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Sporting KC plays in Toluca tonight for Concacaf match

Sporting Kansas City aim to finish the job Thursday night when the club takes a 3-0 aggregate lead into the decisive second leg of the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 against Deportivo Toluca FC.

Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. CT at Estadio Nemesio Diez in Toluca, Mexico, with an English-language live stream on YahooSports.com and the Yahoo Sports app. The showdown will also air live in Spanish on Univision Deportes, while Sports Radio 810 WHB (English) and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM (Spanish) will carry the game locally over the radio. Additional in-game updates and exclusive updates will be available on the new Sporting KC app, available for free download on the App Store and Google Play.

Led by manager Peter Vermes, Sporting KC is on the brink of reaching the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time since 2014 thanks to a resounding 3-0 first-leg win last Thursday at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.

Nemeth, Gerso Fernandes and Ilie Sanchez bagged goals as Sporting KC became just the second American or MLS team in the 54-year history of the Concacaf Champions League to defeat a Mexican opponent by three goals.

The task at hand is far from over, however, as Toluca can win the series with a four-goal victory or force penalty kicks with a 3-0 triumph of their own.

Sporting, meanwhile, can advance to the quarterfinals with a win, a draw, a loss by two or fewer goals, or a three-goal loss in which they score at least once (4-1, 5-2, etc.). Should the hosts secure a 3-0 victory after 90 minutes, no extra time will be played and the series will be decided by penalties.

Seven days after Sporting cruised in its earliest competitive game in club history, the team will now prepare for its highest-altitude match of all-time. The 30,000-seat Estadio Nemesio Diez in Toluca is perched at an elevation of 8,750 feet and holds a formidable reputation as one of the toughest places to play in North America.

With a three-goal aggregate lead, Sporting ventures south of the border in search of its first positive result on Mexican soil. The team is 0-4-0 all-time in Mexico, including a 5-1 second-leg loss to eventual champion Cruz Azul in the 2013-14 Champions League quarterfinals. This was the last time Vermes’ men visited Mexico and remains Kansas City’s best-ever finish in North America’s premier club tournament.

Toluca’s first-leg setback at Children’s Mercy Park was followed by a 4-0 road loss to Santos Laguna in Liga MX on Sunday. The defeat extended Toluca’s winless run to seven games across all competitions and prompted the dismissal of manager Hernan Cristante, whose team has been outscored 14-1 during a dismal 0-6-1 stretch. Jose Luis Real, Toluca’s academy director, has taken interim managerial duties, having previously coached Chivas USA in MLS in 2013.

Despite their recent maladies, los Diablos Rojos remain dangerous with a slew of talented Argentines-including recently acquired defender Jonatan Maidana and forward Emmanuel Gigliotti-as well as experienced Mexican veterans in goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera, midfielder Antonio Rios and winger Carlos Esquivel. Toluca is making its first Champions League appearances since finishing runners-up to Cruz Azul in 2014.

The series winner between Sporting and Toluca will progress to the quarterfinals to face Panamanian minnows Independiente, who earned a stunning 5-1 aggregate victory over Canadian giants Toronto FC in the Round of 16. Independiente routed the Reds 4-0 at home on Feb. 19 and claimed an aggregate triumph following Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at BMO Field in Toronto. The Champions League quarterfinal legs are scheduled for March 5-7 and March 12-14, with Independiente slated to host the first leg in La Chorrera, Panama.

Sporting has the opportunity to achieve a record at Estadio Nemesio Diez. In Concacaf Champions League and Concacaf Champions’ Cup history (1962-present), no American team has ever advanced against a Mexican opponent in a two-leg series with the second leg played in Mexico.

After battling at altitude on Thursday, Sporting will return to the United States for their 2019 MLS regular season opener at Los Angeles Football Club on Sunday night. The high-profile match will kick off at 7 p.m. CT, airing live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, Sports Radio 810 WHB and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM.

Story from Sporting KC

Weekend weather could include heavy snow

Saturday night and Sunday’s forecast includes about 5 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service. (National Weather Service graphic)

Today’s weather will be mostly sunny, but weekend weather could contain another wintry blast.

According to the National Weather Service, as much as 5 inches of snow could fall in the Greater Kansas City area on Saturday night and Sunday, as temperatures drop to a low of 13 Saturday night and a low of minus 4 on Sunday night.

Today, it will be mostly sunny with a high near 28 and a calm wind, the weather service said.

Tonight, the low will be around 19 with a light and variable wind, according to the weather service.

Friday, it will be mostly sunny with a high near 41 and a light and variable wind, the weather service said.

Friday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 21 and a light north northwest wind becoming north 5 to 9 mph in the evening, according to the weather service.

Saturday, it will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 32, and a northeast wind of 8 to 10 mph, the weather service said.

Saturday night, there is a 90 percent chance of snow, with heavy snow at times, according to the weather service. The low will be around 13.

Sunday, the forecast calls for an 80 percent chance of snow before noon, with a high near 14, the weather service said.

Sunday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of minus 4, according to the weather service.

Monday, it will be sunny, with a high near 16, the weather service said.

Monday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 3, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 23, the weather service said.

Hawks win substate match over Shawnee Mission North

by Brian Turrel

The Harmon Hawks extended their breakout 2018-2019 season, defeating the Shawnee Mission North Indians 54-44 at Harmon on Wednesday night in the semi-finals of their 6A substate bracket.

Harmon opened an early lead on North, using their speed to create driving opportunities for Marlon Bowens, who picked up 7 points in the quarter. The Hawks finished the first quarter up 14-6.

The Indians stepped up their perimeter defense in the second quarter, frustrating the Hawks’ attempts to infiltrate the lane. Harmon’s guards stuck to the game plan, passing patiently around the perimeter to find the few available openings.

The pace of the game slowed, with Harmon posting only 8 points in the quarter, and they finished the half with a 22-15 advantage.

After the break, Harmon looked for some opportunities outside. Santos Ruiz hit two 3-pointers, and Lonell Lane added another, to put Harmon ahead 35-25 after three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, North applied a trapping full-court press that caused the Hawks some ball-handling problems. Harmon turnovers let the Indians pull within 5 near the midpoint of the quarter.

North also pushed aggressively on offense, getting 13 opportunities at the foul line and putting key Harmon players into foul trouble. Lane was pulled from the game briefly after picking up his fourth foul with 4 minutes remaining, and Chauncey Keys fouled out just after the 2-minute mark.

North’s trapping defense came with a downside. When Harmon broke the trap, they had plenty of open floor for long outlet passes and runouts. Lane scored on two fast-break windmill dunks in the closing minutes that brought the home fans to their feet.

Lane finished the game with 22 points to lead the Hawks. Bowens scored 13, getting significant minutes off the bench. Santos Ruiz pitched in 11 points.

Harmon’s substate win builds on their already successful season, in which they compiled a 16-3 record and tied with Washington for the Kansas City – Atchison League title, Harmon’s first in over 30 years.

Harmon will play at home against Shawnee Mission East on Friday night at 7 p.m. for the substate championship and a berth in the KSHSAA 6A state tournament in Wichita next weekend.

Other substate playoff results:

6A Boys
Wyandotte 76, Olathe Northwest 71 (play-in)
Blue Valley Northwest 78, Wyandotte 37 (first round)

6A Girls
Blue Valley West 66,Harmon 12
Shawnee Mission North 47, Wyandotte 27

5A Boys
Sumner 75,Turner 56 (play-in)

5A Girls
Topeka West 54, Turner 19
Schlagle 60,Bonner Springs 32
Sumner 54, Basehor-Linwood 48

4A Boys
Piper 69, Paola 34

3A Boys
Santa Fe Trail 82, Bishop Ward 64

3A Girls

Bishop Ward 47, Silver Lake 21