2021 Sporting Kansas City season

The 2021 Sporting Kansas City season was the twenty-sixth season of the team's existence in Major League Soccer and the eleventh year played under the Sporting Kansas City moniker. The season began on April 17.[1]

Sporting Kansas City
2021 season
OwnerSporting Club
Head coachPeter Vermes
StadiumChildren's Mercy Park
MLSConference: 3rd
Overall: 4th
PlayoffsConference Semifinals
U.S. Open CupCanceled
Leagues CupQuarter-finals
Highest home attendanceLeague/All:
20,213 (6/26 v. LAFC)
Lowest home attendanceLeague/All:
16,888 (9/15 v. MIN)
Average home league attendanceLeague/All: 18,837
Biggest winSKC 4–0 MIN (9/15)
Biggest defeatAll:
SKC 1–6 LEÓN (8/10, LC QF)
League:
LAFC 4–0 SKC (9/3)
← 2020
2022 →

Summary

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Preseason

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Sporting KC players reported for a seven day quarantine period involving medical exams and testing on March 1. The team then trained for six weeks beginning on March 8 before the season started on April 17.[2] Sporting KC began a one week voluntary training on March 1 before heading to Arizona on March 7. The team then began preseason training and played 4 preseason matches on March 13, March 20, March 24 and April 3 before returning to Kansas City on April 3.[3]

Roster

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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 29, 2021.

No. Pos. Player Nation
1 GK John Pulskamp   United States
2 DF Jaylin Lindsey (HGP)   United States
3 DF Andreu Fontas   Spain
4 DF Roberto Punčec   Croatia
5 DF Nicolas Isimat-Mirin   France[4]
6 MF Ilie Sánchez   Spain
7 FW Johnny Russell (DP)   Scotland
8 DF Graham Zusi   United States
9 FW Alan Pulido (DP)   Mexico
11 FW Khiry Shelton   United States
13 DF Amadou Dia   United States
15 MF Roger Espinoza   Honduras
16 DF Graham Smith   United States
17 MF Gadi Kinda   Israel
19 MF Grayson Barber (HGP)   United States
20 FW Dániel Sallói (HGP)   Hungary
21 MF Felipe Hernandez (HGP)   Colombia
22 GK Kendall McIntosh   United States
23 FW Tyler Freeman (HGP)   United States
25 FW Ozzie Cisneros (HGP)   United States
28 DF Cameron Duke (HGP)   United States
29 GK Tim Melia   United States
31 GK Brooks Thompson (HGP)   United States
32 MF Jose Mauri   Italy
36 DF Luís Martins   Portugal
54 MF Remi Walter   France
96 FW Wilson Harris (HGP)   United States

Player movement

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Per Major League Soccer and club policies terms of the deals do not get disclosed.

Date Player Position Previous club Fee/notes Ref
October 21, 2020   Wilson Harris FW   Sporting Kansas City II Homegrown Signing [5]
December 17, 2020   Kendall McIntosh GK   New York Red Bulls 2020 MLS Re-Entry Process Signing [6]
December 22, 2020   Remi Walter MF   Yeni Malatyaspor International Signing [7]
January 20, 2021   Grayson Barber MF Sporting Kansas City Academy Homegrown Academy Signing [8]
January 20, 2021   Ozzie Cisneros FW Sporting Kansas City Academy Homegrown Academy Signing [8]
January 20, 2021   Brooks Thompson GK Sporting Kansas City Academy Homegrown Academy Signing [8]
February 3, 2021   Nicolas Isimat-Mirin DF   Beşiktaş J.K. International Signing [4]

Draft picks

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Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster. Only trades involving draft picks and executed after the start of 2020 MLS SuperDraft will be listed in the notes.

Round Pick Number Player Position School
2 23   Matt Constant DF University of North Carolina
3 23   Jamil Roberts FW Marshall University
Date Player Position Destination club Notes Ref

Competitions

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Preseason

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

Preseason schedule announced on March 1, 2021.[3]

March 13, 2021 Sporting Kansas City 4–0 Phoenix Rising FC Chandler, Arizona
12:00 pm CST Harris   9',   19'.   33'
Busio   29'
Report Stadium: Wild Horse Pass Stadium

Standings

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Western Conference
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Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Colorado Rapids 34 17 7 10 51 35 +16 61 Qualification for the Playoffs Conference semifinals
and CONCACAF Champions League
2 Seattle Sounders FC 34 17 8 9 53 33 +20 60 Qualification for the Playoffs first round and CONCACAF Champions League
3 Sporting Kansas City 34 17 10 7 58 40 +18 58 Qualification for the Playoffs first round
4 Portland Timbers 34 17 13 4 56 52 +4 55
5 Minnesota United FC 34 13 11 10 42 44 −2 49
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
Overall table
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Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
2 Colorado Rapids 34 17 7 10 51 35 +16 61 Qualification for the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League[a]
3 Seattle Sounders FC 34 17 8 9 53 33 +20 60 Qualification for the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League[b]
4 Sporting Kansas City 34 17 10 7 58 40 +18 58
5 Portland Timbers 34 17 13 4 56 52 +4 55
6 Philadelphia Union 34 14 8 12 48 35 +13 54
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
Notes:
  1. ^ As 2021 MLS Western Conference regular season champions (USA3)
  2. ^ As highest-ranked U.S. based Division I club (based on 2021 MLS regular season record) not already qualified (USA4)[9]
Results by round
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Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334
StadiumAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAAAHAHAHHHAHAAHAAH
ResultWDLWLWWWDLWWWDWLWDWDDDLWWLWWLWWLLL
Source: [1]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Match Results

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April 17, 2021 1 New York Red Bulls 1–2 Sporting Kansas City Harrison, New Jersey
7:00 pm CDT
Report
Stadium: Red Bull Arena
Referee: Robert Sibiga
April 23, 2021 2 Sporting Kansas City 1–1 Orlando City SC Kansas City, Kansas
6:30 pm CDT
Report
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 20,086
Referee: Joe Dickerson
May 1, 2021 3 Real Salt Lake 3–1 Sporting Kansas City Sandy, Utah
1:00 pm CDT
Report
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Referee: David Gantar
May 9, 2021 4 Sporting Kansas City 2–1 Austin FC Kansas City, Kansas
6:30 pm CDT
Report
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Referee: Joe Dickerson
May 12, 2021 5 Houston Dynamo FC 1–0 Sporting Kansas City Houston, Texas
7:30 pm CDT
Report
Stadium: BBVA Stadium
May 16, 2021 6 Sporting Kansas City 3–0 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Kansas City, Kansas
1:00 pm CDT Sánchez   9'
Sallói   28'
Pulido   32',   58'
Kinda   36'
Espinoza   72'
Report Cornelius   55' Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Referee: Alan Kelly
May 22, 2021 7 San Jose Earthquakes 1–3 Sporting Kansas City San Jose, California
1:00 pm CDT López   4'
Espinoza   9'
Ríos   49'
Report Lindsey   15',   90'
Pulido   60'
Sallói   75'
Stadium: PayPal Park
Referee: Allen Chapman
May 29, 2021 8 Sporting Kansas City 3–2 Houston Dynamo FC Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 pm CDT Busio   51'
Pulido   61'
Kinda   65'
Zusi   90+1'
Report Jones   4'
Vera   13',   42'
García   82'
Urruti   90+3'
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 20,086
Referee: Drew Fischer
June 12, 2021 9 Sporting Kansas City 1–1 Austin FC Kansas City, Kansas
2:30 pm CDT Walter   32'
Salloi   71'
Report Dominguez   26'
Besler   79'
Lima   90'
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 18,519
Referee: Robert Sibiga
June 19, 2021 10 Portland Timbers 2–1 Sporting Kansas City Portland, Oregon
9:30 pm CDT Asprilla   36'
Župarić   38'
Loría   45+1'
Zambrano   87'
Report Lindsey   28'
Fontàs   69'
Espinoza   74'
Ilie   83'
Stadium: Providence Park
Referee: Alan Kelly
June 23, 2021 11 Sporting Kansas City 3–1 Colorado Rapids Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 pm CDT Sallói   14',   38'
Hernández   64'
Report Rosenberry   84' Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 18,690
Referee: David Gantar
June 26, 2021 12 Sporting Kansas City 2–1 Los Angeles FC Kansas City, Kansas
4:00 pm CDT Ilie   44'
Pulido   61'
Sallói   87'
Report Blackmon   12'   58'
Moon-hwan   24'
Romero   64'
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 20,213
Referee: Chris Penso
July 4, 2021 13 LA Galaxy 0–2 Sporting Kansas City Carson, California
9:30 pm CDT Villafaña   45+3' Report Sallói   32'
Russell   81'
Shelton   90+5'
Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park
Attendance: 23,556
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
July 21, 2021 14 Sporting Kansas City 1–1 San Jose Earthquakes Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 pm CDT
Report
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 17,872
Referee: Joseph Dickerson
July 25, 2021 15 Seattle Sounders FC 1–3 Sporting Kansas City Seattle, Washington
8:00 pm CDT Leyva   29'
Montero   51'
Paulo   84'
Report Russell   31'
Sallói   42'
Duke   72'
Zusi   80'
Stadium: Lumen Field
Attendance: 32,790
Referee: Ramy Touchan
July 31, 2021 16 Sporting Kansas City 1–2 FC Dallas Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 pm CDT Sallói   68'
Russell   85'
Report Pomykal   3'
Ferreira   51'
Twumasi   73'
Bressan   80'
Jara   84'
Hedges   90+1'
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 19,975
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
August 4, 2021 17 Los Angeles FC 1–4 Sporting Kansas City Los Angeles, California
9:30 pm CDT Romero   20'
Cifuentes   33'
Ginella   62'
Musovski   82'
Duke   85'
Atuesta   90+7'
Report Pulido   20'
Isimat-Mirin   25'
Martins   28'
Sallói   36'
Zusi   41'
Sánchez   57'
Kinda   58'
Fontàs   90+2'
Espinoza   90+6'
Stadium: Banc of California Stadium
Attendance: 22,114
Referee: Alan Kelly
August 7, 2021 18 Colorado Rapids 0–0 Sporting Kansas City Commerce City, Colorado
8:00 pm CDT Warner   28'
Beitashour   63'
Report Punčec   10'
Lindsey   81'
Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 11,753
Referee: Ted Unkel
August 14, 2021 19 FC Dallas 0–2 Sporting Kansas City Frisco, Texas
7:30 pm CDT Ferreira   38'
Hedges   49'
Obrian   67'
Schön   68'
Vargas   76'
Twumasi   89'
Report Pulido   12'
Sallói   63'
Kinda   90+1'
Stadium: Toyota Stadium
Attendance: 14,133
Referee: Armando Villarreal
August 18, 2021 20 Sporting Kansas City 1–1 Portland Timbers Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 pm CDT Sallói   25',   90+1'
Pulido   62'
Report Mora   17'
Chará   28'
Van Rankin   43'
Bonilla   77'
Valeri   84'
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 17,081
Referee: Ismail Elfath
August 21, 2021 21 Minnesota United FC 0–0 Sporting Kansas City Saint Paul, Minnesota
2:30 pm CDT Dibassy   6'
Métanire   59'
Report Walter   21'
Russell   25'
Zusi   69'
Sallói   86'
Espinoza   90+1'
Stadium: Allianz Field
Referee: Marcos de Oliveira
August 28, 2021 22 Sporting Kansas City 1–1 Colorado Rapids Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 pm CDT Russell   41' Report Lewis   16',   30'
Abubakar   24'
Trusty   69'
Rosenberry   72'
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 19,883
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
September 3, 2021 22 Los Angeles FC 4–0 Sporting Kansas City Los Angeles
7:00 PM PT Fall   18', 61'
Ibeagha   41'
Arango   71'
Duke   77'
Musovski   79'
Atuesta   87' (pen.)
Report Espinoza   58'
Melia   85'
Stadium: Banc of California Stadium
Attendance: 22,018
Referee: Drew Fischer
September 11, 2021 24 Sporting Kansas City 2–0 Chicago Fire FC Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 pm CDT José Mauri   4'
Russel   6'
Report Stojanović   32'
F. Navarro   53'
M. Navarro   68'
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 18,467
Referee: Jon Freemon
September 15, 2021 25 Sporting Kansas City 4–0 Minnesota United FC Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 pm CDT Shelton   14'
Sallói   36'
Russell   45' (pen.)
Duke   52'
Report Fragapane   50' Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 16,888
Referee: Robert Sibiga
September 26, 2021 26 Sporting Kansas City 1–2 Seattle Sounders FC Kansas City, Kansas
5:00 pm CDT Russell   60'
Zusi   90+4'
Report Tolo   16'
C. Roldan   31'
Gómez   53'
Bruin   55'
A. Roldan   86'
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 19,248
Referee: Joseph Dickerson
September 29, 2021 27 FC Dallas 1–3 Sporting Kansas City Frisco, Texas
7:30 pm CDT Acosta   52'
Pepi   68'
Munjoma   81'
Report Sallói   13',   61'
Russell   55' (pen.)
Barber   90+5'
Stadium: Toyota Stadium
Attendance: 12,387
Referee: Jair Marrufo
October 3, 2021 28 Sporting Kansas City 4–2 Houston Dynamo FC Kansas City, Kansas
3:00 pm CDT Russell   16' (pen.),   90'
Sallói   26'
Kinda   57'
Zusi   85'
Report Junqua   16'
Hadebe   27'
Picault   50'
Vera   53'
Quintero   76'
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 17,867
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
October 17, 2021 29 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2–1 Sporting Kansas City Vancouver, BC
9:00 pm CDT Gauld   23'
Teibert   36'
White   51'
Nerwinski   85'
Report Russell   43'
Sánchez   45+1'
Walter   70'
Kinda   70'
Stadium: BC Place
Attendance: 10,990
Referee: Silviu Petrescu
October 23, 2021 30 Seattle Sounders FC 1–2 Sporting Kansas City Seattle, Washington
8:00 pm CDT João Paulo   35'
Rowe   51'
A. Roldan   55'
Benezet   58'
Gómez   76'
Montero   89'
Report Walter   4'
Melia   56'
Kinda   63'
Espinoza   74'
Russell   79'
Stadium: Lumen Field
Attendance: 32,139
Referee: Ismail Elfath
October 27, 2021 31 Sporting Kansas City 2–0 LA Galaxy Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 pm CDT Russell   40',   82'
Isimat-Mirin   90+2'
Report Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 18,711
Referee: Alan Kelly
October 31, 2021 32 Minnesota United FC 2–1 Sporting Kansas City Saint Paul, Minnesota
12:00 PM CDT Fragapane   20' (pen.),   84'
Reynoso   39'
Alonso   73'
Report Shelton   8'
Duke   48'
Kinda   79'
Dia   86'
Stadium: Allianz Field
Referee: Victor Rivas
November 3, 2021 33 Austin FC 3–1 Sporting Kansas City Austin, Texas
8:00 pm CDT Driussi   1'
Cascante   22'
Gallagher   50'
Stroud   60'
Report Isimat-Mirin   21'
Russell   65'
Stadium: Q2 Stadium
Attendance: 20,738
Referee: Nima Saghafi
November 7, 2021 34 Sporting Kansas City 0–1 Real Salt Lake Kansas City, Kansas
5:00 pm CST
Report
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 19,022
Referee: Ted Unkel

MLS Cup Playoffs

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November 20 First round Sporting Kansas City 3–1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Kansas City, Kansas
4:00 PM CST
Report
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 19,817
Referee: Alan Kelly
November 28 Western Conference Semifinals Sporting Kansas City 1–2 Real Salt Lake Kansas City, Kansas
2:00 PM CST Russell   24' (pen.) Report Luiz   49'
Julio   72'
Wood   90+1'
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 21,650
Referee: Kevin Stott

Leagues Cup

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August 10, 2021 Quarterfinals Sporting Kansas City   1–6   León Kansas City, Kansas
7:00 p.m. CDT Duke   61' Report Colombatto   16'
Fernández   27',   44'
Mena   62'
Meneses   72'
Dávila   79'
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 15,579
Referee: Juan Gabriel Calderón (Costa Rica)

Player statistics

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Squad appearances and goals

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Last updated on September 23, 2020.
No. Pos Nat Player Total Major League Soccer US Open Cup Playoffs
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Goalkeepers
22 GK   USA Kendall McIntosh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
24 GK   USA John Pulskamp 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
29 GK   USA Tim Melia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
31 GK   USA Brooks Thompson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Defenders
3 DF   ESP Andreu Fontas 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 DF   CRO Roberto Punčec 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 DF   FRA Nicolas Isimat-Mirin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 DF   USA Graham Zusi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 DF   USA Amadou Dia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 DF   USA Graham Smith 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
26 DF   USA Jaylin Lindsey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
36 DF   POR Luís Martins 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Midfielders
6 MF   ESP Ilie 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 MF   USA Gianluca Busio 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
15 MF   HON Roger Espinoza 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17 MF   ISR Gadi Kinda 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
19 MF   USA Grayson Barber 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
21 MF   COL Felipe Hernandez 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
28 MF   USA Cameron Duke 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
54 MF   FRA Remi Walter 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Forwards
7 FW   SCO Johnny Russell 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 FW   MEX Alan Pulido 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 FW   USA Khiry Shelton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
20 FW   HUN Dániel Sallói 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
23 FW   USA Tyler Freeman 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
25 FW   USA Ozzie Cisneros 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
96 FW   USA Wilson Harris 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Players who have made an appearance or had a squad number this season but have left the club
0+1 means player did came on as a sub once. 1+1 means player started once and came on as a sub once.

References

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  1. ^ MLS Digital Staff (February 10, 2021). "MLS 2021 regular season to start on April 17". Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  2. ^ MLS Communications (February 13, 2021). "Major League Soccer Preseason Schedule Update Feb. 13, 2021". Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Kovzan, Sam (March 1, 2021). "Sporting KC kick off 2021 preseason, presented by Children's Mercy". Sporting KC.
  4. ^ a b Kovzan, Sam (February 3, 2021). "Sporting KC signs 29-year-old French center back Nicolas Isimat-Mirin". Sportingkc.com.
  5. ^ Kovzan, Sam (October 21, 2020). "Sporting KC signs 20-year-old forward Wilson Harris as a Homegrown Player". Sporting KC.
  6. ^ Kovzan, Sam (December 17, 2020). "Sporting KC selects 26-year-old goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh in Stage 1 of MLS Re-Entry Process". Sporting KC.
  7. ^ Kovzan, Sam (December 22, 2020). "Sporting KC signs 25-year-old central midfielder Remi Walter". Sporting KC.
  8. ^ a b c Kovzan, Sam (January 20, 2021). "Sporting KC signs Academy products Grayson Barber, Ozzie Cisneros and Brooks Thompson as Homegrown Players". Sportingkc.com.
  9. ^ "Procedure Set to Determine Final U.S. Representative in 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League". United States Soccer Federation. September 14, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.