener when league play returned to home markets on Aug. 21. Gadi Kinda gave Sporting an early 1-0 advantage, and although the Loons would level on an unfortunate own goal at the half-hour mark, Sporting surged ahead once more in the 55th minute when Johnny Russell's driven cross was turned into the net by Minnesota defender Michael Boxall. The result would stand as Sporting's first regular season win on Minnesota soil.
Sept. 13: Sporting 1-0 Minnesota
Russell’s dramatic 80th-minute strike off a brilliant assist from Graham Zusi separated the sides in a game that Sporting dominated from start to finish. Minnesota failed to put a single shot on target for the first time ever and suffered their sixth loss in as many visits to Kansas City since joining MLS in 2017. The win vaulted Sporting into first place in the Western Conference at the time, and although Vermes' men would relinquish the top spot later that month, they reclaimed it by the end of the regular season to take the No. 1 seed in the the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
2020 Aggregate Box Score: Sporting vs. Minnesota
<strong>Team</strong> |
<strong>SKC</strong> |
<strong>MIN</strong> |
Record (W-L-T) |
1-1-1 |
1-1-1 |
Goals |
4 |
3 |
Shots |
45 |
27 |
Shots on Goal |
14 |
5 |
Chances Created |
27 |
15 |
Saves |
4 |
10 |
Fouls |
39 |
40 |
Yellow Cards |
8 |
6 |
Red Cards |
1 |
0 |
Offsides |
5 |
4 |
Corner Kicks |
21 |
11 |
