Sporting KC: Jon Kempin Could Feature For USMNT
Sporting KC Goalkeeper Jon Kempin was called up to the United States Men’s National Senior Team for the first time in his career. He joined the US for their 2015 spring training, but did not play in their first international friendly against Chile.
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The US senior team will be playing their first home game of their 2015 campaign on Sunday against Panama at the Stub Hub Center in Carson, California.
There is a very good chance that US head coach Jurgen Klinsmann selects Jon Kempin to play at some point against Panama. Whether it be a start or as a substitution, the young goalkeeper should set a new milestone in his young career for his first senior team appearance.
It would be nice to see Kempin in goal, and fellow Sporting KC teammate, Defender Matt Besler in front of him on the back line.
Kempin is no stranger to pressure, and has always excelled when given an opportunity. He made his first appearance for Sporting KC in Major League Soccer play in 2014 against the Vancouver Whitecaps that resulted in a 2-0 defeat, but he was able to save a penalty in the 84th minute, and is the fifth youngest goalkeeper to save a penalty, and also the fifth goalkeeper to save a penalty in his debut. He earned MLS save of the week honors for his penalty save.
The 21-year-old goalkeeper stepped in for injured goalkeepers Andy Gruenebaum and Eric Kronberg, and earned his first MLS start in a 4-1 victory over Toronto FC. He earned another save of the week honor for a big save against Toronto.
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Kempin made three starts, and four total appearances in 2014 for Sporting KC.
The Overland Park, Kansas native featured in the first ever MLS Chipotle Homegrown game, playing the entire 45 minutes of the second half to preserve the shutout, and a 0-0 draw against the Portland Timbers Under-23 team.
Kempin is the perfect example of the quality of talent Sporting KC can produce, and why the academy system is so important. Sporting KC has one of the best academy systems in the league. Seven Sporting KC academy products just signed their letters of intent to division one colleges across the country.
Sporting KC has also proven that their homegrown talent can be brought up to play at a high level. Kempin was the first ever homegrown signing for Sporting KC, and it looks as though they may have struck gold with him.