Sporting KC Media Guide: MLS is Back Tournament

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SPORTING KANSAS CITY ROSTER No. Pos. Name 1 GK Richard Sanchez 3 DEF Andreu Fontas 4 DEF Roberto Puncec 5 DEF Matt Besler 6 MID Ilie Sanchez 7 FWD Johnny Russell 8 DEF Graham Zusi 9 FWD Alan Pulido 10 MID Felipe Gutierrez 11 FWD Khiry Shelton 12 FWD Gerso Fernandes 13 DEF Amadou Dia 15 DEF Roger Espinoza 16 DEF Graham Smith 17 MID Gadi Kinda 18 GK Eric Dick (loaned out) 19 FWD Erik Hurtado 20 FWD Daniel Salloi 21 MID Felipe Hernandez 22 DEF Winston Reid 23 FWD Tyler Freeman 24 GK John Pulskamp 26 DEF Jaylin Lindsey 27 MID Gianluca Busio 28 MID Cameron Duke 29 GK Tim Melia 36 DEF Luis Martins 75 MID Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal

Pronunciation

MLS IS BACK TOURNAMENT: JULY 8 - AUG. 11 For the first time since match play was suspended March 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Major League Soccer action has resumed with the historic and unprecedented MLS is Back Tournament. This one-of-a-kind competition sees 24 of the 26 MLS clubs compete at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, marking the emphatic return of men’s professional soccer in the United States after a near four-month hiatus.

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Sporting Kansas City finished atop Group D with consecutive wins over the Colorado Rapids and Real Salt Lake after opening the tournament with a last-gasp 2-1 loss to Minnesota United FC. Khiry Shelton, Alan Pulido and Graham Zusi struck in the second-half of a wilde 3-2 comeback victory against Colorado on July 17. Johnny Russell struck 49 seconds into the group stage finale against RSL on July 22, with Gerso Fernandes coming off the bench to bag a sensational late goal to seal the 2-0 result and vault Sporting to first place in the group.

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MLS is Back Tournament: Sporting KC Group Stage Results

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Sporting Kansas City defeated Vancouver Whitecaps FC in a penalty shootout following a scoreless draw on Sunday in the MLS is Back Tournament Round of 16 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Walt Disney World. The result sets up a compelling quarterfinal showdown between Sporting and the Philadelphia Union at 7 p.m. CT Thursday with live coverage on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and the ESPN app.

• Sunday, July 12 | Sporting vs. Minnesota United FC | Lost 2-1 • Friday, July 17 | Sporting vs. Colorado Rapids | Won 3-2 • Wednesday, July 22 | Sporting vs. Real Salt Lake | Won 2-0

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2020 MLS REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS (through July 23) Eastern Conference 1. Columbus Crew SC 2. Toronto FC 3. Orlando City SC 4. Philadelphia Union 5. Montreal Impact 6. New York Red Bulls 7. Atlanta United FC 8. FC Cincinnati 9. New England Revolution 10. D.C. United 11. Chicago Fire 12. New York City FC 13. Nashville SC 14. Inter Miami CF

Pts 13 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 6 5 4 3 0 0

W L T 4 0 1 2 0 3 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 3 0 2 3 0 1 1 3 1 2 2 1 3 1 1 4 0 0 2 0 0 5 0

GD +8 +2 +2 0 0 -2 -1 -3 0 -1 -4 -6 -2 -5

GP 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 2 5

Western Conference 1. Sporting Kansas City 2. Minnesota United FC 3. Portland Timbers 4. LAFC 5. Seattle Sounders FC 6. San Jose Earthquakes 7. Colorado Rapids 8. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 9. Real Salt Lake 10. FC Dallas 11. Houston Dynamo 12. LA Galaxy

Pts 12 11 10 9 8 8 7 6 6 4 3 2

W L T 4 1 0 3 0 2 3 1 1 2 0 3 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 3 0 1 1 3 1 0 1 0 2 3 0 3 2

GD +8 +6 +1 +5 +3 0 -1 -3 0 +2 -5 -6

GP 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 2 5 5

MLS is Back Tournament Knockout Stage presented by Audi Sporting KC Match Results, Dates and Kickoff Times • • • •

Sunday, July 26 | Round of 16 vs. Vancouver | Tied 0-0 (won 3-1 on penalties) Thursday, July 30 | Quarterfinal vs. Philadelphia | 7 p.m. CT (ESPN) Wednesday, Aug. 5 | Potential Semifinal | 7 p.m. CT (FS1) Tuesday, Aug. 11 | Potential Final | 7 p.m. CT (ESPN)

Sporting’s three group stage matches in the MLS is Back Tournament count toward the 2020 MLS regular season standings. The club owns a 4-1-0 record and sits one point behind Columbus Crew SC in the Supporters’ Shield race. MLS is Back Tournament Knockout Stage games won’t count toward the regular season table, but the champion of the competition will qualify for the 2021 Concacaf Champions League and receive a sizable share of a $1.1 million prize pool. Round of 16 fixtures ran from July 25-28 and will be followed by the Quarterfinals from July 30 – Aug. 1, the Semifinals on Aug. 5-6 and the Final on Aug. 11. The Knockout Stage bracket features 16 teams, including the top two finishers from Groups A through F as well as the four best third-place finishers.

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