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MLS Sporting Kansas City

Preview: Sporting KC Hosts San Jose on Saturday

March 16, 2018 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


Two charter members of Major League Soccer resume their Western Conference rivalry on Saturday when Sporting Kansas City (1-1-0, 3 points) hosts the San Jose Earthquakes (1-0-0, 3 points) at Children's Mercy Park.

The St. Patrick's Day showdown will kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT with three hours of live coverage beginning at 7 p.m. CT on FOX Sports Kansas City, FOX Sports Midwest Plus and FOX Sports GO. Local radio broadcasts will also air live on ESPN 94.5 FM (English) and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM (Spanish), while the Sporting KC Uphoria app will provide live updates and an exclusive offer for free Talenti Gelato at Kansas City area Price Chopper locations.

Ticket's for Saturday's match are available at SeatGeek.com, and the first 10,000 supporters through the stadium gates will receive a free slap koozie courtesy of match sponsor H&R Block. A limited-edition St. Patrick's Day scarf will be for sale at each SportingStyle location, where fans can also take advantage of free kit customization with the purchase of any jersey.

ADVISORY: Prior to kickoff, Sporting KC President Jake Reid will be available to media at 7 p.m. CT in the Children's Mercy Park press box to discuss Kansas City's inclusion in the United Bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Sporting Kansas City jumped into the victory column last Saturday, ousting the Chicago Fire in a 4-3 thriller at Toyota Park. Midfielder Felipe Gutierrez bookended the scoring for the visitors en route to MLS Team of the Week honors, heading home in the ninth minute before bagging an 86th-minute winner to complete the comeback. Winger Johnny Russell had opened his MLS account on the stroke of halftime, but the Fire responded with three unanswered goals in the second half to take a 3-2 lead. Substitute Jimmy Medranda conjured a timely equalizer in the 83rd minute, which set the stage for Gutierrez's heroics on a wonderfully worked team goal involving Russell, Daniel Salloi and Gerso Fernandes.

Last weekend's instant classic marked the first time Sporting KC hit four goals in a regular-season match since August 2015. It also ended a club-record 37-game streak in which Manager Peter Vermes' men had conceded two or fewer goals, a run that began in October 2016. The contest was a stark departure from the overall trend of a 2017 campaign that saw Sporting KC allow the fewest goals in MLS while ranking 18th in scoring offense.

The San Jose Earthquakes are coming off a bye in Week 2, having claimed a 3-2 home win over Minnesota United FC in their season opener. Forward Danny Hoesen spurred the hosts to victory with an impressive brace that ultimately resulted in MLS Player of the Week recognition. Another standout from the comprehensive performance was midfielder Vako Qazaishvili, who assisted both of Hoesen's strikes and added a goal of his own to give the Earthquakes a 2-0 cushion in the first half.

Led by first-year head coach Mikael Stahre, San Jose returned to the MLS Cup Playoffs last fall for the first time since 2012. A Knockout Round exit to Vancouver Whitecaps FC closed the curtains on a year that produced 13 goals and eight assists from evergreen striker Chris Wondolowski. The 35-year-old veteran, who sits second behind Landon Donovan on the all-time MLS goal chart, is the only player in league history to reach double-digit goals in eight straight regular seasons. One of Stahre's most notable offseason acquisitions was attacking threat Magnus Eriksson, a 27-year-old Designated Player who has amassed nearly 100 goals as a professional.

Recent history paints a favorable picture for Sporting KC, who have won 10 of their last 11 regular season home games against San Jose dating back to 2004. Vermes' side posted a 2-1 home win almost exactly a year ago before limiting the Earthquakes to just five shot attempts in a scoreless road draw last June. The clubs met again two months later in the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinals, playing to a 1-1 draw after Hoesen and Diego Rubio traded first-half goals. Sporting KC goalkeeper Tim Melia was the hero in the decisive shootout, saving two penalties to propel his team to the tournament final.

Sporting Kansas City vs. San Jose Earthquakes

Saturday, March 17, 2018 | 7:30 p.m. CT

Children's Mercy Park | Kansas City, Kansas

2018 MLS Regular Season | Game 3 of 34

Broadcast Schedule:

English TV | FOX Sports KC, FOX Sports Midwest Plus

English Radio | ESPN 94.5 FM

Spanish Radio | ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM

Mobile | FOX Sports GO, Sporting KC Uphoria

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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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