Sporting KC Hosts San Jose on Saturday
March 15, 2024 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
Sporting Kansas City returns home to Children's Mercy Park to host the San Jose Earthquakes at 7:30 p.m. CT on Saturday in a rematch of last year's Western Conference Wild Card clash.
Tickets are available online at SeatGeek, including the Coca-Cola Friends & Family 4-Pack, Wild West 5-Pack and Sporting U Pass. Fans can pre-order the club's St. Patrick's Day Argyle Scarf and Lyle the Argyle T-Shirt at SportingStyle.com for matchday pick-up on Saturday. Ticket holders can also take advantage of $2 off value menu items at stadium concessions including hot dogs, nachos, pretzels and popcorn.
Saturday's showdown features two teams aiming for their first win of the young campaign as Sporting has opened the regular season with three straight draws -- and remains the only Western Conference club yet to trail this season -- while San Jose has stumbled out of the gates with three consecutive defeats, including back-to-back home losses in the past two weeks.
Sporting KC earned a road result at Los Angeles FC last weekend with a scoreless draw as goalkeeper Tim Melia recorded six saves in the shutout. Sporting's defense has conceded just two goals in three matches so far in 2024 and the club has kept clean sheets in three straight home matches against San Jose.
In 2023, Sporting earned a 3-0 home win over San Jose in the regular season -- courtesy of goals from Daniel Salloi, Johnny Russell and Erik Thommy as well as a late penalty save from Melia -- then ousted the Earthquakes from the postseason on penalty kicks in the Western Conference Wild Card round at Children's Mercy Park. Melia produced a save in the shootout, turning away Cristian Espinoza's attempt in the first round of penalties, and SKC improved to 16-1-4 at home versus San Jose across all competitions dating back to 2004.
San Jose's road struggles extend beyond Kansas City as the Earthquakes are winless in their last 25 matches outside of the Pacific Time Zone (0-15-10) since the start of 2022. Head coach Luchi Gonzalez will also be seeking to snap a nine-game winless run that dates back to last season and, in the longer term, a streak of 10 straight non-winning seasons for the club since 2014.
The Earthquakes are captained by 26-year-old American Jackson Yueill who plays alongside Ecuador international Carlos Gruezo in central midfield. San Jose's roster is headlined by MLS All-Star Cristian Espinoza, who recorded 13 goals and 13 assists last season while leading MLS in chances created. The Argentine holds the team's all-time assist record and is joined in the attack by striker Jeremy Ebobisse, who has started each of the club's last 72 regular season matches dating back to 2021.
Sporting's club captain, Johnny Russell, is set to play his 200th match for the team across all competitions, The Scottish winger is one of two MLS players to score six goals in each of the past six seasons and he will become one of three MLS players all-time to make 200 appearances for multiple teams.
Player Name Appearances Appearances
Johnny Russell 199 at SKC 203 at Derby
Diego Valeri 309 at POR 200 at Lanus
Bobby Boswell 238 at HOU 208 at DC
All 14 MLS matches this weekend will stream free on Apple TV with MLS Season Pass and SKCvSJ will also air locally on Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Grande 1340 AM. Pub partners in the Sporting Pub Network will show all of the action on Saturday, including a watch party at No Other Pub in the Kansas City Power and Light District. Food and drink specials will start at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, including $4 domestics, $5 wells and 50% off nachos.
Sporting Kansas City vs. San Jose Earthquakes
2024 MLS Regular Season | Match 4
Saturday, March 16 | 7:30 p.m. CT (7:40 kickoff)
Children's Mercy Park | Kansas City, Kansas
Broadcast Schedule:
Apple TV | Free on MLS Season Pass
English Radio | Sports Radio 810 WHB
Spanish Radio | La Grande 1340 AM
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