Preview: Sporting KC Hosts Seattle on Sunday
September 30, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Sporting Kansas City News Release
Sporting Kansas City will take the field at Children’s Mercy Park for the final time in 2022 when the team hosts the Seattle Sounders on Sunday in the club’s annual Fan Appreciation match. Kick off is set for 4:25 p.m. CT and tickets for the match are available online without fees at SeatGeek.com, including recently released Standing Room Only tickets for $22.
The Western Conference clash will be nationally televised on FS1 and will be live streamed on FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports App. Radio coverage will air live on SiriusXM FC, ESPN Kansas City 94.5 FM and La Grande 1340 AM, including the Final Whistle postgame show on ESPN 94.5 FM with hosts Chad Reynolds, Aly Trost and Dave Borchardt.
SOUNDBYTES: Today’s press conference remarks from Manager Peter Vermes and midfielder Erik Thommy are available to download on Imagen.
SKC MEDIA RSVP & CREDENTIAL APP: The deadline for media to RSVP or request a single-game credential to cover Sunday’s match is 4 p.m. CT today.
POST-MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE: Approximately 15 minutes after the conclusion of Sunday’s match, Sporting KC will conduct a press conference with Vermes in the Interview Room at Children’s Mercy Park. To join via Zoom, click here.
The first 5,000 fans in attendance on Sunday will receive a Sporting KC key chain courtesy of match sponsor UMKC and Sunday’s home finale will feature several more Fan Appreciation festivities:
Sporting Pay loaded value
Happy Hour: Complimentary $10 for all Sporting Pay users valid at SportingStyle and/or concessions, including mobile ordering on food and beverage items, until 5:10 p.m.
Magic Minutes: Complimentary $5 for all Sporting Pay users valid after SKC’s first goal
Registration Bonus: Complimentary $10 for all new Sporting Pay users (additional $5 registration bonus for Season Ticket Members)
Food, drink and retail specials
$3 Sporting Argyle Amber Ales in the Budweiser Brew House and Shield Club pre-match
50% off Value Menu items at all stands
50% off primary jerseys courtesy of Compass Minerals, 50% off scarves and 25% off select items at SportingStyle
Budweiser Brew House exclusives
Pre-match: Doors open at 2 p.m. and Sporting players will enter through the Budweiser Brew House on arrival to the stadium
Post-match: Manager Peter Vermes and captain Johnny Russell will toast with fans, who can enjoy $3 Sporting Argyle Amber Ales and $3 Blue Hell Lemonades
Hollywood Casino offers (21 and over)
Free shuttle to/from Children’s Mercy Park with service beginning at 2 p.m. and running one hour after the match
Show an SKCvSEA ticket to receive $10 mycash (2-4 p.m. or 6:30-8:30 p.m.), 20% off at Marquee Cafe or Turn 2 Sports Bar & Restaurant (2-4 p.m.) or free nachos in Turn 2 (6:30-8:30 p.m.)
Chiefs vs. Buccaneers watch party at 7:20 p.m. on The Patio with drink specials, CRAVE of KC food truck and yard games
Riding a six-match unbeaten run – the longest in the Western Conference – and a five-match home winning streak, Sporting will take on a Seattle Sounders FC side on Sunday that won the Concacaf Champions League in May however is winless in their last eight MLS road matches (0-7-1) and in a must-win situation to stave off playoff elimination. Two of the most successful clubs in the past decade of American soccer with four major domestic trophies apiece, Sporting has been mathematically eliminated from postseason contention with two matches remaining while Seattle sits five points back of playoff position and on the brink of missing the playoffs for the first time in the club’s 14-year history.
Sporting has won four of the last six meetings with the Sounders dating back to 2019, however Seattle won the most recent matchup by a 3-0 scoreline in June and also prevailed in the team’s last visit to Children’s Mercy Park with a 2-1 win last September. The pair of victories have given Seattle the all-time lead in the regular season series with an 11-9-4 record.
Club captain Johnny Russell has six goals and an assist in eight career regular season appearances against Seattle, with his six goals in the match-up tied for his most versus any MLS opponent. Recently named the team’s MVP for 2022, Russell leads the club’s Golden Boot race with eight regular season goals on the campaign – one ahead of fellow forwards Willy Agada and Daniel Salloi.
Seattle’s roster, which features a pair of former SKC teammates in defender Jimmy Medranda and midfielder Kelyn Rowe (suspended on Sunday), is headlined by a plethora of MLS All-Stars in Nicolas Lodeiro, Jordan Morris, Alex Roldan, Cristian Roldan, Nouhou, Yeimar, Joao Paulo and Raul Ruidiaz. However, Paulo suffered a torn ACL in May and Ruidiaz – the team’s leading scorer with nine goals – was injured this week while on international duty with Peru. Similarly, Sporting remain without Designated Players Alan Pulido and Gadi Kinda due to season-long knee injuries, while veteran goalkeeper Tim Melia (hamstring) has missed the last two months of action and Graham Zusi (quad) is questionable after being sidelined for the past four matches.
Sporting has enjoyed a resurgence since the start of August with the best winning percentage (.750), most goals per match (2.63) and most shutouts (3) of any team in the Western Conference. Historically, Sporting is 14-3-5 all-time in regular season home finales – including a 7-2-2 mark at Children’s Mercy Park – and the club is unbeaten in 11 straight October home matches (9-0-2) dating back to 2015.
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