Month: December 2019

Croatian defender signs with Sporting KC

Sporting Kansas City has signed 28-year-old Croatian defender Roberto Puncec, the club announced.

Puncec has inked a two-year MLS contract through 2021 with an option for 2022. He will occupy an international spot on Sporting’s roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P1 visa, according to the announcement.

Puncec has amassed almost 300 professional appearances across 12 professional seasons in Croatia, Israel and Germany. The center back arrives at Sporting after spending the last two and a half seasons with Croatian first-division club HNK Rijeka, where he won the 2019 Croatian Cup this spring.

“Roberto has significant experience playing in Europe over the last several years,” Sporting Kansas City manager and Sporting director Peter Vermes said. “He is very excited to be here and we look forward to him integrating into our club and our city.”

A native of Varazdin, Croatia, Puncec developed in the NK Varazdin academy and signed his first senior team contract in 2008 at age 16.

He became a regular starter in 2009 and helped his hometown club secure a spot in 2011-12 UEFA Europa League qualifying before joining Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv in August 2011. His lone season in Israel yielded 23 total appearances, including five in the UEFA Europa League group stage.

In 2012, Puncec began a five-year stint with German side Union Berlin of the second-division 2. Bundesliga. The defender featured regularly during his time in the German capital, starting 118 of 128 appearances in all competitions as Union Berlin finished in the top half of the table in each of his five seasons with the club.

Puncec returned to his native Croatia in 2017, signing for HNK Rijeka. He anchored the club’s defense from 2017 to 2019, guiding Rijeka to consecutive second-place finishes in the Croatian First Football League and logging nine total appearances over the last three editions of UEFA Europa League qualifying.

Puncec propelled Rijeka to silverware in May as the Whites defeated Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb 3-1 in the Croatian Cup Final.

He started every tournament match from the Round of 16 onward, including a 90-minute outing in the final. Prior to making his jump to Major League Soccer, Puncec started nine league matches this fall and scored twice for Rijeka in a Croatian Cup first round win over Buje.

As a youth, Puncec represented Croatia at the U-14 through U-21 levels and garnered significant experience in international competitions.

He made five appearances at the 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, leading Croatia to the semifinals, then played all three games at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia. Puncec also featured in qualifying matches for the 2011 and 2013 editions of the UEFA Under-21 Championship.

  • Story from Sporting KC

Police notes

Robbery reported on Kansas Avenue

A robbery was reported at 7:48 p.m. Dec. 5 in the 1200 block of Kansas Avenue, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

Victims said the suspects began hitting a victim with a gun, according to the report. Then suspects took belongings from the victims. The victim had minor injuries, according to the report.

Shooting reported on Bethany Street

A shooting into an occupied dwelling was reported at 8:17 p.m. Dec. 5 in the 1900 block of North Bethany Street, according to a social media post by police. A single gun shot hit the house, according to the victims. No injuries were reported.

Robbery reported on Washington Boulevard

A robbery was reported at 9:36 p.m. Dec. 5 in the 700 block of Washington Boulevard, according to a social media post by the police department.

According to a victim, the suspects began hitting the victim. Then the suspects took belongings from the victim, the report stated. The victim had minor injuries.

Burglary reported on North 36th

An aggravated burglary was reported at 8:17 p.m. Dec. 5 in the 2400 block of North 36th Street, according to a social media post by the police department.

Victims said they heard a window break and footsteps upstairs.

When officers arrived, they found an upstairs room had been ransacked, but nothing was missing, according to the report.

Temperatures a little cooler today

National Weather Service graphic

There’s a slight cool-down in the weather forecast today, but warmer temperatures will return for the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

Rain and snow are out of the forecast for Wyandotte County today.

Temperatures will fall through the day Monday as a blast of arctic air moves into the region, the weather service said.

There is a 15 to 25 percent chance for light rain showers or light snow Monday, according to the weather service. Most locations will see little, if any precipitation. Any snow that develops should remain light with no accumulation expected, the weather service said.

Wind child vlues may drop to the single digits on Tuesday morning, according to the weather service.

Today, it will be sunny with a high near 41 and a north northeast wind of 6 to 11 mph, the weather service said.

Tonight, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 26 and a northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm, according to the weather service.

Saturday, it will be sunny, with a high near 51 and a south wind of 5 to 10 mph, the weather service said.

Saturday night, it will be increasingly cloudy, with a low of 40 and a south wind of 6 to 8 mph, gusting as high as 18 mph, according to the weather service.

Sunday, it will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 53 and a southwest wind of 3 to 8 mph, the weather service said. Winds may gust as high as 20 mph.

Sunday night, it will be mostly cloudy with a low of 35, according to the weather service.

Monday, it will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 42, the weather service said.

Monday night, it will be partly cloudy with a low of 19, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 34, the weather service said.

Tuesday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 18, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, it will be sunny, with a high near 36, the weather service said.

Wednesday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 22, according to the weather service.

Thursday, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 38, the weather service said.