Game Guide: Sporting KC at Real Esteli

2013 CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage // Wednesday, August 7, 2013 - 9:00 p.m. CT

GAME NOTES

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Sporting Kansas City at Real Esteli FC Wednesday, August 7, 2013 Estadio Independencia Esteli, Nicaragua FOX Soccer Plus | FOX Soccer 2Go

SPORTING KANSAS CITY ACTIVE ROSTER Name.

Pos Jimmy Nielsen GK Erik Palmer-Brown DEF Ike Opara DEF Kevin Ellis DEF Matt Besler DEF Paulo Nagamura MID Chance Myers DEF Graham Zusi MID

Teal Bunbury FWD Benny Feilhaber MID Mikey Lopez MID Lawrence Olum DEF Dom Dwyer FWD Seth Sinovic DEF Claudio Bieler FWD C.J. Sapong FWD Eric Kronberg GK Peterson Joseph MID Oriol Rosell MID Jon Kempin GK Soony Saad FWD Kei Kamara FWD Mechack Jerome DEF Christian Duke MF Kyle Miller MID Josh Gardner DEF Jacob Peterson FWD Aurelien Collin DEF

SPORTING KC IN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

Pronunciation neel-sen

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

ZOO-see BUN-buh-ree FAIL-hob-ber

2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League Aug. 7 at Real Esteli FC (NIC) at Estadio Independencia Aug. 27 at CD Olimpia (HON) at Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Sept. 17 vs Real Esteli FC (NIC) at Sporting Park Oct. 23 vs CD Olimpia (HON) at Sporting Park 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 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 krawn-berg ew-REE-all rohz-EL soo-NEE sod kye kuh-MAH-ruh ME-shack

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 vs W. Connection (TTO) in Round of 16 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

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SPORTING KANSAS CITY ALL-TIME INTERNATIONAL MATCHES STATISTICAL INFORMATION Record By Tourney...

Record Breakdown...

Other Stats of Note...

GOALS AGAINST GOALS PLAYER GP 1. Chris Brown 11 2. Roy Lassiter 8 3. Onandi Lowe 3 4. Claudio Lopez 3 4. Jose Burciaga 5 4. Dario Fabbro 2 4. Carey Talley 4 4. Gary Glasgow 9 4. Mike Burns 11 4. Preki 5 4. Francisco Gomez 12 4. Matt McKeon 12

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

GAMES PLAYED 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. Gary Glasgow 9 8. Chris Klein 9 8. Peter Vermes 9

PLAYER 1. Tony Meola 2. Bo Oshoniyi 3. Kevin Hartman

GP 10 4 3

GA 15 8 4

GP 3 1 1

- vs USA: 0-0-1 - vs MEX: 1-5-2 - vs CRI: 0-1-1 - vs TTO: 2-0-0 - vs ECU: 1-0-1 - vs PER: 0-2-0

- Goals for: 19 - Goals Against: 27 - Shutouts: 5 - Been Shutout: 3

SPORTING KC ALL-TIME GAMES PLAYED/STARTED

SHUTOUTS PLAYER 1. Tony Meola 1. Kevin Hartman 1. Bo Oshoniyi

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

SO 1 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. Diego Gutierrez 6

FIRST LAST GP Stephen Armstrong 4 Davy Arnaud 6 Matt Besler 3 Chris Brown 11 Chris Brunt 2 Jose Burciaga 5 Mike Burns 11 Jimmy Conrad 4 Roger Espinoza 2 Dario Fabbro 2 Nick Garcia 12 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 Jack Jewsbury 5 Mo Johnston 2 Chris Klein 9

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

FIRST LAST GP GS Michael Kraus 2 0 Roy Lassiter 8 4 Jonathan Leathers 2 1 Claudio Lopez 3 2 Onandi Lowe 3 3 Rauwshan McKenzie 2 1 Matt McKeon 12 11 Tony Meola 10 10 Kurt Morsink 1 0 Bo Oshoniyi 4 4 Preki 5 4 Brandon Prideaux 3 1 Eric Quill 4 4 Mark Santel 4 2 Igor Simutenkov 1 1 Khari Stephenson 2 1 Carey Talley 4 3 Abe Thompson 2 1 Peter Vermes 9 8 Sasha Victorine 2 2 Diego Walsh 2 0 Lance Watson 2 2 Josh Wolff 5 5 Kerry Zavagnin 14 13 Alex Zotinca 2 1

GET TO KNOW: REAL ESTELI FC

LET THE GAMES BEGIN: 2013-14 CCL GROUP STAGE

Nicaragua’s only representative in CONCACAF Champions League history, Real Esteli FC have qualified for the regional championship every year since the 2008-09 edition. The team, founded in 1961, won their first of 14 Primera Division titles in 1991 and have become the country’s dominant club for the past decade. The team has won 12 Apertura or Clausura titles since 2002, including each of the last seven league titles.

The tournament’s 24 teams are separated into eight groups for a round-robin, home-and-away format. The winner of each group advances to the quarterfinals.

The club is coached by Ramon Otoniel Olivas, who is in his second stint with Real Esteli FC after previously coaching the squad from 2002-09. He also coached the Nicaragua Men’s National Team from 2009-10, leading them at the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup -- the nation’s only appearance in the tournament.

Group 1: Arabe Unido (PAN), Houston Dynamo (USA), W Connection (TTO) Group 2: CD Olimpia (HON), Sporting Kansas City (USA), Real Esteli (NIC) Group 3: Club Sport Herediano (GUA), Cruz Azul (MEX), Valencia FC (HAI) Group 4: Club America (MEX), Alajuelense (CRA), Sporting San Miguelito (PAN) Group 5: San Jose Earthquakes (USA), Montreal Impact (CAN), CD Heridia (GUA) Group 6: Comunicaciones (GUA), Toluca (MEX), Caledonia AIA (TTO) Group 7: Club Tijuana (MEX), CD Victoria (HON), Luis Angel Firpo (ELS) Group 8: LA Galaxy (USA), Isidro Metapan (ELS), Club Sport Cartaginés (CRA)

Rudel Calero, a 30-year-old Nicaragua international who scored in the 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League, led the league in scoring during the 2012-13 season with 18 goals. His total was five more than the League’s second-highest scorer, teammate Elmer Mejia. The 35-year-old Honduran has more than 100 goals in his career with Real Esteli FC and captains the club.

Real Esteli FC is seeking the club’s first win in CONCACAF competition during the 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League tournament. The team is 0-27-7 in CONCACAF matches since 1991 and 0-11-5 in CCL matches.

WELCOME TO ESTELI, NICARAGUA Esteli is the third largest city in Nicaragua, located 93 miles north of the capital city of Managua where Sporting KC will fly into and stay on Tuesday. Esteli called home to 112,000 residents as of the 2005 census and sits at an elevation of approximately 1/2 mile above sea level. The forecast for Wednesday’s match calls for temperatures in the 70’s and the local match time is 8 p.m. (9 p.m. CT).

CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PRIMER The CONCACAF Champions League features the top 24 club teams from across North America, Central America and the Caribbean. The winner of the tournament earns a berth in the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup. The tournament started in 1962 and was originally called the CONCACAF Champions Cup before switching to the current format in 2008. Sporting Kansas City, one of five MLS teams in the tournament, qualified as the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champions.

REAL ESTELI FC OPENS CAMPAIGN WITH 2-1 VICTORY Real Esteli FC opened the 2013 Apertura on Saturday with a 2-1 victory over Juventus FC. Manuel Rosas, who scored in the 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League, opened the scoring from the penalty mark and the game-winning goal came courtesy of an own goal late in the first half. The match, which was free for the public to attend and was temporarily suspended due to a power outage in the city, finished 10-vs-10 as Leandro Santos was sent off in his debut for Esteli.

KERRY ZAVAGNIN CONTINUES INTERNATIONAL STREAK Sporting KC assistant coach Kerry Zavagnin has either played (14) or served on the technical staff (3) 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. He is currently in his 14th consecutive season with the club.

FOUR ON SPORTING KC WITH 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), Kei Kamara (Houston Dynamo 2008-09, 2009-10), 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.

INTERNATIONAL INTRODUCTION: VERMES AS MANAGER Manager Peter Vermes will lead Sporting Kansas City into their first international competition since taking the helm of the club in August 2009. In friendlies, Vermes is unbeaten as a coach 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). Vermes missed KC’s 3-0 loss to Montpellier while at the 2012 MLS All-Star Game.

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.

HOMETOWN HERO ADDS INTERNATIONAL PEDIGREE MLS Defender of the Year and All-Star Matt Besler is the only player on Sporting KC’s roster to have played in a competitive international match for the club.

Besler started all three games during the 2009 North American Superliga as Kansas City went 0-1-2 in the group stage, including a shutout of Mexico’s Atlas.

REAL ESTELI FC IN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

1991: 4-1 L to Saprissa in CONCACAF Champions’ Cup 1991: 4-1 L to Saprissa in CONCACAF Champions’ Cup 1991: 8-1 L to Saprissa in CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup 1991: 15-0 L to CSD Comunicaciones in CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup 1991: 3-0 L to CD Atletico Marte in CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup 1992: 2-0 L to Tauro FC in CONCACAF Champions’ Cup 1992: 5-1 L to Tauro FC in CONCACAF Champions’ Cup 1996: 1-1 T vs Arabe Unido in CONCACAF Champions’ Cup 1996: 1-0 L to Arabe Unido in CONCACAF Champions’ Cup 1998: 8-0 L to Alajuelense in CONCACAF Champions’ Cup 1998: 3-1 L to Alajuelense in CONCACAF Champions’ Cup 2000: 6-0 L to Alajuelense in Copa Interclubes UNCAF 2000: 2-1 L to Alajuelense in Copa Interclubes UNCAF 2000: 2-1 L to Real Espana in Copa Interclubes UNCAF 2000: 8-0 L to Real Espana in Copa Interclubes UNCAF 2003: 1-0 L to Saprissa in Copa Interclubes UNCAF 2003: 1-1 T vs Diriangen FC in Copa Interclubes UNCAF 2003: 2-1 L to FAS in Copa Interclubes UNCAF 2004: 1-1 T vs Real Espana in Copa Interclubes UNCAF 2004: 3-3 T vs Real Espana in Copa Interclubes UNCAF 2004: 1-0 L to Saprissa in Copa Interclubes UNCAF 2004: 4-0 L to Saprissa in Copa Interclubes UNCAF 2006: 1-1 T vs Saprissa in Copa Interclubes UNCAF 2006: 1-0 L to Saprissa in Copa Interclubes UNCAF 2007: 2-0 L to CD Motagua in Copa Interclubes UNCAF 2007: 3-1 L to CD Motagua in Copa Interclubes UNCAF 2008: 1-0 L to Montreal Impact in CONCACAF Champions League 2008: 0-0 T vs Montreal Impact in CONCACAF Champions League 2011: 2-1 L to Toronto FC in CONCACAF Champions League 2011: 2-1 L to Toronto FC in CONCACAF Champions League 2012: 4-0 L to UANL in CONCACAF Champions League 2012: 1-0 L to Alajuelense in CONCACAF Champions League 2012: 1-1 T vs UANL in CONCACAF Champions League 2012: 1-0 L to Alajuelense in CONCACAF Champions League

MEET THE TEAM: REAL ESTELI FC GK - Justo Lorente Collado GK - Roger Sánchez Arias DEF - Oscar Renán López DEF - Douglas de Souza Ferreira* DEF - Alan Kardex de Souza DEF - Cristian Gutiérrez DEF - Manuel Rosas Arreola DEF - Félix Eliud Zeledón DEF - Salvador García Acuña MF - Elmer Antonio Mejía* MF - Elvis Ángel Figueroa (Pinel) MF - Leandro Teófilo Santos Pinto*

MF - Franklin Ulises López MF - Félix Dorian Rodríguez MF - Juan Barrera Pérez MF - Samuel Wilson R MF - Iuri de Oliveira Santos* MF - Alexis Somarriba FWD - Wilber Sánchez FWD - Jonathan Joaelton Sampaio* FWD - Rudel Calero N FWD - Norfran Lazo FWD - Carlos Alberto Chavarría *International Player

ESTADIO INDEPENDENCIA: HOME OF REAL ESTELI FC Estadio Independencia features a synthetic turf surface and is in the midst of a four-year, $7 million renovation that will expand its current capacity from 4,800 to approximately 8,000. The modifications will also provide new roofing, a videoboard and a team museum. The stadium did not meet CONCACAF standards for the 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League, forcing Real Esteli FC to host their home match in neighboring Honduras. Due to stadium limitations, the team was not permitted to compete in the 2009-10 or 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League tournaments despite qualifying on both occasions.