Game Notes: Sporting KC at Cruz Azul (CCL)

2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinals (Leg 2) | Wednesday, March 19, 2014 - 9:00 p.m. CT

GAME NOTES

Sporting Kansas City vs Cruz Azul Estadio Azul Mexico City FOX Sports 2 | Galavision FOX Soccer 2 Go

SPORTING KANSAS CITY ACTIVE ROSTER

No. Name.

Pos 1 Eric Kronberg GK 2 Erik Palmer-Brown DEF 3 Ike Opara DEF 4 Kevin Ellis DEF 5 Matt Besler

DEF 6 Paulo Nagamura MID 7 Chance Myers DEF 8 Graham Zusi MID

9 Antonio Dovale MID

10 Benny Feilhaber MID 11 Sal Zizzo FWD 12 Mikey Lopez* MID 13 Lawrence Olum DEF 14 Dom Dwyer FWD 15 Seth Sinovic DEF 16 Claudio Bieler FWD 17 C.J. Sapong FWD 19 Peterson Joseph MID 20 Oriol Rosell MID 21 Jon Kempin* GK 22 Soony Saad FWD 23 Alex Martinez MID 24 Mechack Jerome DEF 25 Christian Duke* MF 30 Andy Gruenebaum GK 31 Josh Gardner DEF 37 Jacob Peterson FWD 78 Aurelien Collin DEF 94 Jimmy Medranda MF *Currently on loan with USL PRO affiliates

SPORTING KC IN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

Pronunciation krawn-berg

oh-PAR-ah BEEZ-ler pow-lo na-ga-MOO-ra

2009 North American Superliga 3-1 L vs Club Santos Laguna (MEX) in Group Stage 1-1 T at New England Revolution (USA) in Group Stage 0-0 T vs. FC Atlas AC (MEX) in Group Stage

ZOO-see doh-VAH-lay FAIL-hob-ber ZEE-zoh

2005 CONCACAF Champions’ Cup 2-1 L at Deportivo Saprissa (CRI) in Quarterfinals 0-0 T vs. Deportivo Saprissa (CRI) in Quarterfinals

OH-lumm sin-OH-vick bee-AY-lurr sah-PONG

2002 CONCACAF Champions’ Cup 1-1 T vs CD Monarcas Morelia (MEX) in Semifinals 6-1 L at CD Monarcas Morelia (MEX) in Semifinals 2-0 W vs Club Santos Laguna (MEX) in Quarterfinals 2-1 L at Club Santos Laguna (MEX) in Quarterfinals 2-0 W vs W. Connection (TTO) in Round of 16 1-0 W at W. Connection (TTO) in Round of 16

ew-REE-all rohz-EL soo-NEE sod

ME-shack

2001 Copa Merconorte 1-0 L vs Club Santos Laguna (MEX) in Group Stage 1-1 T vs. Barcelona SC (ECU) in Group Stage 2-1 L at Club Sporting Cristal SAC (PER) in Group Stage 3-2 W at Barcelona SC (ECU) in Group Stage 4-2 L at Club Santos Laguna (MEX) in Group Stage 2-1 L vs Club Sporting Cristal SAC (PER) in Group Stage

GREEN-uh-BOHM au-REEL-ee-en muh-DRAHN-dah

SPORTING KC ALL-TIME INTERNATIONAL MATCHES GOALS AGAINST GOALS PLAYER GP 1. Chris Brown 11 2. Roy Lassiter 8 3. Soony Saad 3 3. Onandi Lowe 3 5. Claudio Lopez 3 5. Jose Burciaga 5 5. Dario Fabbro 2 5. Carey Talley 4 5. Gary Glasgow 9 5. Mike Burns 11 5. Preki 5 5. Francisco Gomez 12 5. Matt McKeon 12 5. Ike Opara 3 5. Dom Dwyer 4 5. Jacob Peterson 3 5. Kevin Ellis 1

GAMES PLAYED

G 4 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

PLAYER GP 1. Kerry Zavagnin 14 2. Nick Garcia 12 2. Francisco Gomez 12 2. Matt McKeon 12 5. Chris Brown 11 5. Mike Burns 11 7. Tony Meola 10 8. Three players tied...

9

PLAYER 1. Tony Meola 2. Bo Oshoniyi 3. Kevin Hartman 4. Eric Kronberg

GP 10 4 3 5

GA 15 8 4 1

SHUTOUTS PLAYER 1. Eric Kronberg 2. Tony Meola 3. Kevin Hartman 3. Bo Oshoniyi

GP 5 10 3 4

2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League Aug. 7: 2-0 W at Real Esteli FC (NIC) at Estadio Independencia Aug. 27: 2-0 W at CD Olimpia (HON) at Estadio Nacional Sept. 17: 1-1 T vs Real Esteli FC (NIC) at Sporting Park Oct. 23: 0-0 T vs CD Olimpia (HON) at Sporting Park March 12: 1-0 W vs Cruz Azul (MEX) at Sporting Park March 19: at Cruz Azul (MEX) at Estadio Azul

SO 4 3 1 1

GAMES STARTED PLAYER GS 1. Kerry Zavagnin 13 2. Nick Garcia 12 3. Matt McKeon 11 3. Mike Burns 11 5. Tony Meola 10 6. Chris Brown 9 6. Chris Klein 9 8. Peter Vermes 8 9. Francisco Gomez 7 10. Matt Besler 6 10. Diego Gutierrez 6

GAMES PLAYED AND GAMES STARTED (ALPHABETICAL) FIRST LAST GP Stephen Armstrong 4 Davy Arnaud 6 Matt Besler 6 Claudio Bieler 3 Chris Brown 11 Chris Brunt 2 Teal Bunbury 2 Jose Burciaga 5 Mike Burns 11 Aurelien Collin 3 Jimmy Conrad 4 Dom Dwyer 5 Kevin Ellis 1 Roger Espinoza 2 Dario Fabbro 2 Benny Feilhaber 4 Nick Garcia 12 Josh Gardner 2 Gary Glasgow 9 Francisco Gomez 12 Herculez Gomez 3 Michael Green 1 Andrew Gregor 5 Diego Gutierrez 6 Michael Harrington 3 Kevin Hartman 3 Santiago Hirsig 3 Aaron Hohlbein 3 Tahj Jakins 2 Mechack Jerome 2 Jack Jewsbury 5 Mo Johnston 2 Peterson Joseph 3 Chris Klein 9 Michael Kraus 2 Eric Kronberg 5

GS 3 4 6 3 9 0 1 4 11 3 4 1 1 1 2 4 12 1 5 7 2 1 4 6 1 3 3 3 2 2 3 1 1 9 0 5

FIRST LAST GP Roy Lassiter 8 Jonathan Leathers 2 Claudio Lopez 3 Onandi Lowe 3 Rauwshan McKenzie 2 Matt McKeon 12 Tony Meola 10 Kurt Morsink 1 Chance Myers 1 Paulo Nagamura 2 Lawrence Olum 2 Ike Opara 4 Bo Oshoniyi 4 Jacob Peterson 4 Preki 5 Brandon Prideaux 3 Eric Quill 4 Oriol Rosell 5 Soony Saad 3 Mark Santel 4 C.J. Sapong 5 Igor Simutenkov 1 Seth Sinovic 5 Khari Stephenson 2 Carey Talley 4 Abe Thompson 2 Peter Vermes 9 Sasha Victorine 2 Diego Walsh 2 Lance Watson 2 Josh Wolff 5 Kerry Zavagnin 14 Sal Zizzo 1 Alex Zotinca 2 Graham Zusi 4

GS 4 1 2 3 1 11 10 0 1 2 2 4 4 2 4 1 4 5 3 2 1 1 5 1 3 1 8 2 0 2 5 13 1 1 4

KERRY ZAVAGNIN CONTINUES INTERNATIONAL STREAK

CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PRIMER

Sporting KC assistant coach Kerry Zavagnin has either played (14) or served on the technical staff (8) for every competitive international match in club history.

His 14 appearances in competitive international matches from 2000-2008 are the most by a KC player all-time. He became an assistant coach beginning with the 2009 season and is currently in his 15th consecutive season with the club.

The CONCACAF Champions League is the Confederation’s annual club championship. It was inaugurated in 2008-2009, replacing the Champions Cup, which had decided the region’s best team since 1962. The competition sees the top 24 club teams from across North America, Central America and the Caribbean playing for a berth in the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup. Sporting KC qualified as 2012 U.S. Open Cup champions and will also participate in the 2014-15 tournament.

FOUR ON SPORTING KC WITH PRIOR CCL EXPERIENCE Four Sporting Kansas City players have previously participated in the CONCACAF Champions League while with other Major League Soccer clubs.

Josh Gardner (LA Galaxy 2006, Columbus Crew 2010-11), Andy Gruenebaum (Columbus Crew 2010-11), Jacob Peterson (Toronto FC 2010-11) and Paulo Nagamura (Chivas USA 2008-09) each bring experience in the tournament to Sporting Kansas City’s 2013-14 quest for the continental crown.

HOMETOWN HERO ADDS INTERNATIONAL PEDIGREE Sporting KC captain Matt Besler is the only player on the team’s roster to have played in a competitive international match for the club prior to the 2013-14 CCL tournament. Besler started all three games in the 2009 North American Superliga as KC went 0-1-2 in the group stage, including a shutout of Mexico’s Atlas.

AGGREGATE SCORING & TIEBREAKERS The team with the most goals scored over both legs in the quarterfinal series will advance to the semifinals to play Club Tijuana (MEX), who prevailed 4-3 on aggregate over the LA Galaxy.

In the event the aggregate score is tied at the end of regulation in Leg 2, the following tie-breaker criteria will be applied, in order, to determine a winning team: • Greater aggregate number of away goals scored in regulation time in the two matches (excluding any goals scored in overtime) • Greater number of goals scored in the overtime periods (two periods of 15 minutes each) at the end of the second match • Kicks from the penalty spot procedure (as per FIFA Laws of the Game)

With Besler anchoring the defense, Sporting KC allowed only 1 goal in the 201314 CCL group stage, tied with Alajuelense (CRC) for the fewest of all 24 teams.

INTERNATIONAL INTRODUCTION: VERMES AS MANAGER Manager Peter Vermes leads Sporting Kansas City in the club’s first international competition since taking the helm of the club in 2009. Vermes is unbeaten as the Sporting KC manager against international opponents; highlighted by the team’s historic 2-1 win over Manchester United in 2010 and also including draws against Newcastle United (0-0), CD Guadalajara (2-2) and Stoke City (1-1).

As a player, Vermes appeared in nine competitive international matches while with the club from 2000-2002 and helped the team reach the semifinals of the 2002 Champions’ Cup, the club’s best-ever showing on the international stage.

LEG TWO REFEREE ASSIGNMENTS In accordance with CONCACAF Champions League regulations, “The referee, assistant referees and fourth official chosen for each game shall be from a country whose club is not included in the game in question” and “the match officials shall be selected from the current FIFA International lists.”

Referee: Walter Lopez (GUA) Assistant Referee 1: Ronaldo de la Cruz (GUA) Assistant Referee 2: Juan Carlos Guerra (GUA) 4th Official: Marlon Mejia (SLV) López, 33, has twice featured in national team matches held at Sporting Park, including the first ever international match held in the venue between Panama and Canada during the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup group stage. Most recently, he officiated the 2012 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament final between Mexico and Honduras in April 2012.

Amongst the top referees in the region, López is one of eight “support duos” appointed for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He officiated at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup and was in charge of the most anticipated FIFA World Cup qualifying match in CONCACAF: USA-Mexico at Estadio Azteca last March.

In CONCACAF Champions League competition, López’s lone fixture in the 2013-14 group stage came in October and involved Cruz Azul. The Liga MX side played away at C.S. Herediano (CRC) and booked their berth in the quarterfinal round with a 2-1 victory.

This marks the fifth straight year López has been selected to referee the CCL quarterfinal round. The streak began in the 2009-10 edition of the tournament with Cruz Azul’s away leg at Club Deportivo Árabe Unido (PAN) en route to La Máquina reaching the CCL final.

LÓPEZ IN CCL QUARTERS 2010: Árabe Unido (PAN) 0, Cruz Azul (MEX) 1 2011: Saprissa (CRC) 1, Olimpia (HON) 0 2012: Isidro Metapán (SLV) 2, UNAM (MEX) 1 2013: LA Galaxy (USA) 4, Herediano (CRC) 1 López is joined on the crew by Ronaldo De La Cruz (FIFA International since 2008) and Juan Carlos Guerra (FIFA International since 2007). Together, the three referees are amongst the 12 FIFA International referees from Guatemala.

UNBEATEN GROUP WINNERS GROUP 2 - Sporting KC advances TEAM GP

W

L

T

GF

GA

GD

PTS

SKC

4

2

0

2

5

1

+4

8

OLI

4

2

1

1

2

2

0

7

EST

4

0

3

1

1

5

-4

1

GROUP 3 - Cruz Azul advances TEAM GP

W

L

T

GF

GA

GD

PTS

CAZ

4

4

0

0

10

2

+8

12

HER

4

2

2

0

11

8

+3

6

VAL

4

0

4

0

4

15

-11

0

BROADCAST INFORMATION Wednesday night’s match will air live at 9 p.m. CT on FOX Sports 2 and via FOX Soccer 2Go with JP Dellacamera and Janusz Michallik commentating. The match will also air live nationally on Galavision in Spanish.

Locally, Sports Radio 810 WHB will air The Final Whistle: Sporting KC Postgame Show immediately following the match. Listen live on 810 AM, 810whb.com or via the station’s free mobile app.

For online coverage during the match, visit the links below: - SportingKC.com/GameOn or @SKCGameday on Twitter - concacafchampions.com or @TheChampions on Twitter - Sporting Club Uphoria and CONCACAF - Champions League mobile apps

SINOVIC TO SERVE ONE GAME SUSPENSION Sporting KC defender Seth Sinovic will miss Wednesday’s second leg while serving a one-game suspension for caution accumulation. Cruz Azul will be without defender Rogelio Chavez and midfielder Alejandro Castro. All three players received their second yellow cards of the tournament in the first leg last week.

KEEPING AN EYE ON CAUTION ACCUMULATION “Any player to accumulate two single yellow cards in two different matches in the CCL is suspended for the following game. Thereafter, each time a player accumulates two single yellow cards in two different matches, he will be suspended for the following game with the exception that single cautions will be eliminated at the end of the Quarter Final Round and at the end of the championship stage.”

Six Sporting KC players are on warning for caution accumulation: Mechack Jerome, Paulo Nagamura, Soony Saad, Josh Gardner, Kevin Ellis and C.J. Sapong. Should any of those players receive a yellow card on Wednesday, then the player must serve a mandatory one-game suspension in the opening leg of the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals if Sporting KC advances.

Three Cruz Azul players are also on caution accumulation warning: Juan Garcia Sancho, Mauro Formica and Luis Amaranto.

GET TO KNOW: CRUZ AZUL Founded in 1927, Cruz Azul are eight-time league champions and three-time Copa MX champions, including the Copa MX Clausura 2013 title. Cruz Azul is the most successful team in CONCACAF Champions League history, winning the tournament five times (tied for most among all clubs) and finishing runnersup in both the 2008-09 and 2009-10 editions. The team’s 29 wins are most in CCL history to go along with six draws and nine losses all-time in the tournament (12-8-2 away record). Cruz Azul has advanced to at least the semifinal stage in each of their previous three CCL appearances.

Nicknamed La Maquina, the team qualified for the 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League Tournament as 2013 Liga MX Clasura Liguilla runners-up.

Luis Fernando Tena replaced Guillermo Vazquez as head coach in December and is now in his fourth stint at the helm of Cruz Azul. Tena’s appointment comes as Cruz Azul aims to end a 16-year drought without a league title dating back to 1997. Tena takes on the challenge after spending the last four years within the Mexico Men’s National Team system, guiding the Under-23’s to the gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Tickets for Wednesday’s match are 50 pesos ($3.80) in honor of Cruz Azul’s 50th anniversary of the club’s first season in the top division of Mexican soccer.

CRUZ AZUL: PLAYERS TO WATCH Cruz Azul’s roster features nine players who represented their countries in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying: Christian Giménez (Mexico) Achille Emana (Cameroon) Gerardo Flores (Mexico) Gerardo Torrado (Mexico) Joao Rojas (Ecuador) José de Jesús Corona (Mexico) Luis Amaranto Perea (Colombia) Marco Fabián (Mexico) Pablo Barrera (Mexico)

In net, Corona captained his country to the gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 33-year-old will be the most likely of Cruz Azul’s players to earn a spot on Mexico’s 23-man roster for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Torrado, the club’s captain and 34-year-old holding midfielder, is a three-time World Cup veteran who has logged 143 international appearances, most among all active Mexico National Team players and third most in federation history behind Pavel Pardo (145) and Claudio Suarez (177). Torrado has been sidelined since Feb. 1 with an injury to his foot.

CRUZ AZUL DEPTH CHART Two players looking to make their 2014 debuts for Cruz Azul are Achille Emana and Michael Farfan.

Emana, who represented Cameroon at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, led the team with four goals in the CCL group stage however the 31-year-old is yet to appear for Cruz Azul in 2014 after being sidelined early in the season due to injury.

Farfan -- one of three MLS players signed by Cruz Azul following the end of the 2013 season -- was a 2012 MLS All-Star and 2011 MLS Rookie of the Year finalist for the Philadelphia Union but is yet to see the field for his new side.

SPORTING KC ALL-TIME INTERNATIONAL STATS USA: 0-0-1 | HON: 1-0-1 MEX: 2-5-2 | CRI: 0-1-1 TTO: 2-0-0 | ECU: 1-0-1 PER: 0-2-0 | NIC: 1-0-1

- Jan. 4: 0-0 T at Monterrey - Jan. 11: 2-1 W vs. Santos (Jerónimo Amione Cevallos 79’, Mariano Pavone 90’) - Jan. 18: 1-0 W at Chiapas (Mauro Formica 27’) - Jan. 25: 4-0 W vs. Veracruz (Joao Rojas 29’, Luis Perea 38’, Mariano Pavone 46+’, Marco Fabián 79’) - Feb. 1: 2-0 W at Guadalajara (Mauro Formica 49’, Rogelio Chávez Martínez 52’) - Feb. 9: 4-1 W at Atlante (Marco Fabián 1’ and 82’, Joao Rojas 47’, Mauro Formica 64’) - Feb. 15: 1-0 W vs. Puebla (Marco Fabián 93+’) - Feb. 21: 3-1 W at Queretaro (Rogelio Chávez Martínez 36’ and 89’, Mauro Formica 43’) - March 1: 1-0 W vs. Toluca (Christian Giménez 80’) - March 8: 3-0 L at U.A.N.L - March 15: 1-0 W vs. Tijuana (Marco Fabián 47’ and 70’)

Saturday’s win kept Cruz Azul a pefect 5-0-0 at home in 2014 and extended the team’s unbeaten run to 10 dating back to September 2014. Fabián now has six goals on the season, while goalkeeper José de Jesús Corona has a 0.55 goals against average with seven shutouts in the Clausura campaign.

CRUZ AZUL IN MID-SEASON FORM Cruz Azul kicked off their 2014 season on Jan. 4 -- 63 days before Sporting Kansas City’s season opener, which came March 8 in Seattle. Cruz Azul have played 11 out of 17 games in their Clausura campaign while Sporting KC are only two games into a 34-game MLS regular season schedule.

Sporting Kansas City and Cruz Azul are meeting for the first time during the quarterfinals. Prior to the match-up, Sporting KC has been paired with a Mexican opponent in a two-game series on only two previous occasions -- both of which came during the 2002 CONCACAF Champions’ Cup:

Giménez, 33, recorded 13 goals and eight assists in 2013 and now has 118 goals in his Mexican club career dating back to 2004. He is joined in the attack by fellow Argentine Mariano Pavone, 31, who led the team with 18 goals in 2013 and contributed a team-high three assists in the CCL group stage.

Versus clubs from...

With six games remaining in the 2014 Liga MX Clasura campaign, Cruz Azul currently lead the league with a 9-1-1 record:

MLS CUP CHAMPIONS VS. LIGA MX LEADERS

Cruz Azul acquired the 24-year-old Fabian on loan from CD Guadalajara in the buildup to 2014. Fabian scored three goals for Mexico during the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup and five goals (including two at Sporting Park) during the 2012 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament. He went on to score in the semifinals of the 2012 Summer Olympics at Wembley Stadium in London.

Record By Tourney...

- Superliga: 0-1-2 - CCL: 6-3-4 - Merconorte: 1-4-1 Overall: 7-8-7 - Home: 3-3-6 - Away: 4-5-1

CRUZ AZUL’S CLAUSURA CAMPAIGN IN LIGA MX

Other Stats of Note...

- Goals for: 25 - Goals Against: 28 - Shutouts: 9 - Been Shutout: 4

In the quarterfinals of that tourney, KC became the first MLS team (and one of two to this day) to win a two-legged series with a Mexican team in CONCACAF competition courtesy of a 3-2 aggregate victory over Santos Laguna. KC was then eliminated 7-2 on aggregate by Monarcas Morelia in the semifinals.

Sporting KC is 2-5-2 all-time in competitive matches against Mexican clubs.

NO 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 28 32 33 37 50 53 58 59 70 71 72 78 80 97

CRUZ AZUL ROSTER

NAME POS Josè de Jesùs Corona GK Fausto Manuel Pinto Rosas DEF Julio Cèsar Dominguez DEF Alejandro Castro Flores MF Gerardo Torrado Diez de Bonilla MF Pablo Edson Barrera Acosto FWD Marco Fabián de la Mora MF Hugo Mariano Pavone FWD Christian Gimènez MF Joao Robin Rojas Mendoza FWD Guillermo Allison Revuelta GK Allam Bello MF Luis Amaranto Perea Mosquera DEF Gerardo Flores Zuñiga DEF Pablo Edson Barrera Acosta MF Sergio Javier Nàpoles Saucedo DEF Jerònimo Arturo Amione Cevallos FWD Edzimbi Achille Emana FWD Xavier Iván Baéz Gamiño MF Rafael Baca Miranda MF Michael Farfán Stopani DEF Rogelio Alfredo Chàvez Martìnez DEF Jesús Lara FWD Mauro Abel Formica MF Javier Caso Ravelo DEF Jairo Villeda Reyes DEF Héctor Enrique Gutiérrez Ramírez MF Horacio Cervantes Chávez DEF Manuel Madrid Quezada DEF Ismael Valadez Arce FWD Manuel Lajud GK Diego Israel Martìnez Monroy MF Jesús Henestrosa Vega MF Rodrigo Fernández MF Carlos Naranjos MF José Villarreal López FWD

DOB NATIONALITY 1/26/81 Mèxico 8/8/83 Mèxico 11/8/87 Mèxico 3/27/87 Mèxico 4/30/79 Mèxico 6/21/87 Mèxico 7/21/80 Mèxico 5/27/82 Mèxico 2/1/81 Mèxico 6/14/89 Ecuador 9/25/90 Mèxico 6/8/88 Mèxico 1/30/79 Colombia 2/5/86 México 6/21/87 México 11/23/89 Mèxico 3/31/90 Mèxico 6/6/82 Cameroon 7/22/87 Mèxico 9/11/89 Mèxico 6/23/88 USA 10/28/84 Mèxico 4/8/94 Mèxico 4/4/88 Argentina 3/20/86 Mèxico 1/19/87 México 8/29/86 Mèxico 10/17/81 México 8/29/93 Mèxico 9/14/85 Mèxico 12/25/93 Mèxico 8/6/93 Mèxico 6/19/94 Mèxico 10/28/93 Mèxico 7/21/95 Mèxico 9/10/93 USA

2013-14 CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE STATISTICAL LEADERS (THROUGH MARCH 11) GOAL SCORING (INDIVIDUAL)

GOAL SCORING (TEAM)

PLAYER NAME TEAM GS 1. Raúl Nava López Toluca 7 2. Nicolás Armando Muñoz I. Metapán 5 3. Achille Emana Cruz Azul 4 3. Robbie Keane LA Galaxy 4 5. Anllel Porras Herediano 3 5. Edgar Benítez Toluca 3 5. Hérculez Gómez Hurtado Tijuana 3 5. Pablo Herrera Barrantes Cartaginés 3 5. Rodolfo Paolo Suárez Díaz Comunicaciones 3

TEAM GS 1. Toluca (MEX) 16 2. Tijuana (MEX) 14 3. Herediano (CRC) 11 4. Cruz Azul (MEX) 10 5. LA Galaxy (USA) 9

SHOTS ON GOAL (INDIVIDUAL)

SHOTS ON GOAL (TEAM)

PLAYER NAME TEAM SOG 1. Mariano Pavone Cruz Azul 19 2. Luis Gabriel Rey América 17 2. Nicolás Armando Muñoz I. Metapán 17 4. Robbie Keane LA Galaxy 16 5. Andres Felipe Andrade América 15 5. Chris Wondolowski SJ Earthquakes 15 5. Raúl Alonso Jiménez América 15

TEAM SOG 1. Tijuana (MEX) 87 2. América (MEX) 73 3. Toluca (MEX) 70 4. Alajuelense (CRC) 68 5. Cruz Azul (MEX) 67 5. LA Galaxy (USA) 67

FOULS COMMITTED (INDIVIDUAL)

FOULS COMMITTED (TEAM)

PLAYER NAME TEAM FC 1. Seth Sinovic Sporting KC 15 2. Cristian Alberto Pellerano Tijuana 14 3. Javier Güemez Lopez Tijuana 12 3. Oriol Rosell Sporting KC 12 5. Diego Chavarria L.A. Firpo 11 5. Rafael García LA Galaxy 11

TEAM FC 1. LA Galaxy (USA) 89 2. Sporting KC (USA) 84 3. Tijuana (MEX) 82 4. Cruz Azul (MEX) 74 5. SJ Earthquakes (USA) 69

FOULS SUFFERED (INDIVIDUAL)

FOULS SUFFERED (TEAM)

PLAYER NAME TEAM FS 2. Greg Garza Tijuana 17 1. Paul Arriola Tijuana 14 3. Rubens Sambueza América 12 4. Erick Davis Sporting SM 11 4. Joao Ananias WConnection 11 4. Juan Ramón Barrera R. Esteli 11

TEAM FS 1. Tijuana (MEX) 99 2. Sporting KC (USA) 77 3. LA Galaxy (USA) 76 4. Cruz Azul (MEX) 69 5. Arabe U. (PAN) 61

2013-14 CCL CHAMPIONSHIP STAGE: QUARTER FINALISTS Toluca (MEX)

Cruz Azul (MEX)

Tijuana (MEX)

Arabe Unido (PAN)

Alajuelense (CRC)

LA Galaxy (USA)

Sporting KC (USA)

SJ Earthquakes (USA)

2013-14 CCL CHAMPIONSHIP STAGE: SCHEDULE/RESULTS Quarterfinals - Leg 1 QF1: Toluca 1, SJ Earthquakes 1 QF2: Cruz Azul 0, Sporting KC 1 QF3: Tijuana 0, LA Galaxy 1 QF4: Árabe Unido 0, Alajuelense 0

Quarterfinals - Leg 2 Toluca - SJ Earthquakes (March 19) Cruz Azul - Sporting KC (March 19) Tijuana 4, LA Galaxy 2 (4-3 on agg.) Árabe Unido - Alajuelense (March 20)

1962: Guadalajara (Mexico) 1963: Racing (Haiti) 1967: Alianza (El Salvador) 1968: Toluca (Mexico) 1969: Cruz Azul (Mexico) 1970: Cruz Azul (Mexico) 1971: Cruz Azul (Mexico) 1972: Olimpia (Honduras) 1973: Transvaal (Suriname) 1974: Municipal (Guatemala) 1975: Atletico Español (Mexico) 1976: Aguila (El Salvador) 1977: Club America (Mexico)

1978: Universidad de Guadalajara (Mexico), Comunicaciones (Guatemala), Defence Force (Trinidad & Tobago) 1979: FAS (El Salvador) 1980: Pumas UNAM (Mexico) 1981: Transvaal (Suriname) 1982: Pumas UNAM (Mexico) 1983: Atlante (Mexico) 1984: Violette (Haiti) 1985: Defence Force (Trinidad & Tobago) 1986: Alajuelense (Costa Rica)

Semifinals - Legs 1 & 2

Finals - Legs 1 & 2

QF1 winner vs. QF4 Winner QF2 winner vs. Club Tijuana

Semifinal winners advance...

April 1-3 (Leg 1) and April 8-10 (Leg 2)

April 15-17 (Leg 1) April 22-24 (Leg 2)

CONCACAF CLUB CHAMPIONS: 1962-2013 1987: Club America (Mexico) 1988: Olimpia (Honduras) 1989: Pumas UNAM (Mexico) 1990: Club America (Mexico) 1991: Puebla (Mexico) 1992: Club America (Mexico) 1993: Saprissa (Costa Rica 1994: Cartagines (Costa Rica) 1995: Saprissa (Costa Rica) 1996: Cruz Azul (Mexico) 1997: Cruz Azul (Mexico) 1998: D.C. United (USA) 1999: Necaxa (Mexico)

2000: Los Angeles Galaxy (USA) 2002: Pachuca (Mexico) 2003: Toluca (Mexico) 2004: Alajuelense (Costa Rica) 2005: Saprissa (Costa Rica) 2006: Club América (Mexico) 2007: Pachuca (Mexico) 2008: Pachuca (Mexico) 2008-09: Atlante (Mexico) 2009-10: Pachuca (Mexico) 2010-11: Monterrey (Mexico) 2011-12: Monterrey (Mexico) 2012-13: Monterrey (Mexico)

BOX SCORES: 2013-14 CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGE GAMEDAY 1 (GROUP 2): SPORTING KC 2, REAL ESTELI 0

GAMEDAY 1 (GROUP 3): CRUZ AZUL 3, HEREDIANO 0

Sporting KC at Real Esteli | 8/7/2013 | Estadio Independencia | Esteli, Nicaragua

Cruz Azul vs. Herediano | 8/22/2013 | Estadio Azul | Mexico City, Mexico

Sporting Kansas City: 18-Eric Kronberg; 78-Aurélien Collin, 24-Mechack Jerome, 13-Lawrence Olum, 3-Ike Opara; 15-Seth Sinovic, 10-Benny Feilhaber (19-Peterson Joseph 68), 20- Oriol Rosell; 14-Dom Dwyer (9-Teal Bunbury 83), 14-Jacob Peterson; 22-Soony Saad (17-C.J. Sapong 87)

Cruz Azul: 1-José Corona, 4-Julio Domínguez, 28-Rogelio Chávez Martínez, 16-Jair Pereira, 8-Israel Castro, 10-Christian Giménez (5-Alejandro Castro Flores 66), 6-Gerardo Torrado Díez de Bonilla (13-Allam Bello Huerta 46), 18-Sergio Nápoles Saucedo, 9-Mariano Pavone, 11-Joao Rojas Mendoza (78-Jesús Henestrosa Vega 60), 19-Jerónimo Amione Cevallos

Misconduct Summary: KC -- Mechack Jerome (caution) 5 KC -- Soony Saad (caution) 46+ EST -- Franklin Lopez (caution) 64 EST -- Alan Kardek (caution) 72

Misconduct Summary: HER - Keylor Soto (caution) 26 HER - Esteban Granados (caution) 89

Scoring Summary: KC -- Ike Opara (Benny Feilhaber) 32 KC -- Dom Dwyer (Aurelien Collin) 75

Scoring Summary: CAZ - Jair Pereira 32 CAZ - Mariano Pavone 42 CAZ - Gerardo Torrado 46+

Referee: Jafeth Perea (PAN) AR1: Gabriel Victoria (PAN) AR2: Juan Baines (PAN)

Referee: Armando Castro (HON) AR1: Christian Ramirez (HON) // AR2: Melvyn Cruz (HON)

GAMEDAY 3 (GROUP 2): SPORTING KC 1, REAL ESTELI 1 Real Esteli at Sporting KC | 9/17/2013 | Sporting Park | Kansas City, Kan. Sporting Kansas City: 18-Eric Kronberg; 31-Josh Gardner, 3-Ike Opara, 5-Matt Besler, 15-Seth Sinovic; 20-Oriol Rosell, 19-Peterson Joseph (17-C.J. Sapong 46), 10-Benny Feilhaber; 8-Graham Zusi, 16-Claudio Bieler (14-Dom Dwyer 62), 22-Soony Saad (37-Jacob Peterson 75) Misconduct Summary: EST - Douglas de Souza Ferreira (caution) 58 KC - Josh Gardner (caution) 84 EST - Juan Barrera (caution) 94+ Scoring Summary: EST - Rudel Calero (Samuel Wilson) 54 KC - Jacob Peterson (Graham Zusi) 84 Referee: Sandy Vasquez (DOM) AR1: Hector Delgadillo (MEX) AR2: Mario Lopez (MEX)

GAMEDAY 2 (GROUP 2): SPORTING KC 2, CD OLIMPIA 0 Sporting KC at CD Olimpia | 8/27/13 | Estadio Nacional | Tegucigalpa, Honduras Sporting Kansas City: 18-Eric Kromberg; 78-Aurélien Collin, 24-Mechack Jerome, 3-Ike Opara, 15-Seth Sinovic, 10-Benny Feilhaber (19-Peterson Joseph 66), 6-Paulo Nagamura (17-C.J. Sapong 76), 20- Oriol Rosell, 8-Graham Zusi, 22-Soony Saad, 16-Claudio Bieler (14-Dom Dwyer 47) Misconduct Summary: KC -- Paulo Nagamura (caution) 50 KC -- Seth Sinovic (caution) 53 OLI -- José Fonseca (caution) 57 KC -- Aurelien Collin (caution) 73 OLI -- Rioberto Padilla (caution) 73 Scoring Summary: KC -- Soony Saad (Graham Zusi) 26 KC -- Soony Saad (penalty kick) 67 Referee: Ricardo Montero (CRC) AR1: Leonel Leal (CRC) AR2: Octavio Jara (CRC)

GAMEDAY 4 (GROUP 2): SPORTING KC 0, CD OLIMPIA 0 CD Olimpia at Sporting KC | 10/23/2013 | Sporting Park | Kansas City, Kan. Sporting Kansas City: 18-Eric Kronberg; 7-Chance Myers, 78-Aurelien Collin, 5-Matt Besler (c), 15-Seth Sinovic; 20-Oriol Rosell, 13-Lawrence Olum, 8-Graham Zusi; 37-Jacob Peterson (31-Josh Gardner 92+), 9-Teal Bunbury (14-Dom Dwyer 79), 17-C.J. Sapong Misconduct Summary: KC -- Aurelien Collin (caution; reckless foul) 25 OLI -- Carlos Mejia (caution; delaying a restart) 40 KC -- Teal Bunbury (caution; unsporting behavior) 40 OLI -- Nery Medina (caution; reckless foul) 61 Scoring Summary: None Referee: Joel Aguilar (SLV) AR1: Juan Francisco Zumba (SLV) AR2: William Torres (SLV)

GAMEDAY 2 (GROUP 3): CRUZ AZUL 2, VALENCIA 1 Cruz Azul at Valencia | 8/28/13 | Stade Sylvio Cator | Port-au-Prince, Haiti Cruz Azul: 12-Guillermo Allison, 28-Rogelio Chávez Martínez, 4-Julio Domínguez, 76-Manuel Madrid Quezada, 78-Jesús Henestrosa Vega (77-Francisco Flores 46), 13-Allam Bello Huerta (75-Juan Garcia Sancho 46), 5-Alejandro Castro Flores, 18-Sergio Nápoles Saucedo, 33-Mauro Fórmica, 19-Jerónimo Amione Cevallos, 60-Antonio Pedroza (32-Jesus Lara Garcia 74) Misconduct Summary: VAL - Samuel Pompée (caution) 5 CAZ - Juan Garcia Sancho (caution) 66 VAL - Harold Sanon (caution) 68 VAL - Géraldy Joseph (caution) 76 CAZ - Rogelio Chávez Martínez (caution) 80 Scoring Summary: CAZ - Jerónimo Amione Cevallos 17 VAL - Andre Amy 72 CAZ - Jesus Lara Garcia 86 Referee: Oscar Davila (NCA) AR1: Gerson Lopez (GUA) // AR2: Rogelio Espinoza (NCA)

GAMEDAY 3 (GROUP 3): CRUZ AZUL 3, VALENCIA 0 Cruz Azul vs. Valencia | 9/24/2013 | Estadio Azul | Mexico City, Mexico Cruz Azul: 12-Guillermo Allison, 28-Rogelio Chávez Martínez, 4-Julio Domínguez, 16-Jair Pereira (19-Jerónimo Amione Cevallos 58), 14-Luis Perea (76-Manuel Madrid Quezada 82), 8-Israel Castro, 20-Achille Emana, 33-Mauro Fórmica (5-Alejandro Castro Flores 72), 18-Sergio Nápoles Saucedo, 9-Mariano Pavone, 11-Joao Rojas Mendoza Misconduct Summary: VAL - Esso Amicy (caution) 21 Scoring Summary: CAZ - Achille Emana 6 CAZ - Achille Emana 31 CAZ - Achille Emana 75 Referee: Jeffrey Solis (CRC) AR1: Carlos Fernandez (CRC) // AR2: Geovany Garcia (SLV)

GAMEDAY 4 (GROUP 3): CRUZ AZUL 2, HEREDIANO 1 Cruz Azul at Herediano | 10/22/2013 | Estadio Cordero | Heredia, Costa Rica Cruz Azul: 12-Guillermo Allison, 4-Julio Domínguez, 5-Alejandro Castro Flores, 14-Luis Perea, 16-Jair Pereira, 8-Israel Castro, 20-Achille Emana, 33-Mauro Fórmica, 6-Gerardo Torrado Díez de Bonilla (28-Rogelio Chávez Martínez 63), 18-Sergio Nápoles Saucedo (19-Jerónimo Amione Cevallos 64), 9-Mariano Pavone (32-Jesus Lara Garcia 77) Misconduct Summary: HER - José Cubero (caution) 9 CAZ - Alejandro Castro Flores (caution) 17 HER - Dave Myrie (caution) 52 CAZ - Israel Castro (caution) 72 CAZ - Mauro Fórmica (caution) 79 Scoring Summary: CAZ - Achille Emana 6 HER - Anllel Porras 56 CAZ - Jesus Lara Garcia 89 Referee: Walter Lopez (GUA) AR1: Gerson Lopez (GUA) // AR2: Ronaldo De la Cruz (GUA)

LEG 1 BOX SCORE: SPORTING KC 1, CRUZ AZUL 0

LEG 1 NOTES AND QUOTES

March 12, 2014 | Sporting Park (Kansas City, USA) | Attendance: 18,467

The loss marked Cruz Azul’s first ever defeat in the CCL quarterfinals. Prior to the loss, Cruz Azul was 6-0-0 in the quarterfinal round with only one goal conceded. Last week’s loss was Cruz Azul’s second all-time in CCL competition against an MLS opponent. Cruz Azul is 5-2-0 all-time versus MLS teams in CCL.

Sporting Kansas City: 1-Eric Kronberg; 15-Seth Sinovic, 5-Matt Besler (c), 3-Ike Opara, 4-Kevin Ellis; 20-Oriol Rosell, 6-Paulo Nagamura, 10-Benny Feilhaber (17-C.J. Sapong 76); 8-Graham Zusi, 16-Claudio Bieler (14-Dom Dwyer 88), 11-Sal Zizzo (37-Jacob Peterson 60) Cruz Azul: 1-Jesus Corona (c); 15-Gerardo Flores, 4-Julio Dominguez, 14-Luis Amaranto, 28-Rogelio Chavez; 33-Mauro Formica, 10-Christian Gimenez, 5-Alejandro Castro; 11-Joao Rojas, 9-Mariano Pavone, 8-Marco Fabian Misconduct Summary: CAZ - Rogelio Chavez (caution; reckless foul) 23 SKC - Kevin Ellis (caution; unsporting behavior) 45 CAZ - Luis Amaranto (caution; tactical foul) 75 SKC -- Seth Sinovic (caution; delaying a restart) 77 SKC -- C.J. Sapong (caution; unsporting behavior) 90 CAZ - Alejandro Castro (caution; unsporting behavior) 90

Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes On playing in the CONCACAF Champions League...

“This is a competition that we have been waiting for two years since we won the U.S. Open Cup and qualified. We knew going into the quarterfinals that Cruz Azul was going to be the most difficult opponent that we would face. It’s a very good team, well coached and the players are technically sound.”

On the second leg in Mexico City...

“I expect them to come out and throw everything at us. They are playing at home and are a very good team. We knew them well before this game and we know them a lot better now. And they are not going to go down without a major fight.”

Cruz Azul Manager Luis Fernando Tena Thoughts on the opening leg...

[Sporting KC] is a good team. They are well positioned, did a good job on the defensive side of the ball and we could not find a way to tie the match. We tried the whole game to find that goal and I thought we deserved the tying goal but in football it’s about actually scoring and we were unable to do that. The series is still wide open. It’s going to be a very difficult game back home in Mexico. It will be a well-fought game with two very good teams going at each other.

Scoring Summary: SKC -- Kevin Ellis (Claudio Bieler) 17 Referee: Elmer Bonilla (SLV) AR1: Douglas Bermúdez (SLV) AR2: Héctor Recinos (SLV)

2013-14 CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTERFINALS LEG 1: FULL MATCH RECAP Sporting Kansas City enters the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals ahead on aggregate after the team’s 1-0 victory over Cruz Azul on March 12 at Sporting Park. Homegrown defender Kevin Ellis scored the decisive goal in the 17th minute on an assist from Designated Player Claudio Bieler.

Eric Kronberg recorded his fourth shutout of the tournament, most among all goalkeepers in the competition and most by a Sporting KC player all-time in international competition, and lowered his goals against average in the CCL to 0.20 with only one goal allowed in five games.

Ellis, making his Champions League debut with his fourth career competitive start in four pro seasons, delivered the game’s defining moment with the first shot on goal of the game. Receiving a first-time pass from Bieler along the left edge of the penalty area, Ellis cut past Gerardo Flores and beat Jose Corona with a right-footed shot inside the near post.

In 2011, the Oak Park High School alum scored against CD Guadalajara in an international friendly held at Sporting Park.

Though Cruz Azul would not attempt their first shot of the match until the 30th minute, Marco Fabian broke behind the Sporting KC backline in the 24th minute and was poised to go 1-v-1 with Kronberg only to see Ike Opara recover in time to intervene.

On the opposite end, Opara made a roaming run forward in the 33rd minute and tested Corona from distance, forcing the Mexican National Team regular to tip the effort over the crossbar.

On the ensuing corner from Graham Zusi, Ellis won the header and nearly set up Benny Feilhaber for a poacher’s finish. However, Corona made his presence felt with a sliding stop inside the six-yard box.

The 17th-minute goal is Ellis’ second of his career with both coming against Mexican opposition.

Sporting Kansas City continued to attack and nearly doubled their lead in the 44th minute through Bieler.

The South American striker ran at Luis Amaranto , turning the defender inside then out, and forced a sprawling save as Corona extended to his left to get a glove on the shot.

LEG 1: SPORTING KC PLAYER STATS

LEG 1: TEAM VS TEAM STATS

NO

PLAYER

SOG

FC

OFF

CK

4

Kevin Ellis

0

1

0

0

3

Ike Opara

1

1

0

0

5

Matt Besler

0

2

0

0

15

Seth Sinovic

0

3

0

0

6

Paulo Nagamura

0

0

0

0

8

Graham Zusi

0

3

0

6

20

Oriol Rosell

0

4

0

0

10

Benny Feilhaber

0

1

0

0

11

Sal Zizzo

1

1

0

0

16

Claudio Bieler

1

1

1

0

17

C.J. Sapong

0

1

0

0

37

Jacob Peterson

0

1

0

0

14

Dom Dwyer

0

2

0

0

SPORTING

STATS

The visitors best chance of the opening half came in stoppage time as Christian Gimenez made a dangerous run down the left flank only to send his shot wide of the far post. Cruz Azul nearly pulled level with back-to-back scoring opportunities in the early stages of the second half.

Mariano Pavone dribbled around Kronberg in the 55th minute and sent his shot goal-bound only to have Opara again thwart La Maquina with his last-second clearance in front of the goalline. An undaunted Cruz Azul attack came close to capitalizing on the following corner kick if not for the alert play by Feilhaber and Seth Sinovic to deny Fabian’s header.

Sporting Kansas City were inches away from adding a second goal when Zusi’s shot struck the crossbar in the 64th minute.

The victory -- the club’s second all-time against a Mexican opponent and first since the 2002 CONCACAF Champions’ Cup -- keeps Sporting KC unbeaten in the competition at 3-0-2 moving into Wednesday’s rematch.

LEG 1: CRUZ AZUL PLAYER STATS

CRUZ AZUL

NO.

PLAYER

15

1

2

F

Half

F

2

1

1

0

1

Goals

0

0

0

4

0

4

Shots on Goal

3

2

1

0

1

1

Shots on woodwork

0

0

0

3

1

4

Shots off target

4

2

2

4

2

6

Corner kicks

5

2

3

19

28

47

Recoveries

83

38

45

1

0

1

Offsides

3

1

2

111 62 173

Correct passes

279 148 131

38

43

81

Incorrect passes

99

47

52

74

59

68

Passes accuracy

74

76

72

SOG

FC

OFF

CK

Gerardo Flores

0

1

0

0

14

Luis Perea

0

4

0

0

4

Julio Domínguez

0

1

0

0

28

Rogelio Chávez

0

2

0

5

5

Alejandro Castro

0

0

0

0

8

Marco De la Mora

1

0

1

0

33

Mauro Fórmica

0

0

0

0

10

Christian Giménez

0

4

0

0

11

Joao Rojas

1

3

2

0

9

Mariano Pavone

1

1

0

0