2015 Sporting Kansas City season

Sporting Kansas City
2015 season
OwnerSporting Club
Head coachPeter Vermes
StadiumSporting Park
MLSConference: 6th
Overall: 10th
PlayoffsKnockout Stage
U.S. Open CupChampions
Top goalscorerLeague: Dom Dwyer 12
All: Dom Dwyer 17
Highest home attendance21,505
(June 6 vs. Seattle)
Lowest home attendanceLeague: 18,861
(September 18 vs. FC Dallas)
All: 16,117
(Aug 12 vs. Real Salt Lake)
Average home league attendanceLeague: 19,687
All: 19,371
← 2014
2016 →

The 2015 Sporting Kansas City season was the twentieth season of the team's existence in Major League Soccer and the fifth year played under the Sporting Kansas City moniker.

Due to the dissolution of Chivas USA and MLS expansion to New York and Orlando, Sporting Kansas City moved to the Western Conference. Sporting was a member of the Western Conference for its first nine seasons before moving to the Eastern Conference for the previous ten seasons.

Squad

First team roster

As of October 13, 2015.[1]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Squad correct as of October 13, 2015.[1]

No. Pos. Player Nation
2 DF Erik Palmer-Brown (HGP)  United States
3 DF Ike Opara  United States
4 DF Kevin Ellis (HGP)  United States
5 DF Matt Besler (Captain; DP)  United States
6 MF Paulo Nagamura  Brazil
7 DF Chance Myers  United States
8 MF Graham Zusi (DP)  United States
9 FW Krisztián Németh  Hungary
10 MF Benny Feilhaber  United States
11 MF Bernardo Añor  Venezuela
12 MF Mikey Lopez (GA)  United States
13 DF Amadou Dia  United States
14 FW Dom Dwyer  England
15 DF Seth Sinovic  United States
17 DF Saad Abdul-Salaam  United States
20 DF Amobi Okugo  United States
21 GK Jon Kempin (HGP)  United States
22 MF Connor Hallisey  United States
23 DF Jalil Anibaba  United States
27 MF Roger Espinoza  Honduras
29 GK Tim Melia  United States
37 FW Jacob Peterson  United States
71 DF Marcel de Jong  Canada
93 MF Soni Mustivar  Haiti
94 MF Jimmy Medranda  Colombia
96 MF Jordi Quintillà  Spain

Player movement

In

Date Player Position Previous club Fee/notes Ref
December 8, 2014 Venezuela Bernardo Añor MF United States Columbus Crew SC Trade for Allocation Money [2]
December 12, 2014 United States Jalil Anibaba MF United States Orlando City SC Trade in exchange for Aurélien Collin [3]
December 16, 2014 Haiti James Marcelin MF United States Fort Lauderdale Strikers Free transfer [4]
December 18, 2014 Hungary Krisztián Németh FW Netherlands Roda JC Kerkrade Free transfer [5]
December 18, 2014 Chile Luis Marín GK Chile Universidad de Chile Free transfer [5]
December 23, 2014 United States Tim Melia GK United States Chivas USA Free transfer [6]
January 6, 2015 Honduras Roger Espinoza MF England Wigan Athletic Free transfer [7]
January 15, 2015 United States Connor Hallisey MF United States UC Berkeley 2015 MLS SuperDraft [8]
January 15, 2015 United States Saad Abdul-Salaam DF United States University of Akron 2015 MLS SuperDraft [8]
January 27, 2015 United States Servando Carrasco MF United States Houston Dynamo Trade for rights in exchange for draft pick [8]
February 13, 2015 Haiti Soni Mustivar MF Romania FC Petrolul Ploiești Free transfer [8]
February 18, 2015 United States Amadou Dia MF United States Clemson University 2015 MLS SuperDraft [8]
February 24, 2015 Sierra Leone James Ansu Rogers FW United States University of New Mexico 2015 MLS SuperDraft [9]
March 2, 2015 Canada Marcel de Jong DF Germany FC Augsburg Free [9]
July 20, 2015 United States Amobi Okugo DF/MF United States Orlando City SC Trade for Servando Carrasco [9]
August 6, 2015 Spain Jordi Quintillà MF France Ajaccio Transfer [9]

Out

Date Player Position New club Fee/notes Ref
November 25, 2014 Spain Toni Dovale MF Spain Lugo Option declined [10]
November 25, 2014 Ghana Michael Kafari MF Option declined [10]
November 25, 2014 Spain Victor Muñoz MF United States Arizona United SC Option declined [10]
November 25, 2014 Kenya Lawrence Olum MF Malaysia Kedah FA Contract terminated [10]
November 25, 2014 Lebanon Soony Saad FW Thailand BEC Tero Sasana Out of contract [10]
November 25, 2014 United States Christian Duke MF United States Oklahoma City Energy FC Waived [11]
December 8, 2014 France Aurélien Collin DF United States Orlando City SC Trade for Allocation Money and Jalil Anibaba [2]
December 8, 2014 United States C. J. Sapong DF United States Philadelphia Union Trade for 2015 MLS SuperDraft pick [2]
December 10, 2014 United States Sal Zizzo MF United States New York City FC 2014 MLS Expansion Draft [12]
December 12, 2014 United States Eric Kronberg GK Canada Montreal Impact Option declined [10]
December 12, 2014 United States Andy Gruenebaum GK United States San Jose Earthquakes Option declined [10]
January 20, 2015 Argentina Claudio Bieler FW Argentina Quilmes Out of contract [13]
February 24, 2015 Honduras Jorge Claros MF China Qingdao Jonoon Contract terminated [13]
May 27, 2015 Chile Luis Marín GK Chile Palestino Mutually terminated [14]
June 22, 2015 Sierra Leone James Ansu Rogers FW Waived [9]
July 20, 2015 United States Servando Carrasco MF United States Orlando City SC Trade for Amobi Okugo [9]

Loans

In

No. Pos. Player Loaned from Start End Source
40 DF Brazil Igor Julião Brazil Fluminense FC April 4, 2014 December 31, 2014 [9][15]

Out

No. Pos. Player Loaned to Start End Source
21 GK United States Jon Kempin United States San Antonio Scorpions March 20, 2015 May 27, 2015 [9][16][14]
17 DF United States Saad Abdul-Salaam United States San Antonio Scorpions April 1, 2015 May 19, 2015 [9][17][18]

Competitions

Match results

  Win   Tie   Loss

Preseason

Desert Friendlies

January 31, 2015 Portland Timbers 2–0 Sporting Kansas City Tucson, Arizona
19:00 CST Villafaña Yellow card 23'
Fernández 30' (p.k.)
Nanchoff 53'
Report Otero Yellow card 40' Stadium: North Stadium at Kino Sports Complex

Desert Diamond Cup

Kickoff times are in CST (UTC-06) unless shown otherwise

Major League Soccer

Western Conference standings

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
4 Seattle Sounders FC 34 15 13 6 44 36 +8 51 MLS Cup Knockout Round
5 LA Galaxy 34 14 11 9 56 46 +10 51
6 Sporting Kansas City 34 14 11 9 48 45 +3 51
7 San Jose Earthquakes 34 13 13 8 41 39 +2 47
8 Houston Dynamo 34 11 14 9 42 49 −7 42
Source: MLS

League table

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
8 D.C. United 34 15 13 6 43 45 −2 51
9 LA Galaxy 34 14 11 9 56 46 +10 51
10 Sporting Kansas City 34 14 11 9 48 45 +3 51 CONCACAF Champions League
11 New England Revolution 34 14 12 8 48 47 +1 50
12 Toronto FC 34 15 15 4 58 58 0 49
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored

Regular season

Kickoff times are in CDT (UTC-05) unless shown otherwise

March 14, 2015 2 FC Dallas 3–1 Sporting Kansas City Frisco, Texas
19:30 Perez 17 ', 52'
Harris Yellow card 35'
Castillo 73'
Bekker Yellow card 90'
Report Zusi Yellow card 41'
Espinoza 44'
Ellis Yellow card 90'
Stadium: Toyota Stadium
Attendance: 14,149
Referee: Jair Marrufo
April 11, 2015 6 Sporting Kansas City 0–0 Real Salt Lake Kansas City, Kansas
19:30 Carrasco Yellow card 61' Report Beltran Yellow card 44'
Saborio Yellow card 61'
Beckerman Yellow card 64'
Mansally Yellow card 80'
Stadium: Sporting Park
Attendance: 20,087
Referee: Jorge González
April 18, 2015 7 LA Galaxy 2–1 Sporting Kansas City Carson, California
21:30 Husidic 9'
Gargan Yellow card 32'
Juninho Yellow card 83'
Gonzalez 94+'
Report Németh 22'
Espinoza Yellow card 30'
Dwyer Yellow card 83'
Stadium: StubHub Center
Attendance: 20,018
Referee: Alan Kelly
April 25, 2015 8 Houston Dynamo 4–4 Sporting Kansas City Houston, Texas
19:30 Barnes 11 ', 46'
Bruin 46+' Yellow card 63'
Taylor Red card 79'
Rodríguez 83'
Report Németh 2'
Espinoza Yellow card 31'
Anibaba Yellow card 43'
Ellis Yellow card 53'
Dwyer 74'
Feilhaber 80' (pen.), 95+'
Stadium: BBVA Compass Stadium
Attendance: 21,046
Referee: Kevin Stott
May 3, 2015 9 Sporting Kansas City 1–0 Chicago Fire Kansas City, Kansas
16:00 Sinovic Yellow card 38'
Nagamura 75' Yellow card 92+'
Report Adaílton Yellow card 32'
Ritter Yellow card 58'
Accam Red card 89'
Stadium: Sporting Park
Attendance: 19,581
Referee: Jose Carlos Rivero
May 9, 2015 10 D.C. United 1–1 Sporting Kansas City Washington, D.C.
18:00 Arnaud Yellow card 41'
Arrieta 42'
Report Espinoza Yellow card 9'
Dwyer 45'
Marín Yellow card 81'
Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 16,221
Referee: Armando Villarreal
May 20, 2015 11 Sporting Kansas City 4–2 New England Revolution Kansas City, Kansas
19:00 Dwyer 29' Yellow card 37'
Feilhaber Yellow card 30' 43' (pen.)
Németh 39 ', 43'
Dia Yellow card 71'
Mustivar Yellow card 76'
Report Agudelo 11'
Dorman Yellow card 41'
Caldwell 64'
Goncalves Yellow card 89'
Stadium: Sporting Park
Attendance: 18,864
Referee: Allen Chapman
May 29, 2015 13 Sporting Kansas City 4–0 FC Dallas Kansas City, Kansas
20:00 Németh 19'
Feilhaber 51'
Ellis 57'
Zusi 64'
Report Loyd Yellow card 33' Yellow-red card 43' Stadium: Sporting Park
Attendance: 20,172
Referee: Dave Gantar
June 21, 2015 15 Real Salt Lake 2–1 Sporting Kansas City Sandy, Utah
21:00 Morales Yellow card 15'
Jaime 15', Yellow card 51'
Phillips Yellow card 18'
Beckerman Yellow card 47'
García 90+3', Yellow card 90+3'
Report
Report
Mustivar Yellow card 8'
Besler Yellow card 14'
Dwyer 30'
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 19,155
Referee: Drew Fischer
June 27, 2015 16 Sporting Kansas City 2–0 Colorado Rapids Kansas City, Kansas
19:30 Nemeth 32'
Cronin 64' (o.g.)
Dwyer Yellow card 80'
Peterson Yellow card 92'
Report Watts Yellow card 52'
Greenspan Yellow card 61'
Doyle Yellow card 70'
Stadium: Sporting Park
Attendance: 19,835
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
July 24, 2015 19 Real Salt Lake 2–1 Sporting Kansas City Sandy, Utah
22:00 Morales 34'
Plata 73' (pen.) Yellow card 90'
Vásquez Yellow card 90'
Summary Feilhaber 50' Yellow card 90'
Melia Yellow card 72'
Palmer-Brown Yellow card 77'
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 20,809
Referee: Allen Chapman
August 1, 2015 20 Sporting Kansas City 1–1 Houston Dynamo Kansas City, Kansas
19:30 Dwyer 6' Yellow card 45'
Besler Yellow card 20'
Ellis Yellow card 65'
Myers Yellow card 76'
Summary Deric Yellow card 45'
Clark 78'
Torres Yellow card 80'
Sturgis Red card 86'
Stadium: Sporting Park
Attendance: 19,882
Referee: Jorge Gonzalez
August 15, 2015 22 Sporting Kansas City 4–3 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Kansas City, Kansas
20:00 Ellis 53'
Dia Yellow card 61'
Dwyer 81'
Nagamura 87 ', 95' Yellow card 95'
Report Manneh 9 ', 41'
Laba Yellow card 64'
Morales 75'
Stadium: Sporting Park
Attendance: 19,969
Referee: Juan Guzman
August 19, 2015 23 Sporting Kansas City 0–5 San Jose Earthquakes Kansas City, Kansas
19:30 Feilhaber Red card 71'
Nemeth Yellow card 74'
Report Cato 3 ', 58'
Wondolowski 17' (pen.), 61'
Godoy 27'
Stadium: Sporting Park
Attendance: 18,866
Referee: Jair Marrufo
August 22, 2015 24 Columbus Crew SC 3–2 Sporting Kansas City Columbus, Ohio
18:30 Finlay 35'
Tchani 80'
McInerney 88' Yellow card 92+'
Report de Jong 14'
Dwyer Yellow card 33'
Medranda Yellow card 39'
Zusi 62'
Lopez Yellow card 79'
Stadium: MAPFRE Stadium
Attendance: 20,018
Referee: Chris Penso
August 29, 2015 25 Colorado Rapids 2–1 Sporting Kansas City Commerce City, Colorado
20:00 Figueroa 53'
Sjöberg Yellow card 58'
Sarvas Yellow card 72'
Doyle 76'
Report Abdul-Salaam Yellow card 34'
Dwyer 47'
Sinovic Yellow card 60'
Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 16,480
Referee: Jorge Gonzalez
September 9, 2015 26 Portland Timbers 0–0 Sporting Kansas City Portland, Oregon
21:30 Melano Yellow card 46+' Report Nagamura Yellow card 40'
Peterson Yellow card 48+'
Feilhaber Yellow card 68'
Anor Yellow card 94+'
Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 21,144
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
September 13, 2015 27 Orlando City SC 3–1 Sporting Kansas City Orlando, Florida
18:00 Winter 3 ', 72'
Rochez 66'
Shea Yellow card 83'
Report Nemeth 59'
Besler Yellow card 83'
Dwyer Red card 87'
Stadium: Citrus Bowl
Attendance: 22,241
Referee: Jair Marrufo
September 18, 2015 28 Sporting Kansas City 3–1 FC Dallas Kansas City, Kansas
18:00 Feilhaber 65 ', 76' (pen.)
Dwyer 83'
Anor Yellow card 86'
Report Ulloa 80' Stadium: Sporting Park
Attendance: 18,861
Referee: Mark Geiger
September 23, 2015 29 Houston Dynamo 1–0 Sporting Kansas City Houston, Texas
19:30 Garcia Yellow card 45' Yellow-red card 70'
Bruin 67'
Report Mustivar Yellow card 33'
Besler Yellow card 41'
Sinovic Yellow card 56'
Feilhaber Yellow card 88'
Stadium: BBVA Compass Stadium
Attendance: 18,037
Referee: Sorin Stoica
October 3, 2015 31 Portland Timbers 0–1 Sporting Kansas City Portland, Oregon
21:30 Adi Yellow card 70'
Valeri Yellow card 80'
Report Feilhaber Yellow card 74'
Németh 83'
Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 21,144
Referee: Ismail Elfath
October 16, 2015 32 San Jose Earthquakes 1–0 Sporting Kansas City San Jose, California
22:00 Godoy 47' Yellow card 67' Report Okugo Yellow card 69'
Dwyer Yellow card 82'
Stadium: Avaya Stadium
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Kevin Stott
October 21, 2015 33 Sporting Kansas City 0–2 Colorado Rapids Kansas City, Kansas
19:30 Németh Yellow card 78'
Ellis Yellow card 89'
Report Powers 78'
Sarvas 86'
Stadium: Sporting Park
Attendance: 18,897
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
October 25, 2015 34 Sporting Kansas City 2–1 LA Galaxy Kansas City, Kansas
18:00 Dwyer Yellow card 17' 65'
Ellis 38'
Myers Yellow card 58'
Nagamura Yellow card 66'
Feilhaber Yellow card 92+'
Report DeLaGarza Yellow card 24'
Keane 46+'
Stadium: Sporting Park
Attendance: 19,422
Referee: Mark Geiger

MLS Cup Playoffs

Bracket

Source: [19]

Results
Knockout round

U.S. Open Cup

Bracket
Fourth round
June 16–17
Round of 16
June 30–July 1
Quarterfinals
July 14–22
Semifinals
August 12
Final
September 30
               
MLS New York Red Bulls 3
NASL Atlanta Silverbacks 0
MLS New York Red Bulls 4
NASL New York Cosmos 1
NASL New York Cosmos 2(4)
MLS New York City FC 2(3)
MLS New York Red Bulls 1(3)
MLS Philadelphia Union 1(4)
MLS Philadelphia Union 0(3)
USL Rochester Rhinos 0(1)
MLS Philadelphia Union 2
MLS D.C. United 1
USL Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1
MLS D.C. United 3*
MLS Philadelphia Union 1
MLS Chicago Fire 0
MLS Chicago Fire 1*
USL Louisville City FC 0
MLS Chicago Fire 3
USL Charlotte Independence 1
MLS New England Revolution 0
USL Charlotte Independence 1
MLS Chicago Fire 3
MLS Orlando City SC 1
USL Charleston Battery 4(7)
MLS Orlando City SC 4(8)
MLS Orlando City SC 2
MLS Columbus Crew 0
USL Richmond Kickers 1
MLS Columbus Crew 3
MLS Philadelphia Union 1(6)
MLS Sporting Kansas City 1(7)
MLS Sporting Kansas City 1
USL Saint Louis FC 0
MLS Sporting Kansas City 6
MLS FC Dallas 2
MLS FC Dallas 4
USL Oklahoma City Energy FC 1
MLS Sporting Kansas City 3
MLS Houston Dynamo 1
MLS Houston Dynamo 2
USL Austin Aztex 0
MLS Houston Dynamo 1
MLS Colorado Rapids 0
MLS Colorado Rapids 4
USL Colorado Springs Switchbacks 1
MLS Sporting Kansas City 3
MLS Real Salt Lake 1
MLS Real Salt Lake 2
USL Seattle Sounders FC 2 1
MLS Real Salt Lake 2
MLS Portland Timbers 0
MLS Seattle Sounders FC 1
MLS Portland Timbers 3*
MLS Real Salt Lake 1
MLS LA Galaxy 0
MLS San Jose Earthquakes 2(6)
USL Sacramento Republic FC 2(5)
MLS San Jose Earthquakes 0
MLS LA Galaxy 1
MLS LA Galaxy 6
USASA PSA Elite 1
June 16, 2015 Fourth round Sporting Kansas City Kansas 1–0 Missouri Saint Louis FC Kansas City, Kansas
19:30 Zusi 70' SKC Report
MLS Report
Renken Yellow card 87' Stadium: Sporting Park
Attendance: 19,298
(Club USOC Record)
Referee: Baboucarr Jallow
July 1, 2015 Fifth round Sporting Kansas City Kansas 6–2 Texas FC Dallas Kansas City, Kansas
19:30 Dwyer 5', 30', 41' (pen.), 69'
Németh 45+1', 59'
Report Michel Yellow card 15'
Barrios 62'
Zimmerman Yellow card 68'
Acosta 73'
Stadium: Sporting Park
Attendance: 19,113
Referee: Robert Sibiga
July 21, 2015 Quarterfinals Sporting Kansas City Kansas 3–1 Texas Houston Dynamo Kansas City, Kansas
19:30 Mustivar Yellow card 34'
Espinoza Yellow card 68'
Feilhaber 71'
Dwyer 86'
Németh 88'
Report Garrido Red card 30'
Clark Yellow card 57'
Bruin 59'
Davis Yellow card 68'
Miranda Yellow card 75'
Stadium: Sporting Park
Attendance: 17,589
Referee: Ted Unkel

References

  1. ^ a b "Players". SportingKC.com. October 13, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Austin, Kurt. "Sporting KC acquires midfielder Bernardo Añor". SportingKC.com. Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  3. ^ "Sporting Kansas City acquire Jalil Anibaba from Orlando City to complete Aurélien Collin trade". MLSSoccer.com. MLSSoccer. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  4. ^ Austin, Kurt. "Sporting KC signs midfielder James Marcelin". SportingKC.com. Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  5. ^ a b Austin, Kurt. "Sporting KC signs forward Krisztian Nemeth". SportingKC.com. Sporting Kansas City. Archived from the original on September 27, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  6. ^ Austin, Kurt. "Sporting KC signs goalkeeper Tim Melia". SportingKC.com. Sporting Kansas City. Archived from the original on December 23, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  7. ^ Austin, Kurt. "Roger Espinoza returns to Sporting KC". SportingKC.com. Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  8. ^ a b c d e Austin, Kurt. "Sporting KC selects three in first round of 2015 MLS SuperDraft". SportingKC.com. Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i "MLS Transactions 2015". mlssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g "Sporting Kansas City decline options on six players, part ways with Lawrence Olum". MLSSoccer.com. MLSSoccer. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  11. ^ "After a mini-rebuild, Sporting KC begins preparation for new season". KansasCity.com. KanasCityStar.com. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  12. ^ "New York City FC Bolsters Roster in Expansion Draft". NYCFC.com. NYCFC. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  13. ^ a b "Sporting Kansas City agree to part ways with forward Claudio Bieler". MLSSoccer.com. MLSSoccer. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  14. ^ a b Austin, Kurt. "Sporting KC and goalkeeper Luis Marin mutually agree to terminate contract". Sportingkc.com. Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  15. ^ Austin, Kurt. "Sporting KC acquires 19-year-old Igor Julião". SportingKC.com. Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  16. ^ Austin, Kurt. "Sporting KC loans goalkeeper Jon Kempin to the San Antonio Scorpions of NASL". sportingkc.com. Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  17. ^ Austin, Kurt. "Sporting KC agrees to loan Saad Abdul-Salaam". Sportingkc.com. Sporting Kansas City. Archived from the original on May 7, 2015. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  18. ^ Austin, Kurt. "Sporting KC recalls Saad Abdul-Salaam from loan". sportingkc.com. Sporting Kansas City. Archived from the original on May 21, 2015. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  19. ^ "MLS Playoff Bracket". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved October 29, 2015.