Sporting Kansas City (7-11-7, 28 points) slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Orlando City SC (9-11-6, 33 points) on Wednesday night at Exploria Stadium in Orlando.
Tesho Akindele struck in the 21st minute to give the hosts all three points and deliver Sporting their second straight loss.
The result keeps Sporting in 10th place in the Western Conference standings heading into Saturday’s clash against the San Jose Earthquakes (11-8-5, 38 points) at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. Tickets for the match are available at SeatGeek.com and the first 7,500 fans through the stadium gates will receive a free wall decal.
Supporters can also catch the action live on FOX Sports Kansas City Plus, FOX Sports Midwest Plus, FOX Sports GO, Sports Radio 810 WHB and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM.
Faced with a quick turnaround from Saturday’s 2-1 home loss to Real Salt Lake, manager Peter Vermes reshuffled his starting lineup to the tune of three changes. Jimmy Medranda’s versatility was put to use in his first MLS start of 2019 as the Colombian took center forward duties in place of Erik Hurtado.
Medranda was flanked on the wing by 17-year-old Gianluca Busio, who replaced the suspended Daniel Salloi, while Andreu Fontas made way for Graham Smith in central defense. Elsewhere, veteran midfielder Roger Espinoza notably logged his 273rd appearance for the club across all competitions, moving into a tie for fourth-most in team history.
The Lions carved out a clean look within two minutes of kickoff, but former Sporting striker Dom Dwyer headed wide from close range after latching onto a Chris Mueller cross. At the opposite end, Medranda called Orlando goalkeeper Brian Rowe into action with a 25-yard blast off his left boot.
The game’s next major opportunity fell to Orlando, and Akindele took full advantage in the 21st minute. Carlos Ascues barreled down the right channel and unleashed a cutback pass that Akindele ran onto near the penalty spot and slotted into the low left corner for his team-best ninth goal of 2019.
Sporting gained a gradual foothold and Seth Sinovic nearly connected with Johnny Russell on the half-hour mark, whipping in a teasing cross to the far post that Russell was unable to steer on target. Akindele then made an unsuccessful bid for his brace by poking wide off Nani’s clever lobbed pass into the penalty area.
Medranda outfoxed first-half substitute Shane O’Neill along the left channel in the 40th minute and picked out Graham Zusi on the opposite side of the box, but Rowe sprung low to smother the bouncing volley and force a corner kick that Orlando successfully defended.
Hurtado entered for Medranda as a halftime substitute and Benny Feilhaber made a 59th-minute cameo of his own, relieving Busio and prompting Rowe into a lunging stop with a low piledriver nine minutes later.
Portuguese left back Luis Martins earned his Sporting debut as a 71st-minute replacement for Sinovic. It was Feilhaber, however, who manufactured a huge chance on 77 minutes with a bouncing service across the face of goal that Espinoza back-heeled straight at Rowe.
Espinoza then turned provider for Feilhaber, brilliantly settling a long ball inside the box and spreading a pass to the left, but the ensuing shot fizzed inches wide of the frame.
Felipe Gutierrez saved Sporting’s blushes in the penultimate minute of normal time, racing back to clear Sacha Kljestan’s chipped effort off the goal line. The Lions nonetheless preserved their 1-0 lead to the full-time whistle, condemning the visitors to a grim defeat amid wet and humid playing conditions.
The Midtown redevelopment project and levee projects are among the items on the Unified Government agenda for 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15.
The meeting will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Commission Chambers, lobby level, City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas.
The commission is scheduled to vote on terminating the old 2007 Midtown redevelopment district. It also is poised to set a public hearing date of Sept. 26 to divide the Midtown redevelopment district into four areas, amend the redevelopment district plan and adopt the project area – redevelopment project plan.
In addition, Thursday the UG is scheduled to consider a resolution to improve the levees along the Argentine, Armourdale and Central Industrial District levee system.
An amendment to the definition of electric-assisted scooters is on the agenda, with an ordinance on their operation.
In addition, on the agenda there is an agreement with the Piper Public Schools on additional improvements on the new school at 131st and Leavenworth Road.
An agreement with Edwardsville for sidewalks and roads in connection with the Quiet Zone on 4th Street also is on the agenda.
Also, there is a request to accept grant funds for screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment through a $97,891.20 grant from the National Association of City and County Health Officials to address high-risk substance use among women of reproductive age.
Also on the agenda is a termination of a specific venture agreement with Cabela’s Wholesale.
An agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers also is on the agenda.
A special session at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, in the fifth floor conference room at City Hall will be about the zoning code update.
A discussion was held Thursday morning on how to improve health in Wyandotte County. The discussion was at Mercy and Truth Medical Mission, 721 N. 31st St., Kansas City, Kansas. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
by Mary Rupert
What’s needed to improve health in Wyandotte County?
That was the topic on Thursday morning in an informal “Muffins with the Mayor” discussion at the Mercy and Truth Medical Mission, 721 N. 31st St., Kansas City, Kansas.
Mercy and Truth is one of several safety net clinics in Wyandotte County. Some of their clients are uninsured.
Participants in the discussion touched on a number of issues, including the need to expand KanCare (Medicaid in Kansas) and cover more uninsured patients, the need to bridge a language barrier that slows down communication with patients, good jobs that would provide health insurance for employees, and a better environment including more walks or pathways for exercise.
One discussion participant, Catherine Sarensen, membership marketing team leader at Sam’s Club in Kansas City, Kansas, which provided the refreshments and also made an $1,800 donation to Mercy and Truth clinic, shared a personal story about a family member’s experience with the health care system.
Catherine Sarensen (Staff photo)
She said the family member had an immune disease, could not work, and could not get marketplace insurance.
“We didn’t have care for her,” she said. “She’s still sick.”
It’s important to get the word out about safety net clinics, she said, as several years ago they had no idea that the clinic was here.
The number of patients is growing this year at Mercy and Truth Clinic, said Dr. Geofrey Kigneyi, executive director. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
Dr. Geofrey Kigneyi, the executive director of Mercy and Truth Clinic, told the group that when it started in 2007, Mercy and Truth in Kansas City, Kansas, was seeing 5,000 patients, by 2018 it was up to 7,000 patients, for 2019 it anticipated 9,000 patients, but already it looks like it will exceed 10,000 patients in 2019.
“Jobs are the No. 1 problem for Wyandotte County,” said Unified Government Commissioner Jane Philbrook. Jobs are necessary that have insurance with them.
She said people have to reach out to get health care for themselves and their families.
Jobs are the top concern, said UG Commissioner Jane Philbrook. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
Howard Russell, an ex-officio board member of Mercy and Truth Clinic, said that often, the amounts patients pay at the safety net clinics do not cover the costs of such items as blood tests and radiology.
Another participant in the discussion, from a safety net clinic, said that one of the local hospitals is not accepting referrals of patients without a Social Security number. Some of them have cancer or serious diseases.
“I think that is unacceptable,” she said. “I just think that’s preposterous.”
“We are all people and everybody deserves health care,” she said. The Mercy and Truth Clinic does not require patients to have a Social Security number.
The University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas, does not require patients to have Social Security numbers, according to a hospital official.
It also is a challenge for safety net clinics to address serious illnesses and complicated cases, said a participant from another safety clinic. They sometimes receive some funding from foundations to help.
“We send a lot of referrals,” Dr. Kigneyi said, “but the waiting list is long.”
Mark Schmidt, a board member at Mercy and Truth, said the specialty care is really a needed resource. Prescriptions and radiology are something that others take for granted, but they are hard to come by for the patients at the safety net clinics, and help would be appreciated.
Barry Johnson, another participant, said adding walking paths in the community and teaching people healthier habits would help improve health here.
Another participant urged the mayor and UG Commission to use their purchasing power to set an example to pay for health, not fee per service.
Reducing poverty will help solve some problems, including some health care problems, according to Commissioner Harold Johnson, right. Commissioner Melissa Bynum said expansion of KanCare is her top priority. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
UG Commissioner Harold Johnson said that jobs, affordable housing and the language barrier all are important issues, and that trying to reduce poverty in the community is important.
“We have to figure out a way to pragmatically prepare our people for jobs,” Commissioner Johnson said. A lot of times, the technology is not there and there’s a language barrier, he added.
“If you raise the income, reduce poverty, it raises all of our communities up in terms of their access to health care,” he said. “It will be that rising tide that raises all boats.”
UG Commissioner Melissa Bynum said expansion of Medicaid, or KanCare, is her top priority for health care. She added that Rep. Kathy Wolfe Moore, D-36th Dist., had led the effort in the House for KanCare expansion.
Also, affordable housing is one of the key components that could improve community health, she believes. Keeping people living in their homes and keeping it affordable is key to improving health, she said.
KanCare passed in the House, but failed in the Senate during the past session.
Sen. David Haley, right, is concerned about neonatal care and low birth weight in Wyandotte County. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
Sen. David Haley, D-4th Dist., commented on the inequities between the wealthier areas and those that were not as wealthy. He said while waiting for the bill to pass, other things might be done to help stabilize the inequities. He has supported Medicaid expansion.
He said he was concerned about neonatal care and low birth weight especially in communities of color. He said he doesn’t know the answer to this situation but he appreciated those who continue to work on it.
Mayor David Alvey, who read a proclamation at this event, said “Getting to know the poor is the beginning of all we do,” and would lead people to act. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
Mayor David Alvey said a travesty in this country is the “geographical and psychological distance that we put between ourselves and the poor.”
Mayor Alvey said that people who had direct contact in working with the poor, such as tutoring children, mentoring women, and working in the food kitchen, would be moved to serve and would have a commitment together to address the problem.
He said what the safety net clinics are doing, reaching out and serving the poor, is best.
“That, I think, would then solve the problem of KanCare, because there would be a broader and deeper commitment to make those necessary changes to serve all people,” he said.
Once people meet the poor, it moves and changes them, and then they are moved to act, he added.
“Getting to know the poor is the beginning of all we do,” he said. He also thanked Mercy and Truth and the safety net clinics for what they do.
During this event, it was announced that Mercy and Truth Clinic would be receiving 200 flu shots from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment that will be available this year.
During the event, Mayor Alvey also read a proclamation declaring Aug. 12 to 16 as Safety Net Clinic Week.
Catherine Sarensen, left, presented a check for $1,800 from Sam’s Club to the Mercy and Truth Clinic and Dr. Geofrey Kigneyi, executive director, today. (Staff photo)
