Sporting KC
Sporting KC Backups Lose Late to Charlotte in Preseason
Peter Vermes talks to the media and Sporting Kansas City find the back of the net twice as preseason wraps up in Florida.

Sporting Kansas City wrapped up the first leg of their 2025 preseason with a scrimmage against Charlotte FC. 2025 will mark the first time these two teams will meet in a game during the regular season, but in this friendly, Charlotte got the better of Sporting KC late.
As with all preseason games/scrimmages/friendlies that are behind closed doors, it’s hard to take much from the results.
Vermes Press Conference
Perhaps the most important part of any game is a chance to talk to Chief Soccer Officer and Manager, Peter Vermes, when the game ends. The KC Star’s Daniel Sperry got the first question and followed up on comments Vermes made after the 2-0 loss to the Chicago Fire over the weekend. In that game he said both teams were poor with the ball and KC gave it away too easy. He liked the progress just a few days later.
Vermes answering @danielsperrykc.bsky.social's question about #SportingKC's play with the ball against Charlotte, after a disappointing performance against Chicago: "I actually though that we made significant progress."
— KC Soccer Journal (@kcsoccerjournal.bsky.social) 2025-01-29T23:49:51.577Z
One concern Sporting KC fans always have is injuries. The team has had brutal luck at times and every missing player (more on them below) can be a concern. During the game Logan Ndenbe subbed out in the 19th minute, which is an unusual time to leave the game. Vermes confirmed it was just precautionary by Logan himself.
Logan Ndenbe pulled himself out of today's #SportingKC preseason game as a precaution.
— KC Soccer Journal (@kcsoccerjournal.bsky.social) 2025-01-29T23:56:04.571Z
The KC Soccer Journal’s Thad Bell got a chance to ask Vermes for an update on signings.
Vermes on signings: "We're close. We're so close." #SportingKC
— KC Soccer Journal (@kcsoccerjournal.bsky.social) 2025-01-30T00:00:45.475Z
While there was still nothing to announce, the team has had three rumors in the last week in case you missed them:
- Designated Player Attacking Midfielder: Manu Garcia
- RW Magomed-Shapi Suleymanov
- RB Salzburg’s 21-year-old CB, Bryan Okoh
Yesterday, GiveMeSport’s Tom Bogert confirmed the team was finalizing deals for Garcia and Suleymanov. He’s also the source on the Okoh rumor. Be sure to follow Tommy Scoops on BlueSky.
Finally, Sperry asked a great question about how Peter’s job is changing now that he’s not Sporting Director as well.
Vermes on @danielsperrykc.bsky.social's question about how not being Sporting Director changes his job: "It's great. It was the right time to do it." #SportingKC
— KC Soccer Journal (@kcsoccerjournal.bsky.social) 2025-01-30T00:11:08.795Z
The joy on his face as the question was asked almost doesn’t seem real.
The joy on Peter Vermes' face when Sperry asked him about having someone else do the Sporting Director role and how it frees him up. 😃 #SportingKC
— Chad Smith (@chadcsmith.bsky.social) 2025-01-30T00:08:13.434Z
The Lineups
We can’t “cover” a preseason game without talking about the game a bit. The team rolled out its third different lineup of preseason. The lineup saw five changes from the team that first took the field against Chicago. One change was Jake Davis moving from midfield to right back. I personally have been thinking Davis is a lock to play in the midfield, so this gives us something else to consider. And he had the opening assist from RB, so maybe he stays there.
The other changes saw first round pick Jansen Miller start, along with a return to the lineup for Zorhan Bassong. Nemanja Radoja and Daniel Salloi made their first “starts” as well. Who starts versus who doesn’t feels a little arbitrary in preseason but it’s all we have.
1' Underway in today's 90-minute scrimmage vs. Charlotte FC.#SportingKC XI:
John Pulskamp
Jake Davis
Jansen Miller
Robert Voloder
Logan NdenbeNemanja Radoja
Zorhan Bassong
Memo RodriguezDaniel Salloi
Mason Toye
Erik Thommy#SKCvCLT #SKCPreseason— Sporting KC Communications (@SportingKC_PR) January 29, 2025
In the 19th minute, SKC Academy product Leo Christiano came on at left back for the aforementioned Ndenbe. Halftime would see a full change, outside of Christiano who stayed on. One interesting item was Khiry Shelton appeared to be playing center back based on the list of names and the video below. Last season, Vermes did indicate he was training at both CB and RB.
It’s also possible Christiano was actually playing CB too, as he played there consistently for SKC II last season.
The other players playing stayed mostly the same as the prior game, with Jacob Bartlett and Stephen Afrifa coming on with this unit instead of the first. SKC II midfielder Cielo Tschantret also came into the game.
46' Back underway leading 1-0 over Charlotte FC.#SportingKC XI:
Jack Kortkamp
Jan Jurcec
Khiry Shelton
Ian James
Leo ChristianoJacob Bartlett
Cielo Tschantret
Johann OrtizAlenis Vargas
Sebastian Cruz
Stephen Afrifa#SKCvCLT #SKCPreseason— Sporting KC Communications (@SportingKC_PR) January 29, 2025
A few changes happened during the second half. The first change came in the 85th minute when 2024 SuperDraft pick Dyson Clapier subbed on for Alenis Vargas. Then in the 87th minute former SKC II defender Carson Klein replaced Shelton, and 2025 SuperDraft pick Anthony Samways got on for Christiano.
Who was Missing?
William Agada was once again not in the lineup as Vermes said he wouldn’t be after the last game. Dany Rosero and Ryan Schewe also remained out.
A new addition to the missing players is summer signing Joaquin Fernandez. He had “started” each of the last two games but didn’t appear in this one. Tim Leibold was also missing for the first time this preseason. There was no word on either of their conditions.
The Goals
Once again, the game was behind closed doors, so there isn’t much to be taken away from the actual soccer. One positive was Sporting KC scored (twice!) in the game after having not scored in either of their prior preseason games.
The first goal came via a through ball from Davis to Mason Toye who put Sporting KC up 1-0 going into halftime. [Update 1/30/25: The team released the goal. WHAT A PASS from Jake Davis!]
First goal of 2025 was a beauty ðŸ¤#SportingKC | @ChildrensMercy Preseason pic.twitter.com/GLllyybbSw
— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) January 30, 2025
The lead didn’t last long in the second half. In the 52nd minute, USMNT striker Patrick Aguymang got his head on the end of a corner as 17-year-old GK Jack Kortkamp missed a punch.
It’s hard to tell what started the second sequence but Charlotte would take the lead a few minutes later in the 56th minute when Agyemang welcomed 16-year-old Ian James to MLS with a slick move to set up the go-ahead goal.
GOAL! Zaha to Agyemang and he fires it to the back of the net for his second of the match!
2-1 #CLTvSKC pic.twitter.com/RBQInYzrXR
— Charlotte FC (@CharlotteFC) January 29, 2025
Charlotte wouldn’t be ahead long though as Vargas earned a PK for Sporting KC at the other end and Homegrown Jacob Bartlett slotted home the penalty. SKC didn’t make a single PK in all of the 2023 season, so it was good to see.
Jacob Bartlett nets it from the penalty spot! 💪 #SportingKC
— Sporting Kansas City (@sportingkc.com) 2025-01-29T17:23:11.150Z
Unfortunately for Bartlett, he would have a handball in the box in the 86th minute and Charlotte would score the game winning penalty. Three goals allowed feels bad, but it was an extremely youthful lineup that will learn a lot from their mistakes.
GOAL! Cambridge gives us the lead from the spot! 🎯
3-2 #CLTvSKC pic.twitter.com/dN9p5ssylz
— Charlotte FC (@CharlotteFC) January 29, 2025
Sporting KC headed back to Kansas City today and will have a few days at home before making the journey to Indio, California for the Coachella Valley Invitational. They are back in action next Wednesday against New York City FC at 3:00 PM PST (5:00 PM CST). There is still no word yet if the games in CA will be streamed.
The headline is funny—feels like an attempt to keep Reddit from burning itself down haha. That ball from Jake was wonderful. I want to see more of that from him!