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Sporting Kansas City

Sporting KC Weekly Update

September 24, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


SPORTING KC HOSTS NEW ENGLAND FRIDAY IN PIVOTAL MLS CLASH

The race for the top spot in the MLS Eastern Conference intensifies Friday night when Sporting Kansas City faces the New England Revolution at Sporting Park. The 7 p.m. CT encounter will be televised nationally on NBCSN with local radio coverage on Sports Radio 810 WHB (English) and La Gran D 1340 AM (Spanish). The first 10,000 fans to the stadium will receive a Sporting KC tote bag courtesy of match sponsor UMKC.

Sporting KC (13-10-6, 45 points) is three points behind Eastern Conference leaders D.C. United, but would move into a tie for first with a win against the Revolution. After losing four straight games from late August to early September, Peter Vermes' men have responded emphatically with three straight wins across all competitions, scoring 10 goals and conceding just one. Goalkeeper Eric Kronberg could be poised for his first MLS start since July 6 after recovering from a fractured bone in his left hand. Despite missing 11 weeks of action, he ranks fourth in MLS with seven shutouts and boasts a League-best 0.88 goals against average.

The New England Revolution (13-13-3, 42 points) sit third in the Eastern Conference standings, three points behind Sporting KC. New England is led by MLS MVP candidate Lee Nguyen (13 goals, four assists), who has scored three goals in two games against Sporting KC this season. The Revolution also feature United States Men's National Team midfielder Jermaine Jones, who joined the club as a Designated Player on Aug. 24, and former Sporting KC striker Teal Bunbury, who has scored in both games against his previous team this season.

Friday is the third meeting between the clubs in 2014. New England won each of the previous two contests at Gillette Stadium on April 26 and Sept. 3, however the Revs are winless in seven games at Kansas City dating back to 2008 (0-5-2) and have been shut out in each of their last three matches at Sporting Park.

SPORTING KC ATOP CCL GROUP 2 WITH BACK-TO-BACK WINS

Sporting KC has moved into the driver's seat in CONCACAF Champions League Group 2 after a pair of convincing victories at Sporting Park. The MLS champions (2-0-1, 7 points) defeated Deportivo Saprissa 3-1 on Thursday before dispatching Real Esteli 3-0 on Tuesday. The results give Sporting KC a three-point cushion over Saprissa (1-1-1, 4 points), whom they will face in the group stage finale on Oct. 23 in San Jose, Costa Rica. Nicaraguan club Real Esteli (0-2-2, 2 points) has been eliminated from the competition.

True to form, Dom Dwyer opened the scoring on Thursday with a penalty kick in the 13th minute, extending his single season club scoring record in all competitions to 20 goals. Saprissa levelled on the half hour mark when Juan Bustos unleashed an impressive long-range strike past goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum. The second half, however, belonged to winger Antonio Dovale, who scored two goals in a seven-minute span to seal the victory. The Spaniard's excellent volley in the 69th minute restored Sporting KC's lead and he completed his brace after finishing an incisive attack involving Dwyer and Benny Feilhaber. Dovale's three CCL goals this year put him in a tie for second on the club's all-time international scoring chart.

Tuesday's match against Real Esteli saw goalkeeper Eric Kronberg return between the posts for the first time since early July. The hosts went ahead after 13 minutes as a slick buildup from Feilhaber and Seth Sinovic allowed Claudio Bieler to slot home from close range. The Argentine secured his brace with a 70th-minute penalty kick before second half substitute Sal Zizzo scored his first Sporting KC goal 12 minutes from time, nodding Dovale's corner kick into the far left corner. In a game that saw eight yellow cards issued, Graham Zusi received his second caution of the group stage and will be suspended for Sporting KC's match at Saprissa.

DATES ANNOUNCED FOR 2014 MLS CUP PLAYOFFS

Major League Soccer announced on Tuesday the dates for the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs. The postseason will kick off on Oct. 29 and conclude with the MLS Cup Final on Dec. 7, exactly one year after Sporting KC defeated Real Salt Lake at Sporting Park to become League champions.

The top five clubs from each conference will qualify for the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs, which begin Oct. 29-30 with the one-game Conference Knockout round featuring the fourth and fifth seeds. The Conference Semifinals (Nov. 1-2, 8-9) and Conference Championships (Nov. 22-23, 29-30) will be decided in two-game, aggregate-goal series. The MLS Cup, televised in the U.S. on ESPN and UniMas at 2 p.m. CT, will be hosted by the finalist that earned more points in the regular season.

MLS INTRODUCES NEW LOGO AHEAD OF 20TH SEASON IN 2015

Major League Soccer unveiled a new brand last Thursday ahead of the leauge's 20th season in 2015. The new mark will be fully launched at the MLS Combine and MLS SuperDraft in January. Each club will also be able to utilize an adapted version of the league crest to match their club colors, an asset that will be showcased most prominently on club uniform sleeves in 2015.

Visit MLSsoccer.com/next for more information, including design details, launch videos, frequently asked questions and downloadable images.

DWYER AND MYERS AT SPRINT STORE TODAY AT THE LEGENDS

Sporting KC players Dom Dwyer and Chance Myers will make a special appearance today from 3-5 p.m. CT inside the Sprint store at Legends Outlets (1813 Village West Parkway) in Kansas City, Kansas. Fans are welcome to attend for autograph and photo opportunities with the MLS Cup champions, and can register for the Sprint Stoppage Time Sweepstakes for a chance to win Shield Club tickets with food and drink to an upcoming Sporting KC home match.

KEMPIN NOMINATED FOR BEST SAVE OF CCL GROUP STAGE

Goalkeeper Jon Kempin is a nominee for Best Save of the CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage. The homegrown goalkeeper reacted quickly to stop Juan Barrera's 81st-minute volley in a 1-1 road draw at Estadio Independencia on Aug. 19. The save was one of two for Kempin in his Champions League debut. The 21-year-old Leawood, Kansas native has featured five times in all competitions for Sporting KC this year, including four starts in MLS play.

Fans can vote for Kempin's save on CONCACAF's official Facebook page and must "like" the page to be eligible to vote.

SPORTING KC ACADEMY TEAMS BEGIN 2014-15 SEASONS

The Sporting KC Academy U12, U14, U16 and U18 squads kicked off the 2014-15 campaign this weekend as the Colorado Rapids Academy teams visited Swope Soccer Village on Saturday and Sunday.

The U16s and U18s each began a 24-game schedule that will see them face several top teams in the region. The U14s will play 10 games in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy along with matches in the U.S. Youth Soccer National League, Midwest Regional League and MRL Pro Youth Division. In addition, the U14s and U16s will each participate in the Generation adidas Cup.

CONCACAF WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP COMING TO SPORTING PARK

The group stage draw for the eight-team 2014 CONCACAF Women's Championship has been announced, with the first round of group stage matches kicking off at Sporting Park on Oct. 15 and 16.

The No. 1 ranked U.S. Women's National Team will face Trinidad and Tobago at 7:30 p.m. CT on Oct. 15. All eight nations, including regional rival Mexico, will begin their World Cup qualifying campaigns at Sporting Park during doubleheaders on consecutive days.

Series tickets to see all four games at Sporting Park are on sale until 11:59 p.m. CT tonight via Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Beginning tomorrow at 10 a.m. CT, single-day tickets for each match-day doubleheader will go on sale at ussoccer.com or by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

The top three teams from the tournament will directly qualify for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada next summer, while the fourth place finisher will advance to a playoff.

2014 CONCACAF Women's Championship matches at Sporting Park:

- Game 1: Guatemala vs. Haiti - Oct. 15 (5 p.m. CT, Fox Sports 2)

- Game 2: USA vs. Trinidad and Tobago - Oct. 15 (7:30 p.m. CT, Fox Sports 2)

- Game 3: Jamaica vs. Martinique - Oct. 16 (5 p.m. CT, Fox Sports 2)

- Game 4: Costa Rica vs. Mexico - Oct. 16 (7:30 p.m. CT, Fox Sports 2)

SPORTING KC NOMINATED IN TWO ONLINE POLLS

Fans can show their support for Sporting KC by voting in a pair of polls before Friday. Sporting KC is nominated for "Favorite Sports Family Experience" in KC Parent's annual Family Faves Contest and "Favorite Professional Sports Team" in Visit KC's 2014 Visitors' Choice Awards. Visit KC also made Sporting Park a finalist for "Favorite Fan Experience," while Matt Besler is a candidate for "Favorite Local Athlete" in the online survey.

SAPONG TO APPEAR AT SUBWAY ON MONDAY IN OVERLAND PARK

Subway and Sporting KC have continued their partnership in September with player appearances at various Subway locations in Kansas City and surrounding areas. The final player appearance is this Monday, Sept. 29 in Overland Park, Kansas (8340 W. 151st Street). C.J. Sapong will be at the restaurant from 5-6:30 p.m. CT to meet fans and sign autographs. The first 100 fans at the event will receive a free t-shirt.

PARK UNIVERSITY PRESENTS SPORTING KC'S "SALUTE TO TROOPS"

Sporting KC and Park University are partnering to honor those who serve their community and country as part of the club's season-long "Salute to Troops" armed forces military appreciation platform.

The partnership strives to raise awareness and appreciation for current and retired U.S. military members in the Kansas City area. The program provides game tickets in Sporting Park's "Zone of Courage" section and VIP experiences for the game's honoree and his/her family. In addition, those recognized will be featured on the Salute to Troops homepage at SportingKC.com.

SPORTING CLUB RELEASES NEW CLOTHING LINE

Sporting Club has released its new fashion line for the defending MLS champions, offering fans an extensive selection of new clothing and merchandise. The Sporting Club brand is available for purchase on Sporting Style's website and at Sporting KC's remaining five home games while supplies last.

JOSTENS RELEASES SPORTING KC FAN COLLECTION

Jostens, the leading national custom jewelry designer and producer, has unveiled a fan collection to celebrate Sporting KC's 2013 MLS Cup championship. Items available in the collection include fan rings (men's and women's), championship fan paperweights, fan pendants, key rings and championship posters. All can be purchased online at Jostens.com/sportingkc.

Founded in 1897, Jostens has produced championship rings for professional sports teams and athletes for more than 60 years. In addition to creating Sporting KC's 2000 and 2013 MLS Cup championship rings, Jostens has worked with other Kansas City-area professional sports organizations including the Kansas City Chiefs for their NFL Super Bowl IV Championship rings.

TICKETS ON SALE FOR NCAA D-II FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Tickets are on sale to the general public for the NCAA Division II Football Championship to be played at Sporting Park on Dec. 20. Hosted by the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Associations and the Kansas City Sports Commission, the championship game will be held inside the state-of-the-art stadium for the next four years. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.com while supplies last.

FOLLOW SPORTING KC ONLINE

Sporting KC fans looking to keep up with the club online now have a place to go. The Social Media page on SportingKC.com features Twitter account information for the club, its players and several staff members. Fans may also take advantage of the Media Recap page for all the latest independent news coverage.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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