Sporting to Host Minnesota on December 2 in Conference Semifinals
November 25, 2020 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
Major League Soccer announced today the schedule for the conference semifinal round of the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs, which will feature a showdown between regional rivals Sporting Kansas City and Minnesota United FC on Wednesday, Dec. 2, at Children's Mercy Park.
The highly anticipated Western Conference Semifinal is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT with national coverage on FS1, FOX Deportes and the FOX Sports app. A very limited number of tickets for the match are available at SeatGeek.com with stadium capacity reduced to 18% and comprehensive health and safety protocols in place at Children's Mercy Park.
Following the Round One elimination of No. 1 seed Philadelphia Union and No. 2 seed Toronto FC in the Eastern Conference, Sporting Kansas now holds homefield advantage in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs through the 2020 MLS Cup as the top seed in the West.
The winner between Sporting and Minnesota will advance to face No. 2 seed Seattle Sounders FC or No. 6 seed FC Dallas in the Western Conference Final on Sunday, Dec. 6. If Sporting reaches the Conference Final, Season Ticket Members will have access to an exclusive 24-hour ticket presale for the game beginning at 10 a.m. CT on Dec. 3. Remaining tickets will then go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. CT on Dec. 4 via SeatGeek.com.
Sporting Kansas City and No. 4 seed Minnesota United FC will enter their conference semifinal matchup on the heels of momentous victories in Round One. Sporting prevailed 3-0 on penalties after battling the San Jose Earthquakes to a wild 3-3 draw on Sunday afternoon, while Minnesota collected their first-ever playoff win later that evening with a 3-0 home result against the Colorado Rapids.
Next Wednesday's win-or-go-home encounter will mark the first time Sporting and Minnesota have met in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. The Midwestern rivals have squared off 13 times across all competitions since Minnesota joined MLS in 2017, with Sporting owning a 7-4-2 record overall and a perfect 6-0-0 mark at home. The Loons have been outscored 15-1 in their six previous visits to Children's Mercy Park.
Sporting ended the 2020 regular season by going 6-1-1 down the stretch, claiming their fourth first-place conference finish since 2011, before ousting San Jose in Round One. Meanwhile, Minnesota boasts a league-best nine-game active unbeaten run after going 4-0-4 in their last eight regular season games and defeating Colorado in their Round One contest. The Loons haven't lost since Sept. 23.
The Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs will conclude with the league's 25th championship game on Saturday, Dec. 12, as the Eastern and Western Conference champions meet in the 2020 MLS Cup.
Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs: Conference Semifinal Schedule
Sunday, Nov. 29: (4) Orlando City SC vs. (8) New England Revolution
2 p.m. CT | ABC, ESPN Deportes, ESPN app
Sunday, Nov. 29: (3) Columbus Crew SC vs. (7) Nashville SC
7 p.m. CT | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN app
Tuesday, Dec. 1: (2) Seattle Sounders FC vs. (6) FC Dallas
8:30 p.m. CT | FS1, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports App
Wednesday, Dec. 2: (1) Sporting Kansas City vs. (4) Minnesota United FC
8 p.m. CT | FS1, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports App
Major League Soccer Stories from November 25, 2020
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- FC Dallas Completes Transfer of Pablo Aranguiz to Universidad de Chile - FC Dallas
- Sporting KC Weekly - Sporting Kansas City
- Playoff Update: the Conference Semifinals - Orlando City SC
- Orlando City SC Eastern Conference Semifinal Matchup vs. New England Officially Sold Out - Orlando City SC
- In 2020, the Colorado Rapids Took Steps Toward Future Success - Colorado Rapids
- Loons Head to Sporting Kansas City December 2 for Conference Semifinals - Minnesota United FC
- Sporting to Host Minnesota on December 2 in Conference Semifinals - Sporting Kansas City
- D.C. United Sign Academy Product Jacob Greene as 15th Homegrown Player in Club History - D.C. United
- Matchups and Broadcast Schedule Set for Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs Conference Semifinals - MLS
- Sounders FC Advances Past LAFC with 3-1 Victory in Audi MLS Cup Playoffs - Seattle Sounders FC
- LAFC Falls to the Seattle Sounders FC 3-1 in First Round of Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs - Los Angeles FC
- FC Dallas Will Face Seattle Sounders in Western Conference Semifinals - FC Dallas
- Nashville SC Advances to the Eastern Conference Semifinals in Audi MLS Cup Playoffs with Goal from Daniel Rios - Nashville SC
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