Sporting Kansas City Defeats Real Salt Lake 1-0, Moves to 6-0-0 in 2012

Defender Aurelien Collin scored the only goal of the game and Jimmy Nielsen posted his third consecutive shutout as Sporting Kansas City defeated Real Salt Lake 1-0 last night. It was Sporting KC's third consecutive 1-0 victory.The standing-room-only crowd of 19,422 at Livestrong Sporting Park also witnessed the 200th win in franchise history. The all-time record now stands at 200-199-100. This makes Sporting KC the fifth team in MLS with 200 wins, joining the LA Galaxy, Columbus Crew, FC Dallas and DC United.Sporting KC's league-record streak of not allowing a shot on goal ended after a span of 335 minutes. The last shot on goal allowed was Ricardo Villar's 25th-minute goal for FC Dallas on March 25th.To put this streak into perspective, prior to this season, there were only three games in franchise history where Sporting KC had held a team without a shot on goal.Sporting KC's shutout streak remains alive, also at 335 minutes.Real Salt Lake had a streak of their own snapped. Collin's goal ended a shutout streak of 267 minutes. The loss drops RSL to 5-2-0 on the season.The first chance for Sporting KC came in the eighth minute, when defender Seth Sinovic played a long ball ...

Sporting Kansas City vs. Real Salt Lake Is a Matchup of Conference Leaders

On one side, you have the visitors from Utah, Real Salt Lake. Led by manager Jason Kreis, RSL is in first place in the Western Conference with 15 points (of a possible 18).On the other, you have the hosts, Sporting Kansas City. Under the direction of manager Peter Vermes, Sporting KC is in first place in the Eastern Conference with 15 points (of a possible 15).On paper, this looks like it could be an early-season preview of MLS Cup, right?Not according to Vermes, it isn't. When he was asked at the weekly press conference if today's match was a preview of MLS Cup, he told us, "It's just the next game on the schedule."That answer fits in with the way Vermes says the team tries to deal with the season: in 45-minute increments.It seems to be working. Not only has Sporting KC not lost a match this season, they've not lost a half, either. The only game they fell behind in (at home against FC Dallas), the equalizer was struck in first-half stoppage time and the game-winner was put in two minutes from full time.To say Sporting KC's defense has been playing well this season would be an understatement. Team ...

Sporting Kansas City: 5 Keys to Their Fast Start in MLS

With their 1-0 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday, Sporting Kansas City extended their season-opening win streak to five straight matches. It is only the second time in league history a team has won their first five matches. The other? The Los Angeles Galaxy won eight straight to kick off the league's first campaign in 1996.With that number, five, in mind, here are the five keys to Sporting Kansas City's hot start in 2012.Begin Slideshow

Sporting Kansas City Punishes 10-Man New England Revolution with 3-0 Win

KANSAS CITY, KS — Taking advantage of an early red card, Sporting Kansas City dominated the New England Revolution in front of a standing-room-only crowd of 19,777 fans at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park.The first truly dangerous chance for Sporting came in the eighth minute when Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis came about 25 yards out from his net to play a ball and appeared to foul C.J. Sapong. Play was allowed to continue and Roger Espinoza put a looping shot off the post.Two minutes later, Sapong was taken down near the top of the box, but the ensuing free kick was deflected wide for a corner.Defender Stephen McCarthy was sent off in the 14th minute. McCarthy was cited for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity as the last man back when Sapong was on a breakaway. McCarthy was pulling on Sapong's shirt for about 10 yards before referee Silviu Petrescu whistled the foul and reached directly for the red card.The dam was broken in the 28th minute. Seth Sinovic sent a cross into the box that was headed away by Shalrie Joseph. The ball came down to Kei Kamara in the penalty area and he tried putting the ball on target. In the ...

Sporting Kansas City Offseason Acquisitions

As Sporting KC has kicked off their preseason training program, I thought it would be a good idea to take a look at the team's additions to the roster for 2012.A few draft picks here, a couple trades there, mix in a couple free agents with the pieces already in place, and you begin to get a picture of what Sporting KC will look like on Opening Day.Begin Slideshow

MLS Playoff Format: Improved for 2012, Still Not Perfect

It's been a while since Major League Soccer announced their new playoff format, but I wanted to take my time and think about it before I passed my personal judgement on itTo be perfectly honest, MLS has been looking for a better playoff format for a long time. It seems like they change the format every year. This one is better, but not perfect.For comparison purposes, let's look at the 2011 playoff format. The top three teams in each conference qualified for the playoffs, then the next four teams based on points, regardless of conference. The Wild Cards, seeded based on regular season points, would play a single elimination play-in game. The lowest remaining seed would play the Supporters Shield winner. The higher seed would play the other conference champion. The conference semifinals would be two-leg affairs, winner decided on aggregate score, with the winners advancing to single-game conference finals. Those conference winners would then move on to a neutral site MLS Cup.The playoff format for 2012 is a little simpler. The top five teams in each conference will make the playoffs. The fourth- and fifth-place teams will play each other in a single game, winner advancing to the conference ...

Sporting Kansas City: MLS Club Sends 3 Players to USMNT January Camp

Individual accolades continue to pour in for Sporting Kansas City players.On Thursday, Sporting KC announced that three players had been invited to the U.S. Men's National Team training camp next month in preparation for friendlies against Venezuela and Panama.Forward Teal Bunbury, already in camp with the U-23 team preparing for Olympic qualifying, will be joined by forward C.J. Sapong and midfielder Graham Zusi. Bunbury will be the only field player that will participate in both camps.In a press release, Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes said, "January camps are a good introduction for players to work their way into the National Team, so it's a prime opportunity for guys like C.J. Sapong and Graham Zusi, while Teal Bunbury continues to establish himself in the player pool." Sporting KC tied FC Dallas for most selections with three players each. MLS is well-represented on the roster, as only Ricardo Clark and Michael Parkhurst are not playing in the league.Sapong and Zusi will be participating in their first national team camp. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann handed out only three first-time invites to Camp Cupcake, as it's popularly referred to.Not only that, but Sapong and Bunbury account for half of the forwards at ...

MLS: Sporting Kansas City, Omar Bravo Agree to Cruz Azul Move

Sporting Kansas City announced Monday they had agreed to terms to allow striker Omar Bravo to transfer to Cruz Azul for the upcoming 2012 season.Bravo played in the Mexican Primera División for 10 years before signing with Sporting Kansas City in August 2010. In accordance with club and league policy, the terms of the deal were not disclosed.In the press release announcing the move, Sporting Kansas City manager Peter Vermes thanked Bravo for his service to the club.“We want to thank Omar (Bravo) for his time with Sporting Kansas City on and off the field,” Vermes said. “His competitive nature and savviness played a big part in our first season at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. We wish him nothing but success in his new ventures.”This transaction will open up an international rosters spot as well as a Designated Player position for Sporting Kansas City.In the same press release, Bravo did not rule out a return to Kansas City or MLS.“I want to thank Peter (Vermes), the Sporting Kansas City ownership, and MLS for a great opportunity and experience during the memorable 2011 season,” Bravo said. “For personal reasons, I am returning to the Primera División ...

MLS: Sporting Kansas City Acquires Bobby Convey from San Jose

Sporting Kansas City announced today they had acquired Bobby Convey from the San Jose Earthquakes. In exchange, the Earthquakes will receive an international roster spot.Convey, 28, has played for the United States national team, including in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and joins Sporting Kansas City having played in San Jose for the last three years. He was named an MLS All-Star in 2010 and 2011 and has scored 11 goals to go along with 35 assists in 164 MLS matches.In a press release, Sporting Kansas City manager Peter Vermes highlighted why he thought Convey would do well with his new team.“Bobby Convey has been a difference-maker in this League for many years, with experience at the highest levels of soccer,” Vermes said. “His competitiveness and attacking qualities stand out and we feel that he can thrive within the culture created at Sporting Kansas City. We are very excited to welcome Bobby to our club.”A native of Philadelphia, Convey became the youngest player to ever sign with MLS at the age of 16 before the 2000 season. He appeared in 72 matches for DC United before the age of 21, earning not only a starting role ...

MLS: Sporting Kansas City Acquires Paulo Nagamura from Chivas USA

Sporting Kansas City announced today that they have acquired Paulo Nagamura from Chivas USA. In return, the Goats will receive a first-round selection in the 2012 Supplemental Draft.Nagamura has appeared in 99 matches for Chivas USA over the last five years, scoring 11 goals. In return for the 28-year-old Brazilian, Chivas USA will receive the first-round pick in the Supplemental Draft that was originally sent to Sporting KC last week in a trade for midfielder Ryan Smith.Sporting KC retains their natural first-round selection in the Supplemental Draft, as well as the third-round pick in the Supplemental Draft, also acquired in the trade for Smith.“Paulo Nagamura is a player within the League that we have watched and targeted for a few years,” Sporting Kansas City manager Peter Vermes said in a press release. “We are happy that the timing has worked out, where we could acquire him from Chivas USA. His experience and leadership will be a valuable addition to Sporting Kansas City.”In the same release, Nagamura said he was looking forward to next season.“I am very excited to join Sporting Kansas City," Nagamura said. "I watched them the entire year during their run to the ...