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Sporting KC: Four reasons for SKC fans to be thankful in 2020

By Nathan Dunn

Nov 22, 2020; Kansas City, Kansas, USA; Sporting Kansas City forward Erik Hurtado (19) celebrates with teammates after defeating the San Jose Earthquakes in penalty kicks at Children's Mercy Park. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2020; Kansas City, Kansas, USA; Sporting Kansas City forward Erik Hurtado (19) celebrates with teammates after defeating the San Jose Earthquakes in penalty kicks at Children's Mercy Park. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sporting KC: Four reasons for SKC fans to be thankful in 2020
Tim Melia, Sporting Kansas City (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

Tim Melia

Tim Melia may very well be the best goalkeeper of all time when it comes to stopping penalty kicks. With two penalty kick wins in 2020, including the most recent one against the San Jose Earthquakes, that statement has only been further certified.

Following the footsteps of Tony Meola and Jimmy Nielsen, a case can be made that Melia is better than both of them. If Melia manages to win an MLS Cup, then that would certainly confirm his GOAT status when it comes to the greatest of all time from the SKC keepers.

With an extraordinary PK shootout record of 6-0 and great shot-stopping abilities, it is safe to say that Sporting KC has a gem in Tim Melia. Not just that, but his background story is that of a fairytale considering his years of being a backup keeper until his breakout season in 2015.

SKC fans should be thankful that Tim Melia is their goalkeeper because he is the greatest asset that any team can have in a penalty shootout as well as being a tremendous goalkeeper in general. Without Tim Melia, the U.S. Open Cups in 2015 and 2017 might have turned out differently and you might have been reading this thinking about the 2021 season.

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