Game Guide: Sporting KC vs Real Esteli

2013 CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage // Tuesday, September 17, 2013 - 7:00 p.m. CT

GAME NOTES

No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 27 31 33 37 78 94

Sporting Kansas City vs Real Esteli FC Tuesday, September 17, 2013 Sporting Park Kansas City, Kan. 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 Federico Bessone DEF Mechack Jerome DEF Christian Duke MF Kyle Miller MID Josh Gardner DEF Brendan Ruiz DEF Jacob Peterson FWD Aurelien Collin DEF Jimmy Medranda MF

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

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

sin-OH-vick bee-AY-lurr sah-PONG krawn-berg

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 beh-SOHN-eh 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

au-REEL-ee-en muh-DRAHN-dah

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. Three players tied...

9

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

GP 10 4 3 2

GA 15 8 4 0

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

GP 10 2 3 4

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

SPORTING KC ALL-TIME INTERNATIONAL MATCHES GOALS AGAINST GOALS PLAYER GP 1. Chris Brown 11 2. Roy Lassiter 8 3. Soony Saad 2 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 2 5. Dom Dwyer 2

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 vs Real Esteli FC (NIC) at Sporting Park Oct. 23 vs CD Olimpia (HON) at Sporting Park

SO 3 2 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

SPORTING KC ALL-TIME GAMES PLAYED/STARTED

FIRST LAST GP Stephen Armstrong 4 Davy Arnaud 6 Matt Besler 3 Claudio Bieler 1 Chris Brown 11 Chris Brunt 2 Teal Bunbury 1 Jose Burciaga 5 Mike Burns 11 Aurelien Collin 2 Jimmy Conrad 4 Dom Dwyer 2 Roger Espinoza 2 Dario Fabbro 2 Benny Feilhaber 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 Mechack Jerome 2 Jack Jewsbury 5 Mo Johnston 2 Peterson Joseph 2 Chris Klein 9 Michael Kraus 2 Eric Kronberg 2

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

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 Paulo Nagamura 1 Lawrence Olum 1 Ike Opara 2 Bo Oshoniyi 4 Jacob Peterson 1 Preki 5 Brandon Prideaux 3 Eric Quill 4 Oriol Rosell 2 Soony Saad 2 Mark Santel 4 C.J. Sapong 2 Igor Simutenkov 1 Seth Sinovic 2 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 Alex Zotinca 2 Graham Zusi 1

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

GET TO KNOW: REAL ESTELI FC

GAMEDAY 1 (GROUP 2): SPORTING KC 2, REAL ESTELI 0

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.

Sporting KC at Real Esteli | 8/7/2013 | Estadio Independencia | Esteli, Nicaragua Sporting Kansas City: 18-Eric Kromberg; 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)

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.

Real Esteli FC: 1-Justo Lorente; 4-Alan Kardek, 3-Douglas de Souza, 12-Elmer Mejía (15-Franklin López 46), 7-Manuel Rosas; 17-Félix Zeledón, 20-Juan Barrera (11-Rudel Calero 58), 27-Iuri de Oliveira, 14-Lenadro Santos; 8-Wilbert Sánchez (21-Félix Rodríguez 46), 10-Samuel Wilson

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 IN PRIMERA DIVISIÓN 2013 APERTURA Eight games into the Nicaraguan Primera División’s 2013 Apertura season, Real Esteli FC currently sit in first place with a 7-1-0 record. The club is tied for the league lead with 17 goals scored and has conceded a league low three goals to date this season. Rudel Calero and Joaelton lead the team with four goals.

Originally scheduled to play Saturday against Deportivo Ocotal, Real Esteli FC rescheduled the match to accommodate the team’s travel to the United States for Tuesday’s CONCACAF Champions League fixture.

- Aug. 3: 2-1 W vs Juventus FC (Rosas 24, Own Goal 37) - Aug. 11: 2-0 W at Chinandega (Calero 21, Joaelton 89) - Aug. 14: 4-0 W vs Jalapa (Rosas 67, Figueroa 79, Iuri 80, Joaelton 89) - Aug. 18: 1-0 W at Real Madriz (Sanchez 17) - Aug. 24: 3-0 W vs San Marcos (Joaelton 58, 78, Barrera 70) - Sept. 1: 1-0 L at Managua - Sept. 4: 3-0 W vs Walter Ferreti (Barrera 8, 42, Calero 78) - Sept. 8: 2-1 W at Diriangén (Calero 27, 48)

REAL ESTELI FC IN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION Real Esteli FC is seeking the club’s first win in CONCACAF competition during the 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League tournament. The team is 0-29-7 in CONCACAF matches since 1991 and 0-13-5 in CCL matches.

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 2013: 2-0 L vs Sporting Kansas City in CONCACAF Champions League 2013: 1-0 L vs CD Olimpia in CONCACAF Champions League

Misconduct Summary: KC -- Mechack Jerome (caution) 5 KC -- Soony Saad (caution) 46+ EST -- Franklin Lopez (caution) 64 EST -- Alan Kardek (caution) 72 Scoring Summary: KC -- Ike Opara (Benny Feilhaber) 32 KC -- Dom Dwyer (Aurelien Collin) 75 Referee: Jafeth Perea (PAN) AR1: Gabriel Victoria (PAN) AR2: Juan Baines (PAN)

GAMEDAY 2 (GROUP 2): CD OLIMPIA 1, REAL ESTELI 0 CD Olimpia at Real Esteli | 8/21/13 | Estadio Independencia | Esteli, Nicaragua CD Olimpia: 27-Noel Valladares; 14-José Fonseca, 3-Henry Bermúdez, 15-Nery Medina, 7- Carlos Mejía; 8-Reynaldo Tilguath (20-Irving Reyna 65), 16-Byron Méndez, 23-Hendry Córdoba, 25-Javier Portillo; 18-Dogulas Caetano (26-Rigoberto Padilla 75), 33-Ramiro Bruschi (21-Roger Rojas 77) Real Esteli FC: 1-Justo Lorente; 17-Félix Zeledón, 3-Douglas de Souza, 4-Alan Kardek; 21-Félix Rodríguez, 15-Franklin López, 27-Iuri de Oliveira, 7-Manuel Rosas (14-Leandro Santos 75); 20-Juan Barrera, 10-Samuel Wilson, 11-Rudel Calero Misconduct Summary: EST -- Douglas de Souza (caution) 83 Scoring Summary: OLI -- Bayron Méndez 47 Referee: Ricardo Montero (CRC) AR1: Leonel Leal (CRC) AR2: Octavio Jara (CRC)

GAMEDAY 3 (GROUP 2): SPORTING KC 2, CD OLIMPIA 0 Sporting KC at CD Olimpia | 8/27/13 | Estadio Nacional | Tegucigalpa, HondurasCD Olimpia: 27-Noel Valladares; 5-Brayan Beckeles, 4-Fabio De Souza, 14-José Fonseca, 15-Nery Medina, 7- Carlos Mejía; 8-Reynaldo Tilguath (18-Douglas Caetano Mattoso 46), 16-Byron Méndez (26-Rigoberto Padilla 58), 23-Hendry Córdoba, 25-Javier Portillo, 33-Ramiro Bruschi (9-Anthony Lozano 65) 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)

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.

24 TEAMS, 1 CHAMPION 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.

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)

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.”

Five Sporting Kansas City players have received cautions through the team’s opening two games in CONCACAF Champions League competition: Seth Sinovic, Aurelien Collin, Mechack Jerome, Paulo Nagamura and Soony Saad.

Should any of the above players receive a yellow card during the remaining two group stage games, then the player must serve a mandatory one-game suspension for caution accumulation.

GROUP 2 STANDINGS Looking back at the 2012-13 tournament, the eight quarter finalists averaged 10 points in the group stage. Three teams went 4-0-0 during the opening round (Monterrey, Santos Laguna and Seattle Sounders FC), while Xelaju advanced with seven points (2-1-1), the fewest of any quarterfinal participants.

TM

GP

W

L

T

GF

GA

GD

PTS

SKC

2

2

0

0

4

0

+4

6

OLI

2

1

1

0

1

2

-1

3

EST

2

0

2

0

0

3

-3

0

At the end of the four-game Group Stage, the top team from Group 2 will advance to the quarterfinal round. The second and third place teams are eliminated from the tournament.

The eight quarter finalists will be ranked 1-8 based on their standings results from the Group Stage and will be paired (1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, 4 vs 5) for a home-and-away series. The top four Group Winners with the best records will host the 2nd leg matches. Should the Group Winners be tied on points, the order of the teams will be determined based on the following tie-breakers (in order): best goal difference, most goals scored, most goals scored away from home, most wins, most away wins, drawing of lots.

GROUP STAGE TIEBREAKERS In the event that teams are tied on points at the end of the Group Stage, the following tie-breaker criteria shall be applied, in order, to determine the Group Winner.

1. Greater number of points earned in matches between the teams concerned 2. Greater goal difference in matches between the teams concerned 3. Greater number of goals scored away from home in matches between the teams concerned 4. Reapply first three criteria if two or more teams are still tied 5. Greater goal difference in all group matches 6. Greater number of goals scored in group matches 7. Greater number of goals scored away in all group Matches 8. Drawing of lots

Record By Tourney...

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

Versus clubs from...

USA: 0-0-1 | HON: 1-0-0 MEX: 1-5-2 | CRI: 0-1-1 TTO: 2-0-0 | ECU: 1-0-1 PER: 0-2-0 | NIC: 1-0-0

Other Stats of Note...

- Goals for: 23 - Goals Against: 27 - Shutouts: 7 - Been Shutout: 3

KERRY ZAVAGNIN CONTINUES INTERNATIONAL STREAK Sporting KC assistant coach Kerry Zavagnin has either played (14) or served on the technical staff (5) 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 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), 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 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 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 prior to this year’s CONCACAF Champions League. 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.

TUESDAY’S REFEREE CREW CONCACAF announced the following referee crew for Tuesday’s match between Sporting Kansas City and Real Esteli FC at Sporting Park: Official: Sandy Vásquez (DOM) Asst: Héctor Delgadillo (MEX) Asst: Mario Lopez (MEX) 4th: Ricardo Arellano (MEX)

INTERNATIONAL MATCHES AT SPORTING PARK Sporting Park will host it’s first CONCACAF Champions League on Tuesday, adding to a long list of international games played in the state-of-the-art venue since it opened in June 2011: - CONCACAF Gold Cup doubleheader on June 14, 2011 - Sporting KC vs. Newcastle United on July 20, 2011 - Sporting KC vs CD Guadalajara on October 12, 2011 - USWNT vs Canada on September 17, 2011 - CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Semifinals on March 31, 2012 - CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship on April 2, 2012 - Sporting KC vs Montpellier on July 24, 2012 - Sporting KC vs Stoke City on August 1, 2012 - USMNT vs. Guatemala (FIFA World Cup Qualifier) on October 16, 2012 - MLS All-Stars vs AS Roma on July 31, 2013

BROADCAST INFORMATION Tuesday night’s match will air live at 7 p.m. CT on FOX Soccer Plus and stream online via FOX Soccer 2Go with JP Dellacamera commentating. The match will also air on tape delay at 9 a.m. CT on Wednesday on FOX Soccer Plus.

For online coverage during the match, visit the links below: - SportingKC.com/GameOn or @SKCGameday on Twitter - MLSSoccer.com/scores or Golazo.MLSSoccer.com - concacafchampions.com or @TheChampions on Twitter