Category: Sporting KC

Sporting Kansas City controls their own playoff destiny on Friday night as they play host to Eastern Conference rivals, the Chicago Fire at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan.

With a victory over Chicago, Sporting KC will clinch a spot in the 2014 MLS Cup playoffs. Kickoff at Sporting Park is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and a limited number of tickets still remain for Friday’s match. Fans can purchase tickets at Ticketmaster.com or the Sporting Park box offices on gameday.

Sporting Kansas City enters the weekend in third place in the Eastern Conference, just two points behind the New England Revolution and six points behind D.C. United. The Chicago Fire visit Sporting Park in ninth place in the Eastern Conference with only 33 points from 31 matches. Chicago has the fewest wins (five) and second fewest losses (eight) in MLS this year, but was eliminated from playoff contention after last weekend’s 0-0 draw at home to the Montreal Impact.

Sporting KC and the Chicago Fire are both coming off scoreless draws. Sporting KC secured a point on the road against Eastern Conference leaders D.C. United at RFK Stadium last weekend. Meanwhile, the Chicago Fire set an MLS record with their 18th draw of the season last weekend vs. Montreal.

Chicago has lost just once in five trips to Sporting Park since 2011, holding a 25-12-11 advantage in the all-time series but has secured just two wins in 15 road games this season. Sporting KC is undefeated in 11 straight regular season games played during the month of October dating back to 2011 (6-0-5).

Friday marks the third meeting between Sporting KC and the Chicago Fire this season. The Fire defeated Sporting KC 2-1 on May 18 at Toyota Park, while the two teams drew 1-1 on July 6 at Sporting Park. Third-year forward Dom Dwyer has scored both of Sporting KC’s goals against the Fire this season and is second in the League for goals scored in 2014 with 20 behind only New York Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips (24).

Sporting Kansas City will be without defender Seth Sinovic as he serves his mandatory one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation and midfielder Jorge Claros who’s with Honduras for a pair of international friendlies. Chicago will be without Benji Joya who is with the United States U-23 national team, 2013 MLS MVP Mike Magee who suffered a season ending injury in August and defender Gonzalo Segares who will miss Friday’s game due to yellow card accumulation.
– Story from Sporting KC

Voting is now open for Sporting Kansas City’s annual team awards, to be presented at the club’s Pitch Black celebration on Saturday, Oct. 11 at Sporting Park.

Fans can vote online at SportingKC.com/vote through 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 9.

Pitch Black will welcome fans alongside Sporting Kansas City players and coaches for a night of drinks, dining and live entertainment on the field at Sporting Park from 7 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11. Individual tickets are available online for $99 with a portion of the proceeds benefiting The Victory Project in its mission to help children thrive through life’s challenges.

Sporting Kansas City will recognize award winners in the following categories:

• Most Valuable Player
◦Nominees: Dom Dwyer, Benny Feilhaber, Graham Zusi
• Offensive Player of the Year
◦Nominees: Dom Dwyer, Benny Feilhaber, Graham Zusi
• Defensive Player of the Year
◦Nominees: Matt Besler, Aurelien Collin, Igor Juliao, Eric Kronberg, Seth Sinovic
• Goal of the Year
◦Nominees: Dom Dwyer (March 29), Benny Feilhaber (July 16), Soony Saad (Aug. 16)
• Newcomer of the Year
◦Nominees: Antonio Dovale, Andy Gruenebaum, Igor Juliao, Sal Zizzo
• Golden Boot
◦Awarded to the team’s top goal scorer
• The Victory Project Humanitarian of the Year
◦Awarded to the team’s most philanthropic player
• Bob Gansler Award
◦Awarded to an outstanding Sporting KC Academy player
• Sporting Club Network Club of the Year
• Academy Affiliate Club of the Year
– Story from Sporting KC

Sporting Kansas City meets Eastern Conference leader D.C. United on Friday night at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. The nationally televised match will kick off at 7 p.m. on NBCSN.

Sporting Kansas City is tied for second place in the Eastern Conference with the New England Revolution heading into Friday’s match.

The trip to the nation’s capital comes after a three-game home stand which included two victories in the CONCACAF Champions League. Most recently, Sporting KC fell to the Revolution 3-2 despite a pair of goals from Paulo Nagamura and Dom Dwyer in a two-minute span.

D.C. United is undefeated in its last four matches across all competition, most recently defeating the Philadelphia Union 1-0 last weekend at RFK Stadium.

Luis Silva’s 10th-minute strike helped to secure D.C.’s 15th victory in 2014 after finishing last year with just three wins and 16 points. Silva has 11 goals since the beginning of June, third most in MLS.

Dom Dwyer is second in MLS with 20 goals scored this season, breaking the club’s previous single-season record. Dwyer has scored in five straight appearances across all competition, tying Preki (1996) the longest such scoring streak in club history.

With a goal on Friday, Dwyer would be the first Sporting KC player ever to score in six straight competitive matches.

D.C. United has an MLS-best eight clean sheets at home and a 10-2-3 record at RFK Stadium this season. Its 10 home wins are tied for second most in MLS and their 11 home goals allowed are fewest in MLS, however D.C. United will be facing a Sporting KC squad that leads MLS with eight road wins.

D.C. United defeated Sporting KC in the previous two matches this season, a 1-0 result on May 31 and a 3-0 victory in August. With a win or a tie on Friday, D.C. United would become the first Eastern Conference team to clinch a playoff spot in 2014.

– Story from Sporting KC