Happy OnGoal Day!

It's a happy anniversary for Sporting Kansas City and their fans today as it's the 10th anniversary of OnGoal LLC purchasing the Kansas City Wizards from Lamar Hunt. It was also the start of what would be one of the more remarkable turnarounds of a franchise in sports as Kansas City went from a poorly attended, often forgotten also-ran in MLS to a model franchise in the league with arguably still the best soccer specific stadium in the country. The club has gone from getting next to no media attention both locally and nationally to receiving regular coverage not only in the paper but on radio, not just with updates of the scores, but with broadcasts of the games. The same is true for television locally. Nationally, because of their success on the field and the atmosphere created by the fans at Children's Mercy Park, Sporting KC has become a regular on national television over the past few years.

It really is amazing to think back on the despair that I felt about the potential of Kansas City being able to retain the team that I loved back when Hunt put the team up for sale after the 2004 season. The thought running through many of the few fans that Kansas City did have at the time was "when's the announcement coming." When will the announcement come that the Wizards are moving to Tulsa, San Antonio, Philadelphia, San Diego, or a number of other rumored locations that came up during the almost two years the team was for sale. During that time the Heart of America Soccer Foundation was founded with the goal of helping to find new owners for the club, similar in set up to Soccer Silicon Valley, which had attempted to save the San Jose Earthquakes. Then came the emergence of OnGoal LLC, the ownership group including Neal Patterson, Cliff Illig, Greg Maday, Pat Curran, and Robb Heineman. The group purchased the club late in the 2006 season and the rest has become history.

Just a couple weeks ago Kerry Zavagnin had come out to the Cauldron tailgate to thank the fans for their support ahead of his induction as a Sporting Legend at half time of Sporting KC's 2-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps. A few of the fans that have been around the club since his playing days, myself included, got to have a good discussion with him about the development of the team. One thing he'd asked us was what the biggest change that we've seen with the club. My response to him was the professionalism of the club, from the top down. While I appreciate everything that Hunt did for the team in creating it and not immediately selling it off when the team was for sale, the team didn't feel as professional as it does now. It doesn't feel like an afterthought, not just by the ownership, but by the fans and other people in the city. It's treated like a legitimate team that is to be taken seriously, not a dog and (mini) pony show that is to be enjoyed and then move on with your life. Now, while it still hasn't fully reached the level of the Chiefs or the Royals, it is viewed in a positive light and while maybe not enjoyed by all, has at least earned more respect than the Wizards did in their early years.

The professionalism is reflected in almost every aspect of the club's off the field work, but especially in advertising where the club doesn't market just to families and children, it's pushed itself towards real sports fans and soccer fans. Success on the field under OnGoal has certainly helped that as well, especially at a time when both the Royals and Chiefs were struggling on the field. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the club's attendance, where the club has sold out over 80 straight home MLS games at Children's Mercy Park. Instead of drawing numbers in the low five digits or high four digits, KC is regularly getting over 20,000 instead of CMP for games. The most obvious change comes when reviewing the club's average attendance, under the Hunt's, Sporting averaged around 11,060 per game and had five seasons where the club averaged less than 10,000 people at game at Arrowhead Stadium. Since 2007, the club has averaged almost 16,000 a game, and that includes three years playing at Community America Ballpark, where capacity was just over 10,000. Since the opening of CMP, the club has averaged over 19,400 fans per game, a stark contrast from the Hunt years that have made Sporting KC one of the envies of MLS teams.

On the field, Sporting Kansas City have won an equal number of trophies between the two different ownership groups with the club winning three under the Hunt's (2000 Supporters' Shield, 2000 MLS Cup, 2004 US Open Cup) and three under OnGoal (2012 US Open Cup, 2013 MLS Cup, 2015 US Open Cup). But Sporting has accomplished those feats in a much different and much more competitive MLS than there was under the Hunt's. In the Hunt's last year owning the club, MLS had just 12 teams, it's since grown to 20 and will be expanding to 24 in the next couple years. Even factoring in the stronger, bigger MLS, Sporting KC has been more successful on the field under OnGoal than under the Hunt's, in 11 seasons under the Hunt's Sporting made the playoffs seven time, a number equaled by OnGoal in nine seasons (and will be passed if KC holds onto a spot this year). In terms of wins, Sporting has racked up 128 in 318 league games while KC got 140 in 339 under the Hunt's, KC has averaged 1.46 points per game under OnGoal, while averaging 1.31 under the Hunt's (I'm putting the 2006 season all under Hunt since there was really no opportunity for OnGoal to make moves that season).

In the end while many fans get frustrated with the way the team performs on the field a lot of that comes from the high expectations that not just the fans have put on the club, but the expectations that the club have put on themselves from the success that they have had since OnGoal took over the club. As MLS continues to expand and MLS continues its transition from MLS 2.0 to MLS 3.0, OnGoal and Sporting will need to continue to evolve the way that they go about business with the team to keep the team competitive. But based on what they've done with the club so far I have faith that they can build it successfully forward.

Former SKC Wizards Update

Here is this week's former Sporting KC Player Update.

Active without a club or unknown
Vicente Arze
Jamar Beasley
Pablo Escobar
Brian Fekete
Jeferson
Neven Markovic
Victor Munoz
Akeem Priestley
Jordi Quintilla
Brendan Ruiz

MLS
Jalil Anibaba - Houston - Started and played 90 minutes in Houston's 1-1 draw with Seattle. Started and played 90 minutes in Houston's 3-1 loss to Dallas.
Teal Bunbury - New England - Came off the bench and played 35 minutes in New England's 0-0 draw with San Jose. Started and played 60 minutes in New England's 1-0 loss to New York.
Servando Carrasco - Orlando City - Came off the bench and played 21 minutes in Orlando's 2-1 loss to Toronto. Started and played 90 minutes in Orlando's 2-1 win over NYCFC.
Aurelien Collin - New York - Started and played 90 minutes in New York's 1-0 win over New Englan.
Marcel de Jong - Vancouver - Started and played 90 minutes in Vancouver's 0-0 draw with LA.
Amadou Dia - Montreal - Did not dress in either of Montreal's games.
Herculez Gomez - Seattle - Dressed but did not play in Seattle's 1-1 draw with Houston. Came off the bench and played 45 minutes in Seattle's 4-2 loss to Portland.
Michael Harrington - Chicago - Dressed but did not play in either of Chicago's games.
Jack Jewsbury - Portland - Started and played 90 minutes, recording an assist in Portland's 4-2 win over Seattle.
Kei Kamara - New England - Started and played 90 minutes in New England's 0-0 draw with San Jose. Started and played 90 minutes in New England's 1-0 loss to New York.
Chris Konopka - Portland - Dressed but didn't play in Portland's 4-2 win over Seattle.
Eric Kronberg - Montreal - Dressed but did not play in either of Montreal's games.
Mikey Lopez - NYCFC - Dressed but did not play in NYCFC's 2-1 loss to Orlando.
Yura Movsisyan - Salt Lake - Started and played 76 minutes, scoring 2 goals in RSL's 2-1 win over Colorado.
Amobi Okugo - Portland - Did not dress in Portland's 4-2 win over Seattle.
Tony Rocha - Orlando - Started and played 90 minutes in Orlando's 2-1 loss to Toronto. Came off the bench and played 22 minutes in Orlando's 2-1 win over NYCFC.
CJ Sapong - Philadelphia - Started and played 90 minutes in Philadelphia's 2-1 win over Columbus. Started and played 90 minutes in Philadelphia's 2-0 win over KC.
Tyson Wahl - Columbus - Dressed but did not play in Columbus' 2-1 loss to Philadelphia. Did not dress in Columbus' 2-0 win over San Jose.
Sal Zizzo - New York - Dressed but did not play in New York's 1-0 win over New England.

NASL
Bernardo Anor - Minnesota (loan) - Out injured.
Stefan Antonijevic - Tampa Bay - Started and played 90 minutes in Tampa's 2-0 win over OKC.
Omar Bravo - Carolina - Came off the bench and played 21 minutes in Carolina's 6-1 loss to New York.
Mechack Jerome - Jacksonville - No game this week.
Michael Kafari - Puerto Rico - Did not dress in Puerto Rico's 0-0 draw with Edmonton.
James Marcelin - Carolina - Did not dress in Carolina's 6-1 loss to New York.
Rauwshan McKenzie - Oklahoma City - Dressed but did not play in OKC's 2-0 loss to Tampa.

US
Amer Didic - Swope Park - Started and played 90 minutes in Swope's 2-1 win over LA.
Christian Duke - Swope Park - Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in Swope's 2-1 win over LA.
Cyprian Hedrick - Oklahoma City - Started and played 90 minutes in OKC's 2-0 loss to Colorado Springs. Started and played 90 minutes in OKC's 1-0 win over Tulsa.
Ryan James - Rochester - Started and played 90 minutes in Rochester's 1-1 draw with Cincinnati. Started and played 63 minutes in Rochester's 2-2 draw with Wilmington.
Alex Martinez - Charlotte - Started and played 68 minutes in Charlotte's 1-0 loss to Charleston.
Tyler Pasher - Swope Park - Started and played 90 minutes in Swope's 2-1 win over LA.
Michael Thomas - Oklahoma City - Started and played 90 minutes in OKC's 2-0 loss to Colorado Springs. Started and played 90 minutes in OKC's 1-0 win over Tulsa.
Ualefi - Swope Park - Started and played 90 minutes in Swope's 2-1 win over LA.
Yomby William - Richmond - Started and played 90 minutes in Richmond's 1-0 win over Orlando.

PDL
Adnan Gabeljic - San Francisco - Offseason.
Faik Hajderovic - St. Louis U23 - Offseason.

Indoor
Pat Healey - Baltimore - Offseason.
Mike Jones - Dallas - Offseason.
Boris Pardo - Missouri - Offseason.

International
Korede Aiyegbusi - AFC United- Sweden - Did not dress in AFC's 2-1 cup loss to Nykoping. Came off the bench and played 26 minutes in AFC's 2-1 win over Ljungskile.
Scott Angevine - YPA - Finland - Defeated Virkia 3-0.
Claudio Bieler - Belgrano - Argentina - Started and played 89 minutes in Belgrano's 1-0 loss to Estudiantes. Started and played 75 minutes in Belgrano's 1-0 loss to Independiente.
Reinaldo Brenes - Belen Siglo XXI - Did not dress in Belen's 4-1 win over Cartagines.
Sunil Chhetri - Bengaluru - India - No game until 9/14.
Jorge Claros - Alajuelense - Costa Rica - Started and played 73 minutes in Alajuelense's 2-1 win over San Carlos.
Daneil Cyrus - W Connection - Started and played 73 minutes in W Connection's 1-1 draw with Honduras Progreso.
Toni Dovale - CD Leganes - Spain - Did not dress in LEganes' 0-0 draw with Atletico Madrid.
Luis Gil - Queretaro - Mexico - Did not dress in Queretaro's 2-1 loss to Necaxa.
Will John - RoPS - Finland - Came off the bench and played 4 minutes in RoPS' 1-1 draw with Ilves. Came off the bench and played 11 minutes in RoPS' 3-0 win over Lahti.
Igor Juliao - Fluminense - Brazil - Dressed but did not play in Fluminense's 2-0 loss to Palmeiras.
Igor Kostrov - Slavia-Mozyr - Belarus - Dressed but did not play in Slavia's 1-1 draw with Vitebsk.
Luis Marin - CD Temuco - Chile - Started and played 90 minutes in Temuco's 2-1 los to Cobresal.
Michal Mravec - RoPS - Finland - Did not dress in either of RoPS' games.
Krisztian Nemeth - Al-Gharafa - Qatar -  No game until 9/15.
Erik Palmer-Brown - Porto (loan) - Portugal - Out injured
Pablo Punyed - IBV - Iceland - Started and played 90 minutes in IBV's 1-1 draw with Throttur Reykjavik.
Oriol Rosell - Belenenses (Sporting Club de Portugal)(loan) - Portugal - Started and played 90 minutes in Belenenses' 1-0 win over Tondela.
Soony Saad - Pattaya United (BEC Tero Sasana) - No game this week.
Daniel Salloi - Gyirmot FC Gyor (loan) - Hungary - No game this week.
Peter Schmetz - Wuppertaler SV - Germany - Started and played 90 minutes in Wuppertaler's 2-2 draw with SC Verl.
Yann Songo'o - Plymouth Argyle - Started and played 90 minutes in Plymouth's 1-0 win over Blackpool. Dressed but did not play in Plymouth's 4-1 cup win over Newport County.
Kevin Souter - Deveronvale FC - Scotland - Lost 2-1 to Rothes.
Martin Steuble - Ceres-La Salle - Philippines - Started and played 120 minutes, losing 3-2 in extra time to Tampines Rovers.
Milos Stojcev - Atromitos - Greece - Start of Greek season delayed.
Matt Taylor - Kickers Offenbach - Started and played 45 minutes in Kickers' 2-1 loss to Teutonia. Started and played 71 minutes in Kickers' 1-0 win over Nottingen.

Espinoza Suspension Rescinded, Dwyer Has Fun on Deadline Day

Sporting Kansas City got some good news today as an independent review panel rescinded the fine and suspension that was given to Roger Espinoza for his red card that he received in the 87th minute of KC's 2-0 loss to the Philadelphia Union. On the play Espinoza was trying to control a ball near the top of Kansas City's box, to do so he put up his arm to shield off the oncoming Roland Alberg from getting to the ball. Alberg ran into Espinoza's arm right as it went up and the Dutch midfielder let out a cry of pain and went down. Referee Juan Guzman did not hesitate, immediately going to the back pocket and producing a red card for Espinoza for violent conduct.

The upholding of KC's appeal by the panel, which includes a representative USSF, CSA, and PRO, likely had to do with the lack of excessive force that the laws of the game mention in regards to violent conduct. Espinoza didn't cock his elbow like he was throwing it back, make an aggressive movement backward with his arm towards Alberg, instead throwing it up to attempt to keep him from getting to the ball.

With the suspension rescinded, Espinoza will be able to be on the field next Friday when Sporting KC take on the Houston Dynamo.

Dwyer has fun on deadline day

Sporting Kansas City fans know that Dom Dwyer is good for a good trolling every now and then, and with it being transfer deadline day in England, he was at it again. Earlier today, Dwyer posted a picture of himself in front of a British Airways plane like he was getting ready to board. The Birmingham Mail immediately jumped on the image, running with it and saying that there were rumors that Sporting had agreed to a deal with Championship side, Wolverhampton Wanderers in a deal worth $1.64 million.

The reported offer from Wolves was just over half of the offer that Kansas City already turned down from Olympiakos for Dwyer earlier in the transfer window. With the rumor though, writers out at Sporting KC practice today as well as the team itself immediately moved to shoot down those rumors, pointing out that the striker was not on a plane, but was at the team's practice facility in Swope Park. Now England can learn about Dwyer's trolling skills when it comes to social media.
As with the Olympiakos move, this move just doesn't make sense, in fact based on the price it makes even less sense for Kansas City. Besides having extremely limited options to replace him with the transfer window now closed and his importance to the offense, the price that Wolves offered is just laughable.

Strong Start to College Season - Sporting Academy Players in College

The college season kicked off this past weekend for many teams around the country, including a number of teams that have former Sporting KC academy players on their roster. Sporting's academy players didn't disappoint either as the group scored six goals this past weekend, including Tucker Stephenson for West Virginia in their upset of seventh ranked Georgetown. The goal earned him West Virginia's student athlete of the week.

Here's the full list.

Class of 2013

Joe Amico (Jacksonville) - D - Sr - Started both Jacksonville's 2-0 loss to UNC Greensboro and 2-1 loss to Winthrop.

Matt Bernard (Cal Baptist) - MF - RJr - First game 9/3

Paul Dean (Rockhurst University) - D - Sr - First game 9/1

Seo-In Kim (UCSB) - MF - Sr - Did not play in UCSB's 2-1 win over Oakland or their 1-0 win over Ohio State.

Adam Lightner (Northern Illinois University) - D - Sr - Started in Northern Illinois' 1-1 draw with SIU-Edwardsville.

Clay Stewart - (University of Missouri Kansas City) - MF/D - Sr - Game against Central Arkansas was canceled.

Wes White (Coastal Carolina) - F - RJr - Started and scored a goal in #21 Coastal Carolina's 2-1 loss to #17 Virginia.

Drew Wilson (Fort Hays State University) - D - Sr - First game 9/3

Class of 2014

Darby Cronin (Missouri State)- MF - Jr - Did not play in Missouri State's 2-0 win over Green Bay.

Heath Honold (West Virginia) - F - Jr - Started West Virginia's 2-0 loss to #9 Seattle. Started West Virginia's 1-0 win over #7 Georgetown.

Mason Leonard (Drake) - D - Jr - Came on as a substitute in Drake's 3-1 loss to Pacific. Started Drake's 1-0 win over CSU Bakersfield.

Blake Levine (Baker) - F - Jr - Started #10 Baker's 4-0 win over Ottawa.

Matthew Lewis (Fordham) - D - Jr - Started both Forham's 1-1 draw with UMBC and their 1-0 lossto Delaware.

Andy Lopez (North Carolina) - MF - RSo - Came on as a substitute in both UNC's 3-0 win over Cal Poly and their 3-0 win over St. Louis.

Noah Mudd (Trevecca) - D - Jr - First game 9/1

Joey Piatczyc (West Virginia) - MF - Jr - Started West Virginia's 2-0 loss to #9 Seattle. Started West Virginia's 1-0 win over #7 Georgetown.

Cole Stevenson (Fordham) - F - Jr - Came on as a substitute and scored a goal in Forham's 1-1 draw with UMBC. Started in Fordham's 1-0 loss to Delaware.

Zach Wright (North Carolina) - F - Jr - Started both of UNC's 3-0 win over Cal Poly and St. Louis, scoring a goal in the win over St. Louis.

2015

Andrew Blalock (Drake) - GK - RFr - Did not play in either of Drake's games.

Robert DeWitt III (Xavier) - MF - So - Came on as a substitute in Xavier's 3-1 win over Evansville, did not play in Xavier's 2-0 loss to UAB.

Jack Freeman (Furman) - D - RFr - Did not play in either of Furman's games.

Bryce Gibson (Creighton) - D - So - Came on as a substitute in Creighton's 2-0 win over Rutgers.

Nic Jaimes (Drake) - MF - So - Started Drake's 3-1 loss to Pacafic. Came on as a substitute in Drake's 1-0 win over CSU Bakersfield.

Ryan Krutz (Notre Dame) - GK - So - Did not play in either of Notre Dame's games.

Zane Moxley (Air Force) - D - So - Came on as a substitute in Air Force's 3-1 loss to Army.

Alexis Quevedo (UNLV) - MF - So - Did not play in either of UNLV's games.

Hector Solorio (Niagara) - MF - So - Started and had an assist in Niagara's 4-0 win over Robert Morris.

Tucker Stephenson (West Virginia) - F - So - Started West Virginia's 2-0 loss to #9 Seattle. Came on as a substitute and scored a goal in West Virginia's 1-0 win over #7 Georgetown.

Andy Velez (JCCC) - MF - So - Lost 2-0 to Tyler Junior College and 6-0 to Richland College.

Bailey Weeks (Northeastern State University) - D - So - First game 9/1

2016

Dakota Karns (Missouri State) - MF - Fr - Did not play in Missouri State's 2-0 win over Green Bay.

Ryan Kellogg (West Virginia) - D - Fr - Came on as a substitute in West Virginia's 2-0 loss to #9 Seattle. Came on as a substitute in West Virginia's 1-0 win over #7 Georgetown.

John Leisman (Yale) - F - Fr - First game 9/5

Logan Lucas (West Virginia) - D - Fr - Started West Virginia's 2-0 loss to #9 Seattle. Started West Virginia's 1-0 win over #7 Georgetown.

Andrew McLeod (Northwestern) - D - Fr - Did not play in Northwestern's 2-1 win over Florida Gulf Coast. Came on as a substitute in Northwestern's 1-0 loss to Santa Clara.

Absalom Solorio (Niagara) - MF - Fr - Started and had a goal and an assist in Niagara's 4-0 win over Robert Morris.

Paul Whitener (Marshall) - MF - Fr - Started Marshall's 2-0 loss to Western Michigan. Came on as a substitute and had a goal and an assist in Marshall's 3-1 win over Detroit.

Besler, Zusi Called Up, Espinoza Turns Down Call

Sporting Kansas City has a pair of players called up for national team duty in the upcoming international break, Matt Besler and Graham Zusi were both called into the US team that will finish out the fourth round of World Cup qualifying with games at St. Vincent and the Grenadines and home against Trinidad and Tobago. The US currently sit second in their group on seven points through the first four games having last split their two games against Guatemala with a win and a loss. The US can clinch advancement to the next round of qualifying with a win on Friday if Trinidad also beats Guatemala in Port of Spain. If those results occur it would make the USA's game in Jacksonville on Tuesday September 6th meaningless as both teams would be through to the "Hex".

One name not going to World Cup qualifiers that had been expected to was Roger Espinoza. Espinoza was originally on the list of players called up by Honduras for their World Cup qualifiers against Canada and Mexico. Reports stated that he had turn downed the call for personal problems and Sporting KC later confirmed that while Espinoza was called up he was not going to be going. Honduras are currently in second place in their group, tied with Canada on four points. The two teams face off Friday in Honduras, a location where Canada lost 8-1 to see their 2014 World Cup qualifying hopes end. Honduras will want to get a win, and pile on to advance because goal difference is the first tiebreaker. Currently Honduras sits on minus 1 with Canada on minus 4. With Honduras closing out on the road in Mexico and Canada hosting El Salvador, padding their goal difference heading into that file game will be important for Honduras, but they'll be doing it without Espinoza.

Sunday After Stats

Here are some stats from last night's game.

Roger Espinoza's red card was his sixth red card in MLS play for KC, breaking his tie with Nick Garcia for the most red cards in team history.

It was Espinoza's seventh in all competitions, tying him with Garcia for the most red cards there.

Matt Besler made his 196th league appearance for KC, breaking his tie with Jack Jewsbury for seventh all time on that list.

Ever Alvarado made his MLS debut.

What We Want to Happen Today 8/28

A couple of results that Sporting KC wanted happened yesterday, especially in the Western Conference where San Jose lost and LA and Vancouver played to a draw. Unfortunately Kansas City didn't take advantage of the results going their way, falling 2-0. Today there are three more games, one of which will have big implications on Sporting.

Seattle at Portland
What we want to happen - draw

Portland and Seattle sit in sixth and eighth currently in the Western Conference, six and seven points behind Sporting KC in fifth place. Sporting really doesn't want either team to gain on them, but keeping both as far away as possible is important. So like LA and Vancouver last night, Sporting is wanting a draw. If you have to go for a winner, Portland is probably the better choice since they're already in the playoff picture right now and it'd keep Seattle from closing the gap.

New England at New York
What we want to happen - New England win

We're back to the unlikely chances that Sporting makes it to MLS Cup. In this instance, New York currently has one less point than Kansas City does, so New York dropping points is a positive.

NYCFC at Orlando
What we want to happen - Orlando win

New York has three more points than Kansas City does right now, keeping them within a win point wise is what Kansas City will want.

Sporting Continue Road Winless Streak

The big talking point of tonight's game for Kansas City fans won't be the result, but will instead be the refereeing, a missed call in the first half and a questionable red card in the second half highlighted the 2-0 loss for Sporting KC. Unfortunately the refereeing decisions will take away from another aimless performance by the Kansas City offense that recorded just two shots on goal, one of those coming in the fourth minute of added time.

From the start Kansas City looked like a team that was on their fifth game in 15 days in five different cities, the Philadelphia Union kept Sporting pinned in their own end for a decent part of the first half. In just the ninth minute, Tranquillo Barnetta fired a shot from outside the box that Alec Kann had to palm away to keep the Union off the board. The Union continued the pressure with Fabinho having a good time early on against Saad Abdul-Salaam on KC's right side, but the Union weren't able to capitalize. For the most part though the first half was pretty uneventful in terms of chances for either side. The biggest point of the half was a refereeing decsion in the 20th minute when Juan Guzman didn't call a foul on Philadelphia's Fabian Herbers for a high boot, instead calling a slide tackle seconds later by Jimmy Medranda and giving Roger Espinoza and Medranda yellow cards for dissent and the challenge.

Things turned bad for Sporting KC just before the hour mark as Medranda brought down Keegan Rosenberry on a give and go pass in KC's defensive third. Medranda was given his second yellow and his marching orders putting Kansas City down to 10 men with 30 minutes to go. Down a man KC actually almost went up a goal as Dom Dwyer did all the work himself in the 65th receiving a long ball and creating space before pushing a shot just wide of the far post. Unfortunately for KC the man advantage worked in Philadelphia's favor in the 67th minute as Roland Alberg got space at the top of the box and curled a shot into the far post upper 90 to give the Union the 1-0 lead that they arguably deserved after their play early on. Down a man and a goal KC still tried to push forward looking to equalize, in the 83rd minute, Espinoza curled a shot just wide of Andre Blake's post that would have equaled the beauty of Alberg's goal, but the Union remained up 1-0. Philadelphia came down the other way and Kann came up with a huge save after a low cross into the box was redirected on goal by Alberg, but the Sporting KC goalkeeper got a piece of his body on it and deflected it over the bar for a corner. Things got worse for Sporting KC in the 87th minute when Espinoza was given a straight red card for what appeared to be an elbow to Alberg, but after reviewing replays it seemed Espinoza was just trying to hold the Philadelphia player back, Peter Vermes has already said the club will appeal the red card to Espinoza before their game against Houston. With a two man advantage, the Union doubled their lead in stoppage time as Alberg played Barnetta in on goal and he beat Kann to make it 2-0 for Philadelphia. Sporting will now get a break before they take on the Hosuton Dynamo at Children's Mercy Park in September.

Wizards Man of the Match - Alec Kann - Made six saves for Sporting tonight to keep Kansas City in the game, the save on Alberg in the second half was absolutely amazing.

Player Ratings - Kann 8, Abdul-Salaam 5, Besler 5, Opara 5, Medranda 4, Mustivar 4, Espinoza 5, Feilhaber 5, Zusi 4, Dwyer 4, Peterson 3. Subs Alvarado 4, Davis 5, Rubio NR.

What We Want to Happen Today 8/27

To make things easier for other Sporting KC fans, for the last few years I've been doing posts late in the season on "what we want to happen" in the other MLS games around the league. This way if you have MLS Live, or are scoreboard watching you have an idea of who you want to win each match up to help Sporting KC. I'll run through all the match ups, both East and West, because on the off chance Sporting KC were to make MLS Cup, point totals in the East will be important. I will focus mainly on the Western Conference though because of playoff positioning.

San Jose at Columbus
What we want to happen - Columbus win

The Earthquakes are currently in seventh place in the West on tiebreakers with Portland. They are only six points behind Sporting with two games in hand. Meanwhile the Crew are sitting bottom of the Eastern Conference. Here it is very simple, KC fans want San Jose to lose.

Dallas at Houston
What we want to happen - Houston win

This one isn't as straight forward, but keeping Dallas within touching distance for Kansas City isn't bad although it's highly unlikely that KC will catch them. On the other side Houston is currently 13 points back of Sporting, catching them seems extremely unlikely, so let the top of the West continue to stay crowded.

Vancouver at LA
What we want to happen - draw

Vancouver is in ninth place in the West, but only trails KC by eight points. Meanwhile the Galaxy are one point ahead of KC. Sporting really doesn't want Vancouver to close the gap further but at the same time doesn't want LA, and a potential home wild card game to get away from them, especially with LA having two games in hand on Sporting at this time. Unfortunately both teams can't lose, so splitting a point is probably the best.

Chicago at DC
What we want to happen - Chicago win

Really this doesn't have much in it for KC, DC is in a playoff spot in the East, but is nine points behind Sporting. Chicago currently sits in ninth place on 23 points. DC dropping points in the unlikely event of a KC vs DC MLS Cup is a good thing.

Montreal at Toronto
What we want to happen - draw

Another match up that is all about MLS Cup, Sporting want Toronto (43 points) to stay close enough to catch while Montreal (34 points) doesn't catch up with Sporting. Again a split of the points is in KC's favor.

Match Day 28: Finishing the Long Haul

Sporting Kansas City end their five cities in 15 days tour of three countries tomorrow in Philadelphia where Sporting KC take on the Philadelphia Union. Sporting have so far gone 1-1-2 on the trip, winning their loan home game, drawing in Dallas and Trinidad, and losing in Vancouver. Sporting will now try to finish out the stretch in the same location where the club lifted their last trophy last season before taking a break for next week's international break.

Philadelphia is coming into tomorrow's game having also played a midweek game, defeating the Columbus Crew 2-1 in Columbus on Wednesday night. Unlike Sporting in Vancouver, Philadelphia put out their first 11 for the game. The Union had a busy summer transfer window, adding the likes of Roland Alberg and Alejandro Bedoya to their team in their push for the playoffs. Currently Philadelphia sits in a tie for third in the East with 37 points, nine clear of seventh place Orlando City. They'll also have a resurgent Chris Pontius who leads the team in scoring with 10 goals, and familiar face, CJ Sapong, who is finally regularly being played as a center forward.

Kansas City's issue heading into this game is a familiar one, a lack of center back options. Lawrence Olum and Nuno Coelho are both missing the game tomorrow due to injury, while Kevin Ellis (who has played 325 of 360 minutes played since the start of the Dallas game) is suspended for an elbow during the game against Vancouver at Children's Mercy Park. That leaves just Matt Besler and Ike Opara as the only centerbacks on the roster who will be available tomorrow. Both players are coming off injuries themselves (MCL sprain and ankle injury). While Peter Vermes made it seem like he wasn't sure on how long Opara could go, both starting tomorrow seems likely. If one can't go, then KC is in a bind of who they play in centerback, the likes of Roger Espinoza, Saad Abdul-Salaam, and Soni Mustivar all options. Elsewhere on the field things seem more straight forward as the midfielders and forwards look like they'll be the same as last Saturday.

Peterson - Dwyer - Davis

Espinoza - Feilhaber

Mustivar

Medranda - Besler - Opara - Zusi

Kann

Number to Remember - 139 - That's how many days it has been since Kansas City last won a road game against a first division team. KC last one on the road against a first division team when they beat the New York Red Bulls 2-0 at Red Bull Arena on April 9th.

Key Match Up - Graham Zusi vs Chris Pontius - With Saad Abdul-Salaam getting the full 90 minutes on Tuesday in the CCL I'd expect Zusi to play his third game this year at right back for Kansas City. This time he'll likely face his most challenging match up against the likely comeback player of the year in Chris Pontius. Pontius leads Philadelphia with 10 goals so far this season, so for someone who is still working his way into the position it could be a difficult one for Zusi.

PREDICTION - Philadelphia is winless this season in weekend games after a midweek game, while KC has the long winless streak on the road. I'm not so sure that something gives tomorrow, I think Kansas City's starters will be more rested for tomorrow's game after Vermes put out a reserve lineup in the CCL. But then again even with a rest lineup Kansas City has had issues on the road. I wanna say that Kansas City will be able to get a draw tomorrow against the Union, but at the same time the team's play on the road for the last couple months hasn't given me any confidence that they can go out and get three points in a road game.

SKC - 1 (Dwyer)
PHI - 2 (Pontius, Sapong)

Call Ups Coming for Former Players - Former SKC Wizards Update

We're on the verge of another international break and national team games for former players. A few players have already been called up for their national team with a few others probably coming. Krisztian Nemeth and Pablo Punyed have both been named to their country's rosters for their upcoming games in this window. Also likely to get call ups are the likes of Mechack Jerome and Soony Saad.

Here's the rest of this week's update.

Active without a club or unknown
Vicente Arze
Jamar Beasley
Pablo Escobar
Brian Fekete
Jeferson
Neven Markovic
Victor Munoz
Akeem Priestley
Jordi Quintilla
Brendan Ruiz

MLS
Jalil Anibaba - Houston -Started and played 90 minutes in Houston's 2-1 win over San Jose.
Teal Bunbury - New England - Started and played 56 minutes in New England's 2-0 loss to Columbus.
Servando Carrasco - Orlando City - Started and played 71 minutes in Orlando's 0-0 draw with Colorado.
Aurelien Collin - New York - Started and played 90 minutes in New York's 2-2 draw with DC.
Marcel de Jong - Vancouver - Started and played 90 minutes in Vancouver's 2-0 loss to KC. Dressed but did not play in Vancouver's 3-0 win over KC.
Amadou Dia - Montreal - Dressed but did not play in Montreal's 2-0 loss to Chicago.
Herculez Gomez - Seattle - Dressed but did not play in Seattle's 3-1 win over Portland.
Michael Harrington - Chicago - Came off the bench and played 10 minutes in Chicago's 2-0 win over Montreal.
Jack Jewsbury - Portland - Started and played 81 minutes in Portland's 3-1 loss to Seattle.
Kei Kamara - New England - Started and played 90 minutes in New England's 2-0 loss to Columbus.
Chris Konopka - Portland - Dressed but did not play in Portland's 3-1 loss to Seattle.
Eric Kronberg - Montreal - Dressed but did not play in Montreal's 2-0 loss to Chicago.
Mikey Lopez - NYCFC - Did not dress in NYCFC's 1-0 win over LA.
Yura Movsisyan - Salt Lake - Started and played 89 minutes in RSL's 1-0 win over Dallas.
Amobi Okugo - Portland - Dressed but did not play in Portland's 3-1 loss to Seattle.
Tony Rocha - Orlando - Came off the bench and played 19 minutes in Orlando's 0-0 draw with Colorado.
CJ Sapong - Philadelphia - Started and played 90 minutes in Philadelphia's 3-1 loss to Toronto.
Tyson Wahl - Columbus - Came off the bench and played 1 minute in Columbus' 2-0 win over New England.
Sal Zizzo - New York - Dressed but did not play in New York's 2-2 draw with DC.

NASL
Bernardo Anor - Minnesota (loan) -Out injured.
Stefan Antonijevic - Tampa Bay - Started and played 90 minutes in Tampa's 2-0 loss to Minnesota. Came off the bench and played 72 minutes in Tampa's 1-0 loss to Edmonton.
Omar Bravo - Carolina - Started and played 89 minutes, scoring a goal in Carolina's 3-2 win over Indy.
Mechack Jerome - Jacksonville - Started and played 90 minutes in Jacksonville's 1-1 draw with Fort Lauderdale. Started and played 90 minutes in Jacksonville's 0-0 draw with Minnesota.
Michael Kafari - Puerto Rico - Started and played 58 minutes in Puerto Rico's 2-1 loss to New York.
James Marcelin - Carolina - Did not dress in Carolina's 3-2 win over Indy.
Rauwshan McKenzie - Oklahoma City - Dressed but did not play in OKC's 2-1 loss to Miami.

US
Amer Didic - Swope Park - On loan to Sporting.
Christian Duke - Swope Park - Started and played 90 minutes in Swope's 1-1 draw with St. Louis.
Cyprian Hedrick - Oklahoma City - Started and played 90 minutes in OKC's 2-0 win over Tulsa.
Ryan James - Rochester - Started and played 90 minutes, recording an assist in Rochester's 2-0 win over Pittsburgh.
Alex Martinez - Charlotte - Came off the bench and played 15 minutes in Charlotte's 4-0 win over Orlando.
Tyler Pacher - Swope Park - On loan to Sporting
Michael Thomas - Oklahoma City - Did not dressin OKC's 2-0 win over Tulsa.
Ualefi - Swope Park - On loan to Sporting
Yomby William - Richmond - Started and played 90 minutes in Richmond's 1-1 draw with Orlando.

PDL
Adnan Gabeljic - San Francisco - Offseason.
Faik Hajderovic - St. Louis U23 - Offseason.

Indoor
Pat Healey - Baltimore - Offseason.
Mike Jones - Dallas - Offseason.
Boris Pardo - Missouri - Offseason.

International
Korede Aiyegbusi - FC Mashhad - Iran - Did not dress in Mashhad's 1-1 draw with Foolad.
Scott Angevine - YPA - Finland - Drew 2-2 with Kajaani.
Claudio Bieler - Belgrano - Argentina - No game this week.
Reinaldo Brenes - Belen Siglo XXI - Did not dress in Belen's 2-2 draw with Saprissa.
Sunil Chhetri - Bengaluru - India - No game until 9/14.
Jorge Claros - Alajuelense - Costa Rica - Started and played 45 minutes in Alajuelense's 1-0 loss to Carmelita.
Daneil Cyrus - W Connection - No game this week.
Toni Dovale - CD Leganes - Spain - Did not dress in Leganes' 1-0 win over Celta de Vigo.
Luis Gil - Queretaro - Mexico - Did not dress in Queretaro's 2-1 loss to Leon. Came off the bench and played 1 minute in Queretaro's 1-1 draw with Puebla.
Will John - RoPS - Finland - Started and played 60 minutes in RoPS' 3-1 loss to PS Kemi.
Igor Juliao - Fluminense - Brazil - Came off the bench and played 53 minutes in Fluminense's 1-0 win over Santa Cruz.
Igor Kostrov - Slavia-Mozyr - Belarus - Came off the bench and played 23 minutes in Slavia's 1-0 win over Krumkachy.
Luis Marin - CD Temuco - Chile - Started and played 90 minutes in Temuco's 1-0 loss to O'Higgins.
Michal Mravec - RoPS - Finland - Did not dress in RoPS' 3-1 loss to PS Kemi.
Krisztian Nemeth - Al-Gharafa - Qatar -  No game until 9/15.
Erik Palmer-Brown - Porto (loan) - Portugal - Out injured
Pablo Punyed - IBV - Iceland - Started and played 90 minutes in IBV's 2-1 los to Fylkir. Started and played 90 minutes in IBV's 2-1 loss to Vikingur Reykjavik.
Oriol Rosell - Belenenses (Sporting Club de Portugal)(loan) - Portugal - Started and played 90 minutes in Belenenses' 0-0 draw with Boavista.
Soony Saad - Pattaya United (BEC Tero Sasana) - Started and played 90 minutes in Pattaya's 4-1 loss to Muang Thong United.
Daniel Salloi - Gyirmot FC Gyor (loan) - Hungary - Did not dress in either of Gyirmot's games.
Peter Schmetz - Wuppertaler SV - Germany - Started and played 90 minutes in Wuppertaler's 4-0 win over Rot Weiss Ahlen.
Yann Songo'o - Plymouth Argyle - Started and played 90 minutes in Plymouth's 2-0 win over Mansfield Town.
Kevin Souter - Deveronvale FC - Scotland - Lost 2-0 to Cove Rangers.
Martin Steuble - Ceres-La Salle - Philippines - Tied Stallion 2-2. Started and played 90 minutes in Ceres' 2-1 loss to Tampines Rovers.
Milos Stojcev - Atromitos - Greece - Start of Greek season delayed.
Matt Taylor - Kickers Offenbach - Came off the bench and played 14 minutes in Kickers' 1-1 draw with Saarbrucken. Came off the bench and played 35 minutes in Kickers' 3-2 extra time loss to Hannover 96.

S.A.S. Wednesday After Stats

Ever Alvarado and Cameron Porter made their first starts for Sporting KC.

Ualefi made his debut for Sporting KC.

Paulo Nagamura has now played 570 minutes in international competitions for KC, putting him into 15th place on that list.

Kevin Ellis has now played 540 minutes in international competitions, tying him with Aurelien Collin and Oriol Rosell for 16th on that list.

Sporting KC's Champions League Run on Life Support After Abysmal Loss to Vancouver

Sporting Kansas City's chances of advancing out of their group in the 2016-2017 Champions League took a major hit in Vancouver tonight as Sporting came out completely flat and could never recover as they fell 3-0 on the road to the Whitecaps. The loss drops Kansas City to third in the three team group with one point and a -3 goal difference through their first two games. Sporting's chances of advancing are now out of their hands as they'll need Central FC to go to Vancouver and get a win or a draw while KC wins their two home games for them to have a chance.

Things started out extremely ugly for Kansas City with the back line being exposed by the Whitecaps on multiple occasions. Just eight minutes in Vancouver grabbed the lead as Erik Hurtado got some space on Ever Alvarado on KC's left after a poor giveaway by Kevin Ellis off a restart. Hurtado played a lofted cross towards the back post where Cristian Techera was unmarked. Jon Kempin was slow to react to the lofted ball and couldn't get a  hand to it as it fell to Techera who headed into the net in front of Amer Didic who tried to get back on the line. Four minutes later Vancouver doubled their lead as Russell Teibert played a long ball over the top to Hurtado who beat Kempin to the ball, chipping the ball over the KC goalkeeper and into the net to double the lead at 2-0. With the 2-0 lead Vancouver was able to sit back and absorb the pressure from KC, Sporting was able to get plenty of possession, but most of it was well away from the goal for Sporting. With all the possession KC wasn't able to create much in the way of chances, unable to test Paolo Tornaghi in the first half. In fact while Vancouver sat back quite a bit it was Vancouver who created the better chances, with Jordan Smith testing Kempin twice in a couple seconds attempting to add a third goal.

Sporting started the second half off brightly with Connor Hallisey combining well with Diego Rubio to get KC's first shot on target, but he shot right at Tornaghi who made the easy save. Hallisey also had a penalty shout after being played in and tackled from behind by Matias Laba, but no call came for the second year man. KC continued to create half chances but didn't really test Tornaghi much. Then in the 64th minute the game was put on ice as Vancouver struck with a deadly counter after a corner kick. Laba played a great through ball right into the path of Techera who only had to beat Kempin one on one to make it 3-0 to the Whitecaps. The Whitecaps continued to look dangerous on the counter as the rest of the game went by while Sporting struggled to create chances with Vancouver able to choke out most of their chances before they even got to Tornaghi. The only positive for Kansas City in the end was that only one player that could see significant minutes Saturday played while Vermes rested the rest of the first team players he brought with him to Vancouver for the game.

Wizards Man of the Match - Connor Hallisey - I don't like going with no one, but I was close here. Hallisey gets it only because that 10-15 minute stretch to start the second half Hallisey looked confident and strong going forward. Unfortunately his finishing still lacked and KC couldn't find a goal.

Player Ratings - Kempin 3, Alvarado 3, Ellis 3, Didic 2, Abdul-Salaam 3, Mustivar 3, Nagamura 4, Appiah 3, Hallisey 4, Rubio 3, Porter 3. Subs Ualefi 3.

CCL Match Day 2: Finishing the Road

Sporting Kansas City close out the road portion of their CCL group play tomorrow night in Vancouver where they'll play their second game in four days against the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place. After a 2-2 draw in Trinidad last week, Sporting KC sit in second place in the group behind Vancouver who have three points after they won 1-0 in Trinidad. The draw though does put a lot of pressure on Kansas City heading into this game, as a loss basically takes advancement out of their hands and will require help.

Vancouver threw out their best 11 for the game in Kansas City on Saturday, needing to get their league season back on track, but a 2-0 loss keeps them outside the playoffs and looking over their shoulders at the on-rushing Seattle Sounders. The Whitecaps certainly won't punt tomorrow's game, as advancement from the group may be the only thing that they can take out of this season if they miss the playoffs. But they'll have the same tough balancing act as KC, as they travel to LA after Tuesday's game.

For Kansas City, their injury issues continue to mount at a really bad time for them. Three of the club's five center backs are questionable for tomorrow's game, and the two that aren't already played 90 minutes on Saturday, and one of those two is coming off an MCL sprain. It certainly creates a juggling act for Peter Vermes, does he start Kevin Ellis, who has played 325 of the last 360 available minutes or Matt Besler coming off the MCL sprain. One thing seems certain, Amer Didic will make his second start for KC at the other center back position. Vermes obviously has to be careful because with the minutes piling up he runs the risk of a player being slow to react and that can cause major issues for the team. Elsewhere on the field, Vermes has to continue to balance his team as the club still has to fly across country to Philadelphia for a regular season game on Saturday night. There's also been some talk that another Swope Park Ranger could be called in for tomorrow's game, specifically Ualefi, who played just 45 minutes (his shortest outing of the season) for the Rangers on Sunday.

Hallisey - Rubio - Porter

Nagamura - Ualefi

Mustivar

Alvarado - Didic - Besler - Abdul-Salaam

Kempin

Number to Remember - 7 - While Kansas City's road winless streak in all competitions is up to 11 games now, they have won a road game more recently than the club's 2-0 win over New York back in April. KC won their first US Open Cup game on the road against Minnesota United 2-1 in extra time. They'll be looking to break their shorter streak tomorrow.

Key Match Up - Diego Rubio vs Vancouver defense - Kansas City's back up striker hasn't exactly had a great first season with the club, having scored just twice in all competitions while playing just 471 minutes across all competitions. If there was a time to come out and show why KC signed him in the first place it'd be tomorrow.

PREDICTION - As I mentioned earlier, KC need some type of result tomorrow against Vancouver. A loss and KC is relying on Central FC to take points off Vancouver later in the competition in Vancouver. A draw puts Kansas City in a better position, needing to win their two home games in the competition to advance. If KC can some how get a win they'll firmly be in the driver's seat in the group, but still won't be able to afford a loss in either of their home games. As I mentioned before Saturday's game, Vancouver is in a very rough spot form wise and is also desperate for a result to try to right their season. It's an opponent that KC can take advantage up, but they'll need to finish their chances better.

SKC - 1 (Rubio)
VAN - 1 (Davies)

Sunday After Stats

Matt Besler made his 195th league appearance for KC, tying him with Jack Jewsbury for 7th all time on that list.

Jacob Peterson tied a career high for league goals in a season with 4. He'd previously hit that total in 2007 and 2012.

Peterson's goal was his 6th league game winner for KC, tying him with 5 players for 11th all time on that list.

It was his 7th game winner in all competitions, tying him with 2 players for 13th all time on that list.

Benny Feilhaber's goal was his 27th in all competitions for KC, tying him with CJ Sapong for 11th all time on that list.

At 21 years, 214 days, Feilhaber became the 19th oldest goal scorer for KC in league play, moving past Omar Bravo.

He also knocked Bravo out of the top 20 for oldest goal scorer in all competitions, taking Bravo's place at number 20.

Feilhaber's goal was his 14th at home in league play for KC, tying him with Jimmy Conrad for 11th all time on that list.

It was his 16th at home in all competitions, tying him with Digital Takawira for 11th all time on that list as well.

Sporting Climb the Table

Sporting got some help from other results around the league before they took on the Vancouver Whitecaps late at Children's Mercy Park, and took full advantage claiming a 2-0 win over Vancouver to push them up into fourth place in the Western Conference.

Kansas City controlled the first half of play keeping the Whitecaps pinned back in their own end for long stretches. Just four minutes in Nuno Coelho curled a free kick just wide of the near post, although it appeared that Dave Oustad had the chance covered. In the 19th minute, Brad Davis rung the cross bar with a curling effort after a short corner that had beaten Oustad. Unfortunately the rebound couldn't be turned in by anyone for KC. A dominating half looked like it may be for not until the 39th minute when KC finally ended their long run of corner kicks without a goal. Benny Feilhaber drove the ball into the box where Coelho volleyed his effort on net. Jacob Peterson was standing in front of Oustad and redirected the shot past a diving Oustad and into the net to put KC up 1-0 heading into the half time break.

Early in the second half the Whitecaps had their best chance of the game on a header by Giles Barnes. Former KC defender Marcel de Jong got forward and had a cross into the box partially deflected by Graham Zusi. The ball fell to Barnes who beat Kevin Ellis in the air and got a header on target, but Alec Kann reacted very well and tipped it over the cross bar. Minutes later the Whitecaps again threatened in the air, this time on a corner, but Kann caught Kendall Waston's header easily. In the 62nd minute though Kansas City won themselves a penalty kick as Peterson was taken down in the box after a good one-two between him and Feilhaber. Feilhaber stepped up for his penalty duties but Oustad guessed right and easily saved Feilhaber's attempt. Fortunately for Kansas City though the linesman correctly raised his flag as Oustad was well off his line before Feilhaber took his kick. With a second bite of the cherry, Feilhaber made no mistake and even though Oustad guessed right again and got a hand on it but it wasn't enough to keep Feilhaber's effort out and put KC up 2-0. In the 75th KC probably should have made it 3-0 when Oustad could only push away a low cross by Zusi into the path of Davis who collected it and turned to shoot but had his effort saved by Oustad. Oustad was again called on in the 86th on a curling effort by Peterson that he could only palm away for a corner. The Whitecaps got forward late but really failed to trouble Kann any more in KC's net as Sporting won their sixth straight at home.

Wizards Man of the Match - Jacob Peterson - Continues to prove himself to be "The Answer" Kansas City needs on the wing to help take some pressure off of Dom Dwyer. His first goal was his fourth of the season, tying his MLS career high that he set in 2012 and in his rookie year in 2007. He also won the penalty kick that iced the game for Kansas City.

Player Ratings - Kann 7, Medranda 7, Ellis 7, Besler 7, Zusi 7, Coelho 6, Espinoza 7, Feilhaber 7, Peterson 8, Dwyer 5, Davis 6. Subs Mustivar 6, Abdul-Salaam 6, Nagamura 5.

Match Day 27: Late Night Action

Sporting Kansas City will take the field for a late night match up against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Normally this would mean that Kansas City is out on the West Coast, but tomorrow night the late night kick off will take place at Children's Mercy Park. Because of MLS' contract with TSN in Canada, Sporting's game against the Whitecaps in on national television in Canada. With the contract Kansas City will be having their latest home kick off in team history tomorrow night.

The Whitecaps are on the outside looking in currently in the playoff race, sitting in eighth place on 30 points. They're only two points out of a playoff spot though having nine games still to play including tomorrow. The Whitecaps though have had their struggles this season, just last week they fell at home to San Jose who had yet to win a game on the road up to that point. Their designated player in midfield, Pedro Morales hasn't been playing like a designated player of late, and the club will likely be without two of their better younger players in Kekuta Manneh and Tim Parker. They will though have Kendall Waston available, who has had some fun match ups with Dom Dwyer in the past.

Kansas City left a few first teamers back in Kansas City as the team traveled down to Trinidad for their first Champions League game. Dwyer, Graham Zusi, and Benny Feilhaber I'd all expect to get the start tomorrow for Sporting in the league match between these two. The question with tomorrow's lineup probably comes with the rest of the midfield and back line as Roger Espinoza and Soni Mustivar both went 90 minutes in Trinidad. If they play tomorrow you would think this would rule them out for Tuesday's CCL game in Vancouver. On the back line it becomes a question of whether Ike Opara is recovered from his injury he suffered in Dallas. If not Lawrence Olum would likely be partnered by Nuno Coelho as it appears Matt Besler isn't ready to return yet and Kevin Ellis will likely be saved for Tuesday.

Zusi - Dwyer - Peterson

Feilhaber - Espinoza

Mustivar

Medranda - Olum - Coelho - Abdul-Salaam

Kann

Number to Remember - 5 - That's the number of home wins that Kansas City has at home. While their form away from home has seen them go 11 games without a win, the club has won their last 5 home games out scoring teams 12-3. Five is also Vancouver's current winless run, having gone 0-3-2 in their last five games.

Key Match Up - Peter Vermes vs Carl Robinson - This game will be a mind game for both coaches. Vermes and Robinson have to be focused on the game tomorrow, because when it comes down to it, making the MLS Cup playoffs and the regular season are what get coaches fired in MLS, not the CCL or US Open Cup. With that in mind both coaches have to be trying to get the win tomorrow to improve their playoff standing. But there will also be an eye towards Tuesday's CCL game in Vancouver. Both sides could rest some players ahead of that game.

PREDICTION - Vancouver has been in poor form as of late, while Kansas City has been doing quite well at home. On paper this should be a great opportunity to create some space between themselves and the chasing pack in the playoff hunt. While an eye towards Tuesday though, Vermes could rest some players to home for CCL advancement. With the way that Vancouver has been playing though I think KC can take all three points in this game to carry the confidence heading into the big CCL match on Tuesday.

SKC - 3 (Dwyer x2, Feilhaber)
VAN - 1 (Barnes)

Taylor Joins Kickers Offenbach - Former SKC Wizards Update

Matt Taylor has joined a new club for the 2016-2017 season. After leaving FC Saarbrucken this offseason, Taylor has joined fellow German club, Kickers Offenbach. And on his debut this past week scored what proved to be the winner for his new club.

Also this week since they were both on the roster for yesterday's CCL game, Amer Didic and Tyler Pasher officially join the list.

Here is the rest of this week's update.

Active without a club or unknown
Vicente Arze
Jamar Beasley
Pablo Escobar
Brian Fekete
Jeferson
Neven Markovic
Victor Munoz
Akeem Priestley
Jordi Quintilla
Brendan Ruiz
Matt Taylor

MLS
Jalil Anibaba - Houston - Started and played 90 minutes in Houston's 1-1 draw with Toronto.
Teal Bunbury - New England - Started and played 90 minutes in New England's 4-0 loss to Philadelphia.
Servando Carrasco - Orlando City - Started and played 90 minutes in Orlando's 2-2 draw with Chicago.
Aurelien Collin - New York - Started and played 60 minutes in New York's 3-1 win over Montreal. Started and played 90 minutes in New York's 1-1 draw with Alianza.
Marcel de Jong - Vancouver - Started and played 66 minutes in Vancouver's 2-1 loss to San Jose.
Amadou Dia - Montreal - Did not dress in Montreal's 3-1 loss to New York.
Herculez Gomez - Seattle - Came off the bench and played 1 minute in Seattle's 2-1 win over RSL.
Michael Harrington - Chicago - Dressed but did not play in Chicago's 2-2 draw with Orlando.
Jack Jewsbury - Portland - Started and played 90 minutes in Portland's 2-0 loss to DC.
Kei Kamara - New England - Started and played 90 minutes in New England's 4-0 loss to Philadelphia.
Chris Konopka - Portland - Dressed but did not play in Portland's 2-0 loss to DC.
Eric Kronberg - Montreal - Dressed but did not play in Montreal's 3-1 loss to New York.
Mikey Lopez - NYCFC - Dressed but did not play in NYCFC's 3-3 draw with Columbus.
Yura Movsisyan - Salt Lake - Came off the bench and played 45 minutes, recording an assist in RSL's 2-1 loss to Seattle.
Amobi Okugo - Portland - Dressed but did not play in Portland's 2-0 loss to DC.
Tony Rocha - Orlando - Came off the bench and played 29 minutes in Orlando's 2-2 draw with Chicago.
CJ Sapong - Philadelphia - Started and played 45 minutes,scoring a goal in Philadelphia's 4-0 win over New England.
Tyson Wahl - Columbus - Dressed but did not play in Columbus' 3-3 draw with NYCFC.
Sal Zizzo - New York - Came off the bench and played 30 minutes in New York's 3-1 win over Montreal. Started and played 90 minutes in New York's 1-1 draw with Alianza.

NASL
Bernardo Anor - Minnesota (loan) -Out injured.
Stefan Antonijevic - Tampa Bay - Did not dress in Tampa's 3-2 loss to New York.
Omar Bravo - Carolina - Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in Carolina's 2-2 draw Puerto Rico.
Mechack Jerome - Jacksonville - Started and played 90 minutes in Jacksonville's 2-1 win over Ottawa.
Michael Kafari - Puerto Rico - Started and played 90 minutes in Puerto Rico's 2-2 draw with Carolina.
James Marcelin - Carolina - Did not dress in Carolina's 2-2 draw with Puerto Rico.
Rauwshan McKenzie - Oklahoma City - Dressed but did not play in OKC's 2-1 loss to Indy.

US
Amer Didic - Swope Park - On loan to Sporting.
Christian Duke - Swope Park - Started and played 90 minutes in Swope's 1-0 loss to Real Monarchs.
Cyprian Hedrick - Oklahoma City - Started and played 90 minutes in OKC's 0-0 draw with LA.
Ryan James - Rochester - Started and played 90 minutes in Rochester's 1-1 draw with Louisville.
Alex Martinez - Charlotte - Came off the bench and played 45 minutes in Charlotte's 1-0 win over Wilmington.
Tyler Pacher - Swope Park - On loan to Sporting
Michael Thomas - Oklahoma City - Started and played 90 minutes in OKC's 0-0 draw with LA.
Yomby William - Richmond - Started and played 90 minutes in Richmond's 1-1 draw with Cincinnati.

PDL
Adnan Gabeljic - San Francisco - Offseason.
Faik Hajderovic - St. Louis U23 - Offseason.

Indoor
Pat Healey - Baltimore - Offseason.
Mike Jones - Dallas - Offseason.
Boris Pardo - Missouri - Offseason.

International
Korede Aiyegbusi - FC Mashhad - Iran - Did not dress in Mashhad's 1-1 draw with Foolad.
Scott Angevine - YPA - Finland - Started and played 90 minutes in YPA's 1-0 win over MuSa.
Claudio Bieler - Belgrano - Argentina - Did not dress in Belgrano's 1-1 penalty shootout win over Huracan.
Reinaldo Brenes - Belen Siglo XXI - Did not dress in either of Belen's games.
Sunil Chhetri - Bengaluru - India - No game until 9/14.
Jorge Claros - Alajuelense - Costa Rica - Dressed but did not play in Alajuelense's 1-0 loss to Belen Siglo XXI. Started and played 90 minutes in Alajuelense's 2-1 loss to Saprisa.
Daneil Cyrus - W Connection - Offseason.
Toni Dovale - CD Leganes - Spain - No game until 8/22.
Luis Gil - Queretaro - Mexico - Did not dress in Queretaro's 0-0 draw with Cruz Azul. Dressed but did not play in Queretaro's 2-0 win over Dorados.
Will John - RoPS - Finland - Started and played 90 minutes in RoPS' 5-0 win over PS Kemi. Started and played 90 minutes in RoPS' 3-1 loss to SJK.
Igor Juliao - Fluminense - Brazil - Dressed but did not play in Fluminense's 1-0 win over America Mineiro.
Igor Kostrov - Slavia-Mozyr - Belarus - Came off the bench and played 12 minutes in Slavia's 0-0 draw with Granit.
Luis Marin - CD Temuco - Chile - Started and played 90 minutes in Temuco's 2-0 win over Colo Colo.
Michal Mravec - RoPS - Finland - Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in RoPS' 5-0 win over PS Kemi. Started and played 63 minutes in RoPS' 3-1 loss to SJK.
Krisztian Nemeth - Al-Gharafa - Qatar -  Offseason.
Erik Palmer-Brown - Porto (loan) - Portugal - Did not dress in Porto B's 1-0 win over Academico Viseu.
Pablo Punyed - IBV - Iceland - Started and played 90 minutes in IBV's 2-0 loss to Valur.
Oriol Rosell - Belenenses (Sporting Club de Portugal)(loan) - Portugal - Dressed but did not play in Belenenses' 2-0 loss to Vitoria Setubal.
Soony Saad - Pattaya United (BEC Tero Sasana) - Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in Pattaya's 2-2 draw with BEC TEro Sasana.
Daniel Salloi - Gyirmot FC Gyor (loan) - Hungary - Did not dress in Gyirmot's 3-1 loss to Ujpest.
Peter Schmetz - Wuppertaler SV - Germany - Started and played 90 minutes in Wuppertaler's 2-1 win over SV Rodinghausen.
Yann Songo'o - Plymouth Argyle - Started and played 90 minutes in Plymouth's 1-0 loss to Carlisle United. Started and played 90 minutes in Plymouth's 2-1 win over Notts County.
Kevin Souter - Deveronvale FC - Scotland - Started and played 90 minutes in Deveronvale's 2-0 loss to Cove Rangers. Started and played 90 minutes in Deveronvale's 2-1 loss to Forres Mechanics.
Martin Steuble - Ceres-La Salle - Philippines - No game this week.
Milos Stojcev - Atromitos - Greece - No game until 8/21
Matt Taylor - Kickers Offenbach - Came off the bench and played 23 minutes, scoring a goal in Kickers' 3-2 win over Astoria Walldorf.

S.A.S. Wednesday After Stats

Amer Didic and Ever Alvarado made their debuts for Sporting KC.

At 33 years, 167 days, Paulo Nagamura moved past Mark Santel and became the 17th oldest player to start a game for Kansas City in all competitions.

Kevin Ellis' goal was his second in international competitions for KC, tying him with Claudio Bieler, Dom Dwyer, Soony Saad, and Onandi Lower for 4th all time on that list.

Seth Sinovic made his 157th start in all competitions for KC, tying him with Mo Johnston for 11th all time on that list.

Sinovic has now played the seventh most minutes for Kansas City in international competitions with 876 minutes played.

It was Sinovic's 10th international appearance for KC, tying him with Matt Besler and Tony Meola for 7th all time on that list.

It was his 10th start in international play for KC, tying him with Besler and Meola for 5th all time on that list.

Sporting's Defenders Help KC Rescue a Point in Trinidad

Sporting Kansas City's defenders had their scoring boots on in Trinidad tonight and helped Sporting kick off their CONCACAF Champions League campaign with a 2-2 draw against Trinidad side, Central FC. Fielding a team that featured just one player who started on the weekend against FC Dallas and no Benny Feilhaber and Dom Dwyer in the 18, it was Seth Sinovic and Kevin Ellis who helped fill the scoring gap for Kansas City.

The first half was a straight even match up between the two teams with both sides have some decent chances but both goalkeepers making some saves. Just four minutes in Jon Kempin was called into his first action for Sporting as some miscommunication between Kevin Ellis and Amer Didic allowed Kenwyne Jones to get some space to fire a shot from the top of the box, but it was on the ground and easily saved by Kempin. From there Kansas City started to control the game finding a lot of freedom down the wings against Central FC. Sinovic and Saad Abdul-Salaam were able to get forward often and combine with Connor Hallisey and Brad Davis to create space on the wing. Hallisey was involved in both of KC's best chances, first being played in by Roger Espinoza, but his shot hit the side netting and minutes later he returned the favor to Espinoza, but Sporting's captain saw his shot tipped away by Central's Javon Sample. Late in the half it was Central that started to create opportunities of their own and in the 41st thought they'd taken the lead when Jones headed in a free kick while going into Kempin. The Costa Rican referee called the goal back for a foul on Jones there for running into Kempin. Minutes later Jones had another header, getting over Ellis, but his downward header was easily handled by Kempin.

Just six minutes into the second half Kansas City were able to get themselves on the scoreboard. On a free kick about 25 yards from goal, Davis put his initial kick right into the wall. Davis collected the rebound off the wall and floated a cross to the back post for Sinovic who took a touch that got a little away from him. The ball ended up pinging off the trailing defender as he tried to knock the ball away, it then hit off Sinovic and past Sample and into the net to put KC on top 1-0. The lead only lasted three minutes though as KC had their own defensive issues. After the ball landed in the box Abdul-Salaam shielded a ball for Kempin to come grab but the KC goalkeeper was too slow to react to it while Abdul-Salaam didn't just get rid of the ball. As Kempin came for it, Central's Sean De Silva got a foot in before him knocking the ball to Marcus Joseph who fired past Kempin to tie the game at 1-1. KC's defense, still reeling from the first goal immediately gave up a second as Joseph played in a streaking Jones who'd left Didic well in the dust as he raced on goal and beat Kempin to make it 2-1 Central. After giving up the second goal KC seemed to settle down and put Central on the back foot for the rest of the game. KC pushed for the equalizer but some good goalkeeping by Sample kept Central in front as he made a good save on Davis after some work down the left. The equalizer did come for Kansas City in the 71st when Davis played a nice through ball into the box for Ellis who'd come forward on the play. Ellis rounded Sample as he went to ground and fired the ball into the net showing off some of his old skills as a forward to tie the game at 2-2. With the game level Kansas City went looking for a winner and certainly had the better of the chances and Diego Rubio and Nuno Coelho both had good efforts saved by the Central goalkeeper. Cameron Porter had a good header on goal but couldn't get enough power on it and very late on Abdul-Salaam beat his man to the ball and had a cross go all the way through the box without anyone touching it. Moments later the final whistle blew. Kansas City now sit tied with Central for second place in the group with one point. Next week they travel to Vancouver who currently lead the group with three points.

Wizards Man of the Match - Kevin Ellis - Did a decent job of keeping Kenwyne Jones in check for much of the game, limiting his chances on goal and then showed the skill and patience of a forward to beat Sample to tie the game at 2-2.

Player Ratings - Kempin 4, Abdul-Salaam 5, Didic 5, Ellis 6, Sinovic 5, Mustivar 4, Espinoza 6, Nagamura 4, Hallisey 5, Rubio 4, Davis 5. Subs Alvarado 5, Coelho 5, Porter NR.

Dos Santos Set to Leave the Rangers?

It appears that Marc Dos Santos' stay in Kansas City will be a short one. Nine months after being named the first head coach of the Swope Park Rangers, and less than a year since stepping down as head coach of the Ottawa Fury, it looks like Dos Santos will be leaving to take another head coaching job. Reports out of Canada are that Dos Santos will be returning to the NASL to become the first head coach of expansion side, the San Francisco Deltas next season.

The news was first reported by Canadian journalist Patrick Leduc this morning and has since been picked up by other media.

It'd be a blow to the Rangers, as it was thought to be a coup that KC was able to land the respected Dos Santos, who had led Ottawa to first place in the NASL's fall standings and was named the 2015 NASL Coach of the Year for his work with the club. This season with the Rangers, Dos Santos has gone 8-9-5 as the head coach of the Rangers and currently has them sitting in ninth place in the Western Conference, just one point outside a playoff berth with eight games remaining.

Losing Dos Santos would be a blow to the young USL squad for Kansas City that has seem some potential call ups emerge, from Amer Didic and Tyler Pasher who are currently with Sporting KC in Trinidad for their CONCACAF Champions League game tonight to Kevin Oliveira who was looking every bit of a potential attacking midfielder for KC before he tore his ACL.

His departure will certainly start the speculation on his replacement. Already this afternoon I've seen names like Sporting assistant, Kerry Zavagnin, DC United assistant, Davy Arnaud, Oklahoma City Energy coach, Jimmy Nielsen, and even current player, Paulo Nagamura taking over as the head coaching position for Dos Santos.

CCL Match Day 1: Leg Two of Sporting's Tour

Sporting Kansas City head out of MLS play and into their second game of their brutal five game stretch as they are in Trinidad ready to take on Central FC, the Trinidad Pro League Champions in their first game in this year's tournament. Unlike Kansas City's trips to Central America when they've been in this competition in the past, Kansas City doesn't look like they're taking the fly in and out quickly approach.

This will be Central's second game in the tournament, having already hosted the Vancouver Whitecaps a couple weeks ago. The Whitecaps escaped Trinidad with a 1-0 win and currently top the group with three points. Central will have reinforcements for the game tomorrow that they didn't have for the Vancouver game as Trinidad and Tobago international, and recent Atlanta United signing Kenwyne Jones has been cleared to play for the club after being loaned to Central ahead of Atlanta's first MLS season in 2017. He'll obviously be the main point of focus for Kansas City on the field tomorrow, but Central has speed elsewhere on the field that could cause Kansas City a number of problems on the back line tomorrow.

Kansas City still has to go with the delicate balance of player rotation for this game with a pair of games against the Vancouver Whitecaps coming up. In preparation for that the team has called up Amer Didic and Tyler Pasher from the Swope Park Rangers for the game tomorrow and both could see playing time, potentially even starting. With Ike Opara suffering an injury against FC Dallas on Saturday, Peter Vermes could look to rest someone like Nuno Coelho ahead of potentially starting against Vancouver on Saturday in favor of the 21 year old Didic, who has arguably been Swope's most consistent defender this season. Elsewhere, Sporting has Roger Espinoza and Soni Mustivar available after the pair missed Saturday's game due to suspension. The game will definitely be a good sign of how KC will treat the tournament. With Vancouver already having won their game here, KC needs to try to keep pace with Canadians in the group.

Davis - Rubio - Hallisey

Espinoza - Feilhaber

Mustivar

Sinovic - Ellis - Didic - Abdul-Salaam

Kempin

Number to Remember - 2 - This is actually Kansas City's second trip to Trinidad in the club's history. Back in the 2002 CONCACAF Champions Cup, the Kansas City Wizards earned a 1-0 win against W Connection in Trinidad thanks to a goal by Francisco Gomez in the 85th minute. KC turned around and won the return leg (the Champions Cup was a home-home knock out competition at the time) 2-0 to advance to play Santos Laguna in that year's tournament.

Key Match Up - KC central defense vs Kenwyne Jones - Jones will easily be the most recognizable name on the Central FC roster tomorrow. He's also going to be a handful for Kansas City's center backs to deal with. You almost want to go with a taller pairing than the predicted one above simply to give you some more coverage in dealing with the Trinidad captain.

PREDICTION - A loss here would put KC into a big hole with only four games in the group. It'd basically require Kansas City to go out and win their final three games. KC will need to do some lineup shuffling due to their upcoming schedule, but should be able to put out a lineup that can at least earn a draw on the road. The pace for Central could cause KC a ton of problems tomorrow, Sporting has not shown a great ability to shut down those teams that can really counter with speed. In the end I think KC will do enough to get a point, but their winless streak on the road is going to continue.

SKC - 1 (Rubio)
CFC - 1 (Jones)

Espinoza Called Up By Honduras

Rosters for some national teams are starting to come out ahead of the international break at the beginning of September. Today, Honduras' governing body, FENAFUTH tweeted out the roster that head coach Jorge Luis Pinto has selected for their games on September 2nd and 6th against Canada and Mexico. Named to the roster is Kansas City midfielder, Roger Espinoza. After missing out on the Olympics, Espinoza will return to the national team fold and look to help Honduras advance to next year's Hex.

Currently Honduras sits in a tie for second place with Canada on four points. Honduras is ahead of Canada due to a better goal difference (-1 to -4). Honduras will host the first game against Canada on September 2nd before traveling to Mexico. The Canada game will be very big for Honduras, who will want to pull off a multi-goal win to pad their goal difference (the second tie breaker) because on the final match day Honduras travels to Mexico City to play group leaders, Mexico while Canada will host last place El Salvador.

In Kansas City terms, Sporting KC does not play a single game in the stretch, their last game before the international break is August 27th at Philadelphia, the end of the club's long stretch of games. Their first game back comes three days after the game on the 6th when Sporting hosts the Houston Dynamo on September 9th.

Sunday After Stats

Just a couple stats from last night's game.

Dom Dwyer's second goal was the 100th Kansas City has scored against Dallas across all competitions.

At 33 years, 164 days, Paulo Nagamura passed Mark Santel and became the 17th oldest player to play a game for KC.

Sporting Grab a Point to Start Long Trip

Facing the start of their long trip around North America and the Caribbean, Sporting Kansas City got a 2-2 draw on the road against an FC Dallas team that had dropped only six points out of a possible 36 home points heading into the game tonight. In the first half both teams had some chances, but it was FC Dallas putting Kansas City goalkeeper Alec Kann to the test more. He did a good job early on blocking an effort by Maximilliano Urruti in front of goal after a cross by Michael Barrios. While Kann was the busier goalkeeper, Dom Dwyer forced a good save out of Chris Seitz in the 24th minute off a Graham Zusi corner. Dwyer headed a powerful header on goal but Seitz got down really well and saved the shot right at his feet and the rebound was cleared away. KC suffered an injury blow just 35 minutes in as Ike Opara had to leave with an ankle injury, forcing Kevin Ellis into action in defense for KC. The injury comes at a bad time as the team is still without Matt Besler and Nuno Coelho is just starting to return to form. With the busy stretch ahead the defensive Kann came up big again on another cross by Barrios, this time palming the cross away before it could get to Urruti who had gotten himself space on in the middle of KC's defense.

Kann continued to keep Kansas City in the game in the second half as he made a good save on a header by Walker Zimmerman off a Mauro Diaz free kick. The rebound was put off the post, but Kann appeared to have that shot covered as well. Dallas did finally beat Kann in the 66th minute as Tesho Akindele ghosted into the box completely unmarked by the KC defense and headed home a cross by Atiba Harris to put Dallas on top 1-0. The lead didn't last long for Dallas though as just two minutes later Kansas City was level. Brad Davis received the ball cutting towards the box and fired a shot that Dwyer intercepted as Seitz went to ground, Dwyer was able to turn and fire a shot into the roof of the net over Seitz to level the game at 1-1. Five minutes later Kansas City grabbed the lead. Benny Feilhaber fed the ball into Dwyer who flicked the ball up to himself but Zimmerman knocked the ball into the air. Dwyer followed the ball and one timed a shot past Seitz and into the net putting Kansas City on top 2-1. Once again the lead didn't last long though as three minutes later, Dallas was level. On a cross toward the near post, Kann tried to nonchalantly tip the ball over the bar for a corner, but missed. The ball bounced off the post to Urruti who biked the ball into the net as Kann tried to punch the ball away as he recovered. For as good as Kann played all night it was a glaring mistake that leveled the game at 2-2. Dallas almost retook the lead in the 82nd when Akindele was played in behind the KC defense, but as Kann came out, Akindele attempted to chip the KC goalkeeper, but he put it just wide of the post. Minutes later Dallas had another great opportunity as Dallas countered a KC corner and got a four on one break against Saad Abdul-Salaam, but after a ball played wide, all Dallas got out of the counter was an offside header wide of the post. KC was able to escape that chance and get out of Dallas with a point and will now move on to Trinidad to kick off their Champions League campaign.

Wizards Man of the Match - Alec Kann - The gaff on the second goal for Dallas aside, Kann came up big for Kansas City tonight he made some exceptional saves to keep the game scoreless and to keep Kansas City in the game. He had one miss step and it cost KC the lead.

Honorable Mention - Dom Dwyer

Player Ratings - Kann 7, Medranda 5, Olum 6, Opara 5, Abdul-Salaam 6, Coelho 6, Appiah 5, Feilhaber 5, Peterson 4, Dwyer 7, Zusi 5. Subs Ellis 5, Davis 6, Nagamura NR.

Match Day 26: The Sporting KC North American and Caribbean Tour Begins

Sporting KC begin their brutal travel schedule this week with the start of their five games in 15 day trip. The tour will see them play in five different cities over those 15 days and in three different countries. It has already gotten off to a rough start as the team was unable to fly to Dallas tonight due to the weather there and will instead fly out tomorrow for their game tomorrow evening against FC Dallas.

It will be interesting to see what team FC Dallas puts out on the field tomorrow night as the club had their US Open Cup semifinal on Wednesday night in Los Angeles, a game they won 2-1 in the dying seconds of extra time. Head coach Oscar Pareja put out his strongest team against the Galaxy on Wednesday with the chance to host the US Open Cup final on the line. Fielding the likes of Mauro Diaz, Maximilliano Urruti, Matt Hedges, and Walker Zimmerman along with other starters for 120 minutes on Wednesday there could be some very tired legs for Dallas tomorrow against Kansas City. Of course that was the same thing thought last week when many of the players that took the field Sunday in Portland for the Timbers had played on the mid-week in the Champions League.

While Kansas City doesn't have the busy schedule behind them heading into tomorrow's game, it's instead in front of them with the long trip coming. After Dallas, Sporting KC will head to Trinidad to take on Central FC in their first game in this year's Champions League. Kansas City will be doing it with a very thin roster due to the club's injuries and suspensions. The biggest changes will happen in midfield where two-thirds of KC's starting midfield, Roger Espinoza and Soni Mustivar are suspended for the game. It'll be interesting to see which way Peter Vermes goes with the lineup, whether he inserts Nuno Coelho in the holding role as he played once earlier this year, or if he slots Coelho in on defense and slides Lawrence Olum up into the defensive midfield role. As for the box-to-box role Vermes could look to slide Benny Feilhaber back and insert Graham Zusi into the midfield position to play attacking midfield. Of course this depends on the health of Paulo Nagamura, if he is healthy then you put him into the box-to-box role and leave Feilhaber and Zusi in their normal roles.

Hallisey - Dwyer - Peterson

Zusi

Feilhaber - Olum

Medranda - Coelho - Opara - Abdul-Salaam

Kann

Number to Remember - 0 - That's the number of wins that Kansas City has in their last 10 road games, KC won their first two road games of the season, but have since gone 0-7-3 with only four goals (half of those in one game).  Meanwhile Dallas 9-0-3 at home so far this season and have gone 17 without a loss in league play. Dallas' last league loss at home came a year ago this coming Monday, August 15th. Dallas last lost 2-1 on 8/15 to the LA Galaxy.

Key Match Up - KC midfield vs Dallas midfield - With two-thirds of the starting midfield missing for Kansas City it's going to be an interesting match up through the middle. At the same time I'm not sure that Dallas starts Diaz after 120 minutes on Wednesday. Instead KC may get the other Mauro, Mauro Rosales. Rosales has already scored on KC once this season, on a free kick in Dallas' 2-1 win over KC earlier this year.

PREDICTION - Dallas may be tired and have heavy legs tomorrow, but KC's road form doesn't exactly fill anyone in KC with confidence, or opponents with fear in the game. The delayed flight certainly won't help mentally for the club as they prepare for tomorrow's game. While Dallas will be tired, KC isn't helped by being short handed, and KC's away form combined with Dallas' home form doesn't give too much confidence for tomorrow's game.

SKC - 0
FCD - 2 (Barrios, Akindele)

Missouri Comets Lawsuit Brings Out Sexually Suggestive FC Kansas City Emails

Things aren't so rosy right now for Kansas City's other professional soccer owners, the Likens family and Brian Budzinski, owners of NWSL side FC Kansas City and the MASL's Missouri Comets. Last night the Kansas City Business Journal posted an article about a lawsuit that Budzinski has brought against his fellow owners, seeking $3.75 million in damages. Budzinski claims in the lawsuit that all decisions require a 75 percent approval by management which includes Budzinski, Brad Likens and Greg Likens (sons of Chris Likens who is also an owner of FC Kansas City). In the lawsuit though Budzinski says that he has been kept out of key negotiations like the Comets league, arena lease, and employment agreements with players.

In a letter exchanged between the two groups' lawyers, it said the Comets had borrowed $3.17 million to continue operating the club, a decent amount of money for the minor league Comets. With that amount of money lost, it's a wonder that the Comets have lasted as long as they have, and points to the continued struggles that indoor soccer have had since it's heydays in the 80's.


Budzinski has been the more visible of the owners, having taken over color commentary duty on the Comets broadcasts when the team is at home.  While he's done well in the roll, it's certainly weird to have one of the owners as part of the broadcast team for games.

The larger issue facing the owners, at least in the public eye was mentioned at the end of the article, and expanded upon in an article today on Excelle Sports. Budzinski claims that the Likens had used the Comets' computers and servers (and by extension FCKC's computers and servers) to transmit sexually suggestive pictures of female soccer players, and references to "riding them like horses."

The Excelle Sports article includes screen shots of the alleged emails, provided by an anonymous source, a former employee at National Holdings, another company the Likens own. Budzinski for his part is a recipient of the emails in the Excelle Sports story, but does not respond. He was concerned that the actions could have a negative effect on the Comets (and probably FC Kansas City as well).

While the KC Business Journal focuses on the Comets portion of the lawsuit, the FC Kansas City stuff in there will be the stuff that gets people talking, especially with the emails from Excelle Sports. It doesn't quite rise to the level of magicJack owner Dan Borislow in the WPS, but depending on what continues to come out from the lawsuit it certainly could put the NWSL and by extension US Soccer in a tough spot and require a response. The league and federation has to be hoping that Sporting Club would be willing or interested in stepping up and taking over the NWSL club. The club already runs the Swope Park Rangers out of their Swope Park complex, adding could certainly make some sense for the club.

Meola Fired by Jacksonville - Former SKC Wizards Update

Tony Meola's first professional head coaching gig lasted all of nine months, the former star goalkeeper for the Kansas City Wizards was fired this past week by NASL side, the Jacksonville Armada. Meola was named head coach of the club in November of 2015 and had led the Armada to a 2-10-6 record so far in the combined spring and fall season. Of teams that have played both the spring and the fall, that's the worst record in the league. He was the team's fourth head coach in their very short history and also served as the club's technical director during that time as well.

Also this week, Teal Bunbury and Kei Kamara both scored for the New England Revolution as they advanced to the 2016 US Open Cup final beating the Chicago Fire 3-1 on Tuesday night. They'll play the winner of tonight's game between the LA Galaxy and FC Dallas.

Here is the rest of this week's update.

Active without a club or unknown
Vicente Arze
Jamar Beasley
Pablo Escobar
Brian Fekete
Jeferson
Neven Markovic
Victor Munoz
Akeem Priestley
Jordi Quintilla
Brendan Ruiz
Matt Taylor

MLS
Jalil Anibaba - Houston - Started and played 90 minutes in Houston's 1-0 loss to Montreal.
Teal Bunbury - New England - Did not dress in New England's 4-1 loss to Toronto. Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in New England's 3-1 USOC win over Chicago.
Servando Carrasco - Orlando City - Started and played 90 minutes in Orlando's 3-1 loss to Seattle.
Aurelien Collin - New York - Started and played 90 minutes in New York's 3-0 win over Antigua GFC. Came off the bench and played 60 minutes in New York's 2-2 draw with LA.
Marcel de Jong - Vancouver - Started and played 90 minutes in Vancouver's 2-0 loss to Colorado.
Amadou Dia - Montreal - Did not dress in Montreal's 1-0 win over Houston.
Herculez Gomez - Seattle - Dressed but did not play in Seattle's 3-1 win over Orlando.
Michael Harrington - Chicago - Started and played 90 minutes in Chicago's 3-1 loss to RSL. Started and played 89 minutes in Chicago's 3-1 USOC loss to New England.
Jack Jewsbury - Portland - Started and played 90 minutes in Portland's 2-1 win over Dragon. Started and played 90 minutes in Portland's 3-0 win over KC.
Kei Kamara - New England - Started and played 80 minutes in New England's 4-1 loss to Toronto. Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in New England's 3-1 USOC win over Chicago.
Chris Konopka - Portland - Dressed but did not play in both of Portland's games.
Eric Kronberg - Montreal - Dressed but did not play in Montreal's 1-0 win over Houston.
Mikey Lopez - NYCFC - Dressed but did not play in NYCFC's 0-0 draw with San Jose.
Yura Movsisyan - Salt Lake - Did not dress in Salt Lake's 1-0 loss to Toronto. Dressed but did not play in RSL's 3-1 win over Chicago.
Amobi Okugo - Portland - Started and played 90 minutes in Portland's 2-1 win over Dragon. Started and played 90 minutes in Portland's 3-0 win over KC.
Tony Rocha - Orlando - Dressed but did not play in Orlando's 3-1 loss to Seattle.
CJ Sapong - Philadelphia - Started and played 90 minutes in Philadelphia's 2-2 draw with DC.
Tyson Wahl - Columbus - No game this week.
Sal Zizzo - New York - Did not dress in New York's 3-0 win over Antigua GFC. Came off the bench and played 58 minutes in New York's 2-2 draw with LA.

NASL
Bernardo Anor - Minnesota (loan) -Out injured.
Stefan Antonijevic - Tampa Bay - Did not dress in Tampa's 2-1 win over Fort Lauderdale.
Omar Bravo - Carolina - Started and played 72 minutes, scoring a goal in Carolina's 2-2 draw with Jacksonville.
Mechack Jerome - Jacksonville - Started and played 90 minutes in Jacksonville's 5-2 loss to Indy. Dressed but did not play in Jacksonville's 2-2 draw with Carolina.
Michael Kafari - Puerto Rico - Started and played 90 minutes in Puerto Rico's 1-0 loss to Edmonton.
James Marcelin - Carolina - Did not dress in Carolina's 2-2 draw with Jacksonville.
Rauwshan McKenzie - Oklahoma City - Did not dress in OKC's 1-1 draw with New York.

US
Christian Duke - Swope Park - Started and played 88 minutes in Swope's 1-1 draw with St. Louis. Game vs Tulsa was postponed.
Cyprian Hedrick - Oklahoma City - Started and played 90 minutes in OKC's 0-0 draw with Rio Grande Valley.
Ryan James - Rochester - Did not dress in Rochester's 1-0 loss to Richmond. Started and played 90 minutes in Richmond's 2-0 win over Wilmington.
Alex Martinez - Charlotte - Came off the bench and played 31 minutes in Charlotte's 1-1 draw with Charleston. Came off the bench and played 17 minutes in Charlotte's 2-2 draw with Bethlehem.
Michael Thomas - Oklahoma City - Started and played 90 minutes in OKC's 0-0 draw with Rio Grande Valley.
Yomby William - Richmond - Started and played 90 minutes in Richmond's 1-0 win over Rochester. Came off the bench and played 22 minutes in Richmond's 2-1 win over Montreal.

PDL
Adnan Gabeljic - San Francisco - Offseason.
Faik Hajderovic - St. Louis U23 - Offseason.

Indoor
Pat Healey - Baltimore - Offseason.
Mike Jones - Dallas - Offseason.
Boris Pardo - Missouri - Offseason.

International
Korede Aiyegbusi - FC Mashhad - Iran - Lost 2-0 to Saipa.
Scott Angevine - YPA - Finland - Defeated VIFK 1-0.
Claudio Bieler - Belgrano - Argentina - No game until 8/12.
Reinaldo Brenes - Belen Siglo XXI - Did not dress in Belen's 1-0 win over San Carlos.
Sunil Chhetri - Bengaluru - India - No game until 9/14.
Jorge Claros - Alajuelense - Costa Rica - Did not dress in Alajuelense's 1-1 draw with Cartagines.
Daneil Cyrus - W Connection - Offseason.
Toni Dovale - CD Leganes - Spain - No game until 8/22.
Luis Gil - Queretaro - Mexico - Did not dress in Queretaro's 0-0 draw with Chivas.
Will John - RoPS - Finland - Came off the bench and played 15 minutes in RoPS' 2-0 win over VPS.
Igor Juliao - Fluminense - Brazil - Did not dress in Fluminense's 2-2 draw with Internacional.
Igor Kostrov - Slavia-Mozyr - Belarus - Came off the bench and played 45 minutes in Slavia's 2-0 win over Naftan.
Luis Marin - CD Temuco - Chile - Started and played 90 minutes in Temuco's 3-1 loss to Deportes Iquique
Michal Mravec - RoPS - Finland - Came off the bench and played 7 minuets in RoPS' 2-0 win over VPS.
Krisztian Nemeth - Al-Gharafa - Qatar -  Offseason.
Erik Palmer-Brown - Porto (loan) - Portugal - Did not dress in Porto's 2-1 loss to Desportivo Aves.
Pablo Punyed - IBV - Iceland - Started and played 90 minutes in IBV's 2-0 loss to Fjolnir. Started and played 90 minutes in IBV's 1-0 win over Vikingur Olafsvik.
Oriol Rosell - Belenenses (Sporting Club de Portugal)(loan) - Portugal - No game utnil 8/14
Soony Saad - Pattaya United (BEC Tero Sasana) - Started and played 90 minutes in Pattaya's 2-1 loss to Samut Prakan.
Daniel Salloi - Gyirmot FC Gyor (loan) - Hungary - Did not dress in Gyirmot's 4-0 loss to Videoton.
Peter Schmetz - Wuppertaler SV - Germany - Started and played 90 minutes in Wuppertaler's 2-2 draw with Fortuna Dusseldorf II. Started and played 90 minutes in Wuppertaler's 0-0 draw with Rot-Weiss Essen.
Yann Songo'o - Plymouth Argyle - Started and played 90 minutes in Plymouth's 3-0 loss to Luton Town. Started and played 90 minutes in Plymouth's 2-0 cup loss to Reading.
Kevin Souter - Deveronvale FC - Scotland - Started and played 60 minutes in Deveronvale's 2-1 win over Nairn County.
Martin Steuble - Ceres-La Salle - Philippines - Lost 2-1 to Green Archers.
Milos Stojcev - Atromitos - Greece - No game until 8/21