NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Sporting Kansas City

Tim Melia and Ike Opara Named to MLS Best XI

December 1, 2017 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


Melia, 31, reached MLS career-highs in wins (12), shutouts (10), saves (91), starts (31) and minutes (2,759) in his third season at Sporting KC. Among goalkeepers with at least 15 regular-season appearances, he led MLS with a 0.78 goals against average, 78.4 save percentage and 69.2 percent passing accuracy while ranking second with 10 shutouts.

An eight-year MLS veteran, Melia saved three penalty kicks in 2017 - one shy of the single-season league record - and was nominated for MLS Save of the Year with a remarkable finger-tip save in a 1-0 win at the Portland Timbers on April 15. He posted an additional three shutouts in Open Cup competition, lifting the trophy for the second time in three years. He finished 2017 with a 16-7-12 record in all competitions, notching a 0.72 goals against average and 13 clean sheets.

Opara, 28, anchored a stingy defense that allowed 29 goals during the regular season, eight fewer than any other team. In his fifth season with Sporting KC and his eighth in MLS, Opara set career-highs with 30 starts and 2,700 minutes played while contributing to 11 shutouts. Among MLS defenders, he ranked second in recoveries (193) and seventh in interceptions (69).

Sporting KC boasted a 0.77 goals against average and a 12-6-12 record in the 30 regular-season matches Opara played. He also added three goals, including a stunning bicycle kick in a 2-1 victory at the LA Galaxy on June 24 that was nominated for AT&T MLS Goal of the Year. Additionally, Opara started all five matches in Sporting KC's run to the Open Cup title, scoring two game-winning goals and contributing to three clean sheets. He ended the year with a career-high 36 appearances in all competitions after missing most of 2014 and 2015 with season-ending injuries.

Melia and Opara are the fourth and fifth players on the current Sporting KC roster to receive Best XI honors. Defenders Matt Besler and Graham Zusi were back-to-back selections in 2012 and 2013, while midfielder Benny Feilhaber was a 2015 Best XI selection.

Current MLS players, club technical staffs and media members voted on the 2017 Best XI, resulting in a 3-3-4 formation with one goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders and four forwards.

2017 MLS Best XI Goalkeeper: Tim Melia (Sporting Kansas City) Defenders: Justin Morrow (Toronto FC), Ike Opara (Sporting Kansas City), Kendall Waston (Vancouver Whitecaps FC) Midfielders: Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United), Victor Vazquez (Toronto FC), Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers) Forwards: Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC), Josef Martinez (Atlanta United), Nemanja Nikolic (Chicago Fire), David Villa (New York City FC)

Best XI: Club History

Tim Melia (2017)

Ike Opara (2017)

Benny Feilhaber (2015)

Matt Besler (2012, 2013)

Graham Zusi (2012, 2013)

Aurelien Collin (2012)

Jimmy Nielsen (2012)

Jimmy Conrad (2004, 2005, 2006, 2008)

Jose Burciaga, Jr. (2006)

Kerry Zavagnin (2004)

Preki (1996, 1997, 2003)

Tony Meola (2000)

Peter Vermes (2000)

Mark Chung (1997)

Richard Gough (1997)

Check out the Sporting Kansas City Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Major League Soccer message board...

Major League Soccer Stories from December 1, 2017


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.

Other Recent Sporting Kansas City Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central