Category: Sporting KC

Sporting KC goalkeeper records three saves in first shutout for team

Luis Marin made three saves for the first shutout of his MLS career as Sporting Kansas City and the Portland Timbers played to a scoreless draw on Saturday at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan..

Captain Matt Besler returned from his one-game suspension and anchored a backline that welcomed Jalil Anibaba into the starting lineup for his Sporting KC debut.

Portland was held to seven shots – the team’s fewest since August 2014 – as the Timbers tied the third straight match to open the 2015 season.

Sporting Kansas City, meanwhile, attempted 16 shots with the first coming in the ninth minute when Marcel de Jong’s corner kick found Anibaba at the back post.

His diving header deflected off Alvas Powell and carried just beyond the reach of Dom Dwyer in the goalmouth but set up a second chance from the ensuing corner kick.

This time it was Ike Opara on the end of de Jong’s left-footed service, however his header whistled wide of the post from eight yards out.

The home side continued to press forward and came close to opening the scoring in the 15th minute.

Anibaba won the ball back at midfield and a patient buildup resulted in 21-year-old Jimmy Medranda – making his second career MLS start – finding Dwyer inside the penalty area.

The 2014 MLS All-Star took two touches before unleashing a shot from 15 yards out that was partially blocked and precariously floated inches over the crossbar.

Portland’s best scoring opportunity of the first half came in the 31st minute.

Former KC midfielder Jack Jewsbury delivered a free kick from the left flank that connected with Nat Borchers, whose acrobatic header was on target but into the arms of Marin.

The goalkeeper kept the Timbers off the scoreboard with his final save of the night in the 61st minute to deny Fanendo Adi. Adi was coming off a two-goal performance a week ago and worked his way past Opara along the right touchline only to be turned away by Marin after a 50-yard run.

Opara scored Sporting Kansas City’s lone goal in the team’s 2015 home opener, a 1-1 draw against the New York Red Bulls on March 8, and was nearly on the score sheet again on Saturday.

De Jong curled in a cross in the 77th minute that was perfectly placed for the run of Opara, but the 6’2″ center back’s header carried just above the crossbar.

Sporting Kansas City will next travel to Yankee Stadium to take on Eastern Conference leaders New York City FC (1-0-2) at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 28. The teams first-ever meeting will air live locally on KMCI-TV 38 and across the Midwest on SKCTV.

– Story from Sporting KC

Sporting Kansas City will play host to the Portland Timbers on Saturday with both teams in search of their first victory of the 2015 season.

The match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. in Kansas City, Kan., and will be televised locally on KMCI-TV 38 the Spot and on SKCTV across the Midwest. Live radio coverage will be available on 102.9 FM (English) and 1340 AM (Spanish).
A limited number of tickets are available for Saturday’s Western Conference battle, including standing room only tickets for $20, which can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or at the Sporting Park Box offices on game day.

The Timbers ranked second in road points (25), road wins (7) and goals scored on the road (27) in 2014 and the visiting team in this series has won four of the six meetings between the clubs in all competitions.

The last time these two clubs met, Sporting KC earned a 1-0 victory at Providence Park. The regular season victory came three days after the Timbers eliminated Sporting KC from the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Sporting Kansas City has not lost a home game in March since 2009, an unbeaten run of eight games (5-0-3).

Six of those matches have come at Sporting Park, where the club has conceded just three goals in 540 minutes of action during the month of March.

In Sporting KC’s last home outing, Ike Opara scored the team’s lone goal in a 1-1 draw against the New York Red Bulls. Midfielder Benny Feilhaber tallied the assist.

The Portland Timbers opened the season with a pair of draws, tying Real Salt Lake 0-0 and most recently securing a 2-2 result against the LA Galaxy. Fanendo Adi notched a brace that included a 90th minute goal to give Portland a late 2-1 lead against the Galaxy at Providence Park. Caleb Porter’s side couldn’t hold the lead, conceding a stoppage-time equalizer.
Sporting Kansas City will honor the 2014 National Women’s Soccer League Champions FC Kansas City at halftime of Saturday’s match.

Fans are encouraged to arrive early for a pre-game autograph signing on the Sprint Plaza with four FC Kansas City players: Yael Averbuch, Amy LePeilbet, Liz Bogus and Becca Morros. Additionally, the first 10,000 fans to arrive at Sporting Park will receive a Sporting KC flag courtesy of match sponsor H&R Block.

In-game updates can be found at SportingKC.com/GameOn, via Twitter at @SKCGameday and through the Sporting Club Uphoria mobile app.
– Story from Sporting KC

Sporting Kansas City announced on Friday that the club has agreed to lend goalkeeper Jon Kempin to the North American Soccer League’s San Antonio Scorpions.

Kempin, 21, begins his sixth professional season after joining the U.S. Men’s National Team in January.

The Leawood, Kan., native made five competitive appearances for Sporting Kansas City in 2014, including his debut in Major League Soccer and the CONCACAF Champions League, while also spending time on loan at OKC Energy FC.

Kempin earned back-to-back MLS Save of the Week honors in his first two MLS appearances and was named MVP of the 2014 MLS Chipotle Homegrown Game. In doing so, he became the youngest at his position to play in MLS since 2012 and entered the record books as the youngest goalkeeper to start an MLS match in club history.

A product of the Sporting KC Academy, Kempin became the team’s first homegrown player signing at age 17. He made his competitive debut during the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and helped Orlando City SC claim the USL PRO Championship in 2013, making 34 saves in nine games while on loan with the Lions.

The San Antonio Scorpions will be the host of the Costa Rican Olympic team on March 28 before beginning its defense of the 2014 NASL championship on April 4.

– Story from Sporting KC