Category: Sports

Sporting KC ends CONCACAF run with 5-1 loss

Sporting Kansas City’s run in the 2013-2014 CONCACAF Champions League ended on Wednesday evening after a 5-1 loss at Estadio Azul in Mexico.

Cruz Azul’s Mariano Pavone had a hat trick as the Mexico side won 5-2 on aggregate and advanced to the semifinals.

Cruz Aul took an early lead with a second minute Mariano Pavone goal. After receiving the ball near the 18-yard-box, Pavone slotted a shot into the upper right corner past Eric Kronberg to make it 1-0.

The home side continued to have the upper hand and midway through the first half took the aggregate lead with Pavone’s second of the match. Kronberg was able to block Marco Fabian’s initial shot but the rebound fell into the path of Pavone for the easy tap in.

Two minutes before halftime, Sporting KC responded with a Benny Feilhaber 44th minute strike.

The midfielder received a Graham Zusi pass before dribbling towards the 18-yard-box and sending a low shot off the fingertips of goalkeeper Jesus Corona and into the back of the net. The goal tied the match at 2-2 on aggregate and gave Sporting KC the advantage on away goals.

In the second half, Cruz Azul replied with three goals including Pavone’s third. In the 55th minute, the Argentine redirected a Fabian pass inside the near post to give Cruz Azul a 3-2 lead on aggregate.

Cruz Azul added to their its with two more goals in a four-minute span. Mauro Formica followed up a saved shot in the 66th minute and Christian Gimenez struck a left-footed shot off the far-post and across the goalline in the 70th minute.

Sporting KC will participate in the upcoming 2014-2015 CONCACAF Champions League after clinching a berth by winning MLS Cup 2013. The group stage begins in August 2014.

The team returns to MLS action on Saturday night when it plays host to the San Jose Earthquakes at Sporting Park. For more information, visit www.sportingkc.com.

Norton, Foerschler pace 19-hit attack in 12-7 KCKCC win

by Alan Hoskins

With Lucas Norton and Tanner Foerschler leading the way, the Blue Devils of Kansas City Kansas Community College unleashed the biggest hit assault of the season Tuesday, pounding out 19 hits in a 12-7 win at Brown Mackie.

A sophomore centerfielder from Liberty, Norton was a perfect 4-for-4 with three doubles and a single and an RBI while Foerschler, a freshman first baseman from Harrisonville, was a double shy of hitting for the cycle with a single, triple and home run and four runs batted in.

The win sets up a big four-game series with perennial Jayhawk Conference power Cowley, which is locked in a three-way tie with Johnson County and Coffeyville for the league lead, all at 12-0.

The four-game set opens at Cowley Thursday and then returns to KCKCC for a Saturday twin bill starting at 1 p.m.

Daniel LaMunyon doubled and singled twice, Sam Baxter singled three times and Christian Arnold and Garrett McKinzie each drove in a pair of runs with two hits each as KCKCC improved to 8-15.

The Blue Devils took a 1-0 lead in the first on Norton’s leadoff double and an RBI single by Arnold and then scored five times on five hits in the second after Brown Mackie had tied the game.

Foerschler had the big blow, a 2-run triple following hits by LaMunyon and Baxter, and McKinzie drove in two more runs following Norton’s second double and a walk.  KCKCC built a 8-2 lead behind the pitching of Spencer Nielsen only to have Brown Mackie close to 8-6 with four unearned runs in the sixth.

However, the Blue Devils bounced right back in the seventh. Zane Mapes’ squeeze bunt following a double by LaMunyon and single by Baxter scored one run and Foerschler’s home run scored two more.

Nielsen, who had pitched two innings of relief on Monday, got his first win, allowing just one earned run while scattering eight hits and striking out two in 5.1 innings.

Adam Rea worked the final 3.1 innings for his first save, giving up just one run and five hits.

“Lucas Norton had another great day at the plate,” said KCKCC coach Steve Burleson. “He’s up to hitting.488 now and Foreschler was big with the home run and four RBI. Coming off pitching in relief a day earlier, Spencer Nielsen gave us some good innings.”

Sporting KC takes on Cruz Azul tonight in Mexico City

Sporting Kansas City holds a 1-0 lead on aggregate as it travels to Mexico City to face Cruz Azul in the second leg of the 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals at 9 p.m. on Wednesday.

Sporting KC qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League by defeating the Seattle Sounders FC in a penalty kick shootout in the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Sporting KC was then drawn into Group 2 along with Real Esteli FC and CD Olimpia.

With two wins and two draws in the group stage, Sporting KC advanced to the quarterfinals.

Cruz Azul — currently in first place in the Liga MX Clausura — finished as runners-up in the 2013 Clausura Liguilla to qualify for the 2013-14 edition of CCL.

La Maquina held a perfect 4-0-0 record in Group 3, beating Herediano and Valencia two times each to earn the No. 2 overall seed for the Championship Stage.

Sporting Kansas City defeated Cruz Azul 1-0 in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals last Wednesday at Sporting Park.

Sporting KC homegrown defender Kevin Ellis scored the game’s lone goal, his first as a professional in a competitive match, and Eric Kronberg recorded his fourth shutout of the tournament.

Three players will be suspended for the second leg due to caution accumulation: Sporting Kansas City defender Seth Sinovic, Cruz Azul defender Rogelio Chavez and Cruz Azul midfielder Alejandro Castro. Aurelien Collin will be available for Sporting Kansas City after serving his one-game suspension during the first leg.

Sporting KC will advance to the semifinals with a win or draw in Mexico City.

If Sporting Kansas City lose on Wednesday , the club can advance if they score a road goal and limit the loss to a one-goal margin.

A 1-0 defeat would force overtime and potentially penalty kicks if still deadlocked, while a defeat by two or more goals would see Sporting KC eliminated from the tournament.

Wednesday’s winner will advance to face either the LA Galaxy (USA) or Tijuana (MEX), who meet in Mexico tonight at 9 p.m.  on FOX Sports 2 (English) and Galavision (Spanish), in the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals.

The two-game series will be played April 1-3 and April 8-10 with Sporting Kansas City or Cruz Azul holding home field advantage.

The match tonight will be nationally televised on FOX Sports 2 (English) and Galavision (Spanish) beginning at 9 p.m.

Johnny’s Tavern in the KC Power and Light District (1310 Grand Boulevard) will hold the club’s official Watch Party on Wednesday.