Sporting KC Wrap Up Preseason Action On Saturday

Sporting KC will play their final match of the 2015 preseason on Saturday in a friendly rematch against the Seattle Sounders FC.

Sporting KC has spent the last month in Tucson, Arizona training for their 20th season in Major League Soccer. They kicked off their first preseason friendly match against the Portland Timbers on January 31st.

Sporting KC vs Portland Timbers

The preseason didn’t begin the way Sporting KC had hoped as Portland opened the scoring in the 30th minute when Gaston Fernandez converted a penalty kick to give the Timbers the 1-0 advantage. Portland was able to add to their advantage nearly ten minutes after half time. Michael Nanchoff scored an unassisted goal in the 53rd minute to put the Timbers up 2-0. Portland was able to keep the clean sheet and the game finished 2-0 in favor of the Timbers.

Sporting KC vs FC Tucson

Sporting KC was able to recover from their early preseason woes when they faced home town squad FC Tucson at Kino North Stadium.

After both sides finished the first half of the game scoreless, both teams came out firing in the second half. FC Tucson was able to grab a quick lead out of half time when Marquis Brooks finished his chance and put the home side up 1-0. Sporting KC battled back and earned a penalty in the 60th minute. Newly signed forward Krisztian Nemeth converted the penalty which pulled Sporting KC even at 1-1.

FC Tucson never wavered and looked up for the challenge. Derek Boggs was able to score in the 74th minute to give the home side their second lead of the game.

Sporting KC wasted no time answering as Krisztian Nemeth was assisted by James Rogers to draw even at 2-2, and give Nemeth his first brace (two goals) in a Sporting KC uniform.

Nemeth continued his breakout performance as Sporting KC pulled ahead in the 77th minute when Nemeth assisted Jimmy Medranda to go up 3-2, and give Nemeth two goals and an assist for the game.

Sporting KC added an insurance goal to ensure the win in the 90th minute. Rookie Amadou Dia assisted Krisztian Nemeth who scored his third goal of the game and put Sporting KC up 4-2 where the game would finish.

Nemeth made a statement for Sporting KC finishing with three goals and an assist.

Sporting KC vs Colorado Rapids

Sporting KC met Colorado for their third preseason game and it was a tale of two halves.

Colorado was able to open the scoring in the 12th minute with a goal from Gabriel Torres. Colorado added to their lead only five minutes later with a goal from Vicente Sanchez to go up 2-0 in the 17th minute. It looked like the rout was on but Sporting KC was up to the task.

Colorado took the 2-0 lead into half time, but Sporting KC came out firing in the second half. Krisztian Nemeth scored in the 77th minute to pull one back for Sporting KC. Bernardo Anor was then able to even the score a minute later, and the game would finish at 2-2.

Nemeth’s goal pulled his preseason total to four goals and an assist in three games played.

Sporting KC vs Seattle Sounders

Sporting KC met up with the Seattle Sounders for a contest between what is seen as two of the better teams in MLS.

Graham Zusi opened the scoring for Sporting KC when Benny Feilhaber found him streaking down the right flank with a long ball over the top. Zusi was able to catch up to the ball and calmly beat the keeper with a finish to the far post to go up 1-0 in the 34th minute.

Krisztian Nemeth was once again able to find his way on to the score sheet when he was able to finish a ball that was assisted by Bernardo Anor, and put Sporting KC up 2-0 in the 39th minute. James Rogers added to the lead late in the second half when he dribbled between two Seattle defenders and beat the keeper with a powerful shot. Sporting KC looked like they had the win in the bag with a 3-0 advantage in the 73rd minute.

Seattle never gave up and was able to break the clean sheet when Victor Mansaray was able to score just a minute late in the 74th minute which brought Seattle back into the game.

Seattle pulled with one in the 81st minute when Kenny Cooper caught up with a ball and slotted the ball into the net, which left Seattle down only a goal with just under ten minutes left.

Sporting KC was able to hold for the remainder of the game and earned a hard fought 3-2 victory against a very tough Seattle squad.

Sporting KC vs Real Salt Lake

Sporting KC most recent game came against Real Salt Lake who is a bitter rival, and the teams have a lot of history between each other. Sporting KC did defeat Real Salt Lake in the 2013 MLS Cup Championship.

Emery Welshman opened the scoring for Real Salt Lake to go up 1-0 in the 12th minute. Real Salt Lake added to their lead in the 47th minute with a goal from Devon Sandoval.