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Sporting KC defeats New York, 3-1

Sporting Kansas City claimed a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Eastern Conference leaders New York City FC on Sunday night at a sold-out Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan., extending the club’s unbeaten run to five MLS matches.

Benny Feilhaber fired the hosts ahead in the 8th minute and Jimmy Medranda belted his first MLS goal eight minutes later, restoring the lead after Frank Lampard had equalized for New York City FC. Ike Opara sealed the victory with a close-range effort early in the second half, giving Sporting Kansas City its 50th regular season win at Children’s Mercy Park.

The result snaps New York City FC’s four-game winning streak and solidifies fifth place in the Western Conference for Sporting Kansas City (8-8-4, 28 points), who enjoyed their second straight three-goal game in a convincing performance from beginning to end. NYCFC (8-6-6, 30 points) remains atop the East after suffering defeat in their inaugural trip to Kansas City.

Manager Peter Vermes’ starting lineup featured two changes from Sporting Kansas City’s 3-2 win over Columbus Crew last weekend. Striker Diego Rubio replaced Dom Dwyer, who missed his first match of 2016 through yellow card accumulation, while a late scratch from Graham Zusi (right hamstring tightness) gave winger Brad Davis his 10th start of the season.

Sunday’s match commenced with a feverish tempo, producing three goals in the first 16 minutes. Sporting Kansas City landed the first punch on eight minutes, moments after Davis had a left-footed strike saved by the outstretched Josh Saunders.

Medranda’s looping cross from the left wing was deftly redirected goalward by Jacob Peterson’s extended knee. Saunders touched the ball onto the crossbar, but Feilhaber was in the right place to poke the rebound into an empty net for his fifth MLS goal of the season and his fourth over the last five games in all competitions. The scoring play also marked Sporting Kansas City’s 200th goal in Children’s Mercy Park history (including friendlies).

New York City FC entered the evening with a league-best five road wins and lacked no attacking confidence of their own. The visitors nearly responded in the 10th minute through Jack Harrison, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, but Tim Melia produced a fine save to extinguish the breakaway threat.

Patrick Vieira’s side would draw level just four minutes later, however, cashing in on Sporting KC’s giveaway near midfield. Italian World Cup champion Andrea Pirlo dribbled toward goal and spread it down the left side to Ronald Matarrita, who found Frank Lampard with a cutback pass near the penalty spot. The former England international beat Melia with a one-time shot just inside the left post, bagging his fourth MLS goal in five games.

Parity was short-lived, however, as the hosts would reclaim the lead two minutes after Lampard’s equalizer. Feilhaber’s shallow corner kick was cleared only as far as Medranda, who pulled the trigger with his patented left boot from 25 yards. The swerving strike skipped past Saunders and just inside the near post, allowing the diminutive Colombian to open his scoring account on his 40th career shot attempt.

What started as a delicately poised encounter slowly transformed into a dominant display from Vermes’ men. Roger Espinoza tried his luck from distance with a 27-yard knuckler to the top right corner, but Saunders sprung impressively to push the ball wide of the post. The industrious Rubio nearly doubled his side’s advantage a minute before the break, gaining possession after Saad Abdul-Salaam intercepted a pass deep in NYCFC’s half, but the Chilean hammered high from eight yards. Seconds later, Peterson glanced a header narrowly wide following a teasing cross from Medranda.

Sporting Kansas City kept their foot on the pedal in the second period, ultimately sealing the win in the 51st minute. New York City FC failed to clear their lines after a Davis corner kick and the ball rolled kindly to Opara, who poked past Saunders from five yards. The center back marked his 50th appearance for Sporting Kansas City in all competitions with his first goal since March 28, 2015 – coincidentally at New York City FC.

Medranda asked further questions of the NYCFC defense in the 57th minute, linking up delightfully with Rubio before skying a shot from the left side of the box. Rubio created another chance eight minutes later, spinning past a defender and teeing up Davis, who curled inches over the woodwork from atop the box.

The final 15 minutes plus stoppage time saw Saunders deny both Feilhaber and Espinoza from distance. Rubio almost grabbed a goal for himself in the 89th minute, settling the ball after Hallisey’s low cross from the left wing was sliced high into the air, but the forward couldn’t steer his shot on target.

Sporting Kansas City has now scored 10 goals in its last four league games after netting just seven in their previous 11. The recent upswing includes three consecutive wins at Children’s Mercy Park, which sold out its 81st straight MLS match on Sunday evening.

A challenging week awaits Sporting Kansas City with two road games over the next six days. The club will first visit Eastern Conference bottom dwellers Chicago Fire (3-8-5, 14 points) at 7:30 p.m. CT Wednesday before traveling west to face the second-place Colorado Rapids (9-2-7, 34 points) at 8 p.m. Both matches will be televised locally on 38 The Spot and across the Midwest on SKCTV, including 30 minutes of pregame and postgame coverage.

– Story from Sporting KC

After a hot day, storms possible tonight

Monday's severe weather threat (National Weather Service graphic ) — Monday’s severe weather threat (National Weather Service graphic )

Storm chances will increase this evening as a cold front approaches from the northwest, according to the National Weather Service.

Some storms may become severe across far northwest Missouri and northeastern Kansas with large hail and strong winds being the main threats, the weather service said.

Storm chances will continue through the week with severe storms again possible both Tuesday and Wednesday. Large hail and strong wins will be the main concern, according to the weather service.

In addition to the severe weather concerns, heavy rain also will be possible this week as a front stalls across the region, according to the weather service.

Repeated rounds of moderate to heavy rain may lead to renewed flash flood and river flood concerns across the lower Missouri Valley, the weather service said.

Today, the forecast is sunny with a high near 92, and a heat index as high as 101, according to the weather service. A south wind of 10 to 17 mph will gust as high as 26 mph.

Tonight, there is a 70 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 73. A south wind of 10 to 14 mph is possible, with gusts as high as 20 mph. New rainfall amounts of between a half and three-quarters of an inch are possible.

Tuesday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1 p.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 90, with a heat index near 98.

Tuesday night, there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, according to the weather service. The low will be 74 with a south southwest wind of 9 to 11 mph.

Wednesday, there is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 91, the weather service said. There will be a south southwest wind of 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday night, the low will be around 72, with a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, according to the weather service. Between a half and three-quarters of an inch of rain is possible.

Ground broken for U.S. Soccer training center in KCK

Breaking ground for the new U.S. Soccer Training Center at 98th and Parallel Parkway in Kansas City, Kan., on Sunday afternoon were, left to right, Gov. Sam Brownback, Mayor Mark Holland, Dan Flynn of U.S. Soccer; Dr. Randall O'Donnell of Children's Mercy Hospital; U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder; and Robb Heineman of Sporting Kansas City. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert) — Breaking ground for the new U.S. Soccer Training Center at 98th and Parallel Parkway in Kansas City, Kan., on Sunday afternoon were, left to right, Gov. Sam Brownback, Mayor Mark Holland, Dan Flynn of U.S. Soccer; Dr. Randall O’Donnell of Children’s Mercy Hospital; U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder; and Robb Heineman of Sporting Kansas City. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)

Ground was broken on Sunday afternoon for a new U.S. Soccer training center at 98th and Parallel Parkway in Kansas City, Kan.

“This area is going to keep building and building strong,” Gov. Sam Brownback said at the groundbreaking today.

According to Sporting KC officials, the development includes an 80,000-square-foot National Training and Coaching Development Center building that is scheduled to open in November 2017.

According to an April 2015 Unified Government meeting, the National Training Center is a $26 million project, with the tournament fields a $17.5 million project; land acquisition, $10 million; and parking, $1 million. The $64 million STAR (sales tax revenue) bond project development agreement was approved April 9, 2015, by the UG Commission. In July 2015, the amount of the bond issue was raised to up to $66 million, and it includes several other projects.

Seen to the south of the groundbreaking site on the south side of Parallel Parkway was the Verruckt water slide at Schlitterbahn and to the southwest was the Dairy Farmers of America building. It’s just a mile or so away from Children’s Mercy Park and Village West. Across the street, there are new car dealers.

A Sporting KC spokesman said it would be the first agreement of its kind among a pro sports team, the national sports federation and a sports medicine provider.

The center will include a National Coaching Education Center and the Children’s Mercy Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Center. There will be sports medicine services, resources and programs for children.

Both youth sports and senior levels will be served by the center. Sporting Kansas City will use it as a training home.

Gov. Sam Brownback said the whole Village West area has been a partnership, with involvement from state, local and federal levels.

“It’s been a partnership between business and public sectors, a partnership of people being innovative and bringing innovative ideas together, and not caring who gets the glory for it,” Gov. Brownback said.

“You see these fantastic developments taking place here, and I might add, more to come, soon. More to come. This area is going to keep building and building strong,” Gov. Brownback said.

“We aspire to be the center of soccer for the United States of America,” Gov. Brownback said.

Sporting Kansas City co-owner Robb Heineman said they’ve been working on this U.S. Soccer Training Center project for about four years.

“We’re going to do the best we can to make sure Kansas City produces world-class athletes and do everything we can to be a good part of the community,” Heineman said.

Unified Government Mayor Mark Holland said economic development in western Kansas City, Kan., is the cumulative effort of partners with world-class organizations. Next year will be the 20th anniversary of the unification of Kansas City, Kan., and Wyandotte County.

Before the Village West development was here, there were just a gas station, liquor store, 150 homes and a fast-food restaurant, he said. Today, the area represents 10 percent of the valuation of the community, over $12 million annually in property taxes, has over 9,000 jobs and generates about $650 million in annual sales, he said. Other communities are trying to find out how they can do this, too.

“It’s all about the partnerships,” he said. “We didn’t do any of it by ourselves.”

The UG was able to be a partner with the state in the project, and with business entities such as Cerner, Mayor Holland said.

He said there will be soccer fields built near this site for youth tournament use, and there were futsal courts built throughout the Wyandotte County community.

According to information from Sporting KC, there will be seven full-size soccer fields at the national training center, including five fields when it opens. There will be a natural grass Super Pitch field, including three full-size fields and two synthetic turf fields.

Also, there is a Wyandotte youth soccer complex with 12 fields under development east of the Schlitterbahn water park between Parallel Parkway and State Avenue, according to Sporting KC information. This is slated to open in March 2017.

Dan Flynn of U.S. Soccer said he would like to bring a world championship title to the United States.

“It really is about the vision the ownership of Sporting KC has brought to our partnership and to the sport. It’s not just about the Kansas City community to them, it’s about the greater good of the sport,” he said.

He said the training center is a wonderful opportunity to build the sport. The development of coaches and referees needs to get better, he added. This is a great opportunity, as it builds onto the pathway to bring a men’s soccer World Cup championship to the United States, he said.

The training center will offer sports medicine services and programs for youth and adolescents in all sports, including soccer, said Dr. Randall O’Donnell of Children’s Mercy Hospital.

Facilities will include lap pools and turf area. The Children’s Mercy Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Center at the national training center will include examination rooms and a radiology area.

It will be another outreach for Children’s Mercy, according to Dr. O’Donnell, which has a facility on State Avenue in Kansas City, Kan., besides its main hospital in Kansas City, Mo.

In the U.S. Soccer National Coaching Education Center, in the national center building, will be included two locker rooms, eight breakout rooms, three coaching classrooms and a fully wired coaching pavilion, according to information from Sporting KC.

The professional training facilities will include new Sporting KC player and coach locker rooms, two national team locker rooms, a video analysis suite, a conference room an auditorium and a cafeteria, according to Sporting KC information.

The new training center, according to information from Sporting KC, also includes a sports performance gymnasium, a human analysis lab, a hydrotherapy suite, and a sports performance lab.

The contractor for the project is Turner Construction, Grand Construction, with architect Populous. Grand Construction was involved in building Children’s Mercy Park (Sporting Park) and the Cerner buildings in Kansas City, Kan.

Also attending today’s event were U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder, State Rep. Tom Burroughs and UG Commissioners Jim Walters, Angela Markley, Jane Philbrook and Melissa Bynum; Sporting Kansas City executives; Cliff Illig, a principal investor in OnGoal and a co-founder of Cerner Corp.; and Children’s Mercy Hospital board members.