Does Sporting Kansas City rebuild mean positive result in 2025 opener?

It was a moment that pulled fans of Sporting Kansas City to the edge of the seat. A perfect switching ball from right to left, finding left winger Daniel Salloi deep in Austin’s end. A quick pass into box-present Logan Ndenbe who then fed for new #10 Manu Garcia at the top of Austin’s box saw a slick return to Ndenbe. A quick pass into striker Dejan Joveljic saw the new #9 dance around two Austin defenders. Would the moment be enough for Sporting Kansas City in its opening match of the 2025 MLS season, a season that needs to show continual progress?

A new start. A fresh start. Everyone has hope as the 2025 MLS season begins for Sporting Kansas City at Austin FC.

But that is all malarky. All that truly matters is wins and losses. Either you win or you don’t. Early matches don’t matter? Bah. Win now, even for a club amidst a self-proclaimed rebuild after finishing 13th in the West last season. That is reality. And that is exactly what Manager Peter Vermes and his charges aim to do.

Vermes went with the following Starting Eleven in Austin:

How our XI takes shape at Austin 👇#ATXvSKC | @BlueKC pic.twitter.com/Djj30Dc9UA

— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) February 23, 2025

Likely due to Sporting Kansas City playing Tuesday night in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, neither of their designated players – #10 Manu Garcia and Dejan Joveljic – were in the eleven. However, two of Austin’s biggest offseason additions started on the pitch in striker Brandon Vazquez and former SKC midfielder Ilie Sanchez for their new head man Nico Estevez.

Absorbing mild pressure while staying organized and compact defensively is how Kansas City spent the first 15 minutes. Vazquez hit a slow-roller into Pulskamp in the 17th minute, but attacks were more probing than penetrating until then.

A counter from Austin ensued, yet ended with a Guilherme Biro header that bounded wide of Sporting goalkeeper John Pulskamp’s right post. Next, it was Owen Wolff free in the inner left channel after a ball from Ilie as the hosts found seams in Kansas City’s compact shape. Wolff’s steamroller, however, scooted right as well. Austin’s wide play had pulled apart Sporting, and the targeting of open spaces between right winger Daniel Salloi and now right #8 Memo Rodriquez would continue.

The 32nd minute saw Austin split Sporting’s press in their own end (leaving four KC players in their wake) and attack up the right wing. The final shot was blocked, but the hope for an away shutout were not glittering.

Shortly after Sporting earned a corner from the right. William Agada drove a header to goal from the serve, only to see Logan Ndenbe unable to move out of its path. In the scuffle in the box, right center back Joaquin Fernandez took a knock but was able to carry on.

Agada would be in the mix in the 37th minute. The Nigerian chipped skillfully for a running Salloi at the right edge of Austin’s six-yard box. Salloi’s low shot was rejected by goalkeeper Brad Stuver. But there was Agada 14 yards out just on the left. The first-time shot from perhaps Sporting’s most head-in-hands striker was powered over the bar, souring Sporting’s best chance of the match.

Austin was not impressed. Through an up-and-back Vazquez was sprung loose into Kansas City’s box a few minutes on. As Vazquez cut back to his left, Sporting center back Robert Voloder tackled the ball away to ultimately send the sides into the half at 0-0.

Joveljic and Garcia began the 2nd half in place of Agada and rookie Jacob Bartlett, giving the new attackers some time to get to know each other and pushing Nemanja Radoja to the #6. But it was Dani Pereira who would strike the first salvo. The Austin midfielder pushed his shot over the bar in the 47th minute.

Austin continued to stab at Sporting’s perimeter defense, and occasionally found half-chances. Sporting needed a breakthrough to change the momentum. Garcia took the ball in the 57th. Running left to center, Garcia smartly pushed the ball around one defender before hitting a shot through coming defenders. Stuver gobbled it up, but Garcia had sent a warning and put some life into the visitors.

Although less spectacularly, Ndenbe followed suit five minutes later. A free kick some 35 yards out was the result, yet Thommy’s direct hit from the dead ball rolled harmlessly out.

Twenty-three minutes into the second half and Joveljic had not touched the ball. Fortunately, Fernandez had, interceding on balls in the box, positioning himself wisely, and making good choices on the ball in the back for Kansas City.

Sporting shown bright, nevertheless, in the 71st minute. A switching ball to Salloi led to a quick interchange between Ndenbe and Garcia that led to some evading touches by Joveljic to work near Austin’s six-yard box. But Sporting’s 4-million-dollar man was nudged off the ball before he could find the net.

Dany Rosero and Zorhan Bassong then stepped onto the pitch for Kansas City in place of Fernandez and Memo Rodriquez.

Only two minutes later, Austin took the lead. Wolff sent in a corner that was allowed to bounce inside Sporting’s box. Erik Thommy and Pulskamp were near and Davis was at the back post. None activated to clear or claim the ball as it bounced off Osman Bukari’s head for an Austin lead.

Osman Bukari opens the scoring for @AustinFC!

📺 #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/fQYgCbmDes pic.twitter.com/EOCAxlvsWP

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) February 23, 2025

It seemed that tradition would be honored as Sporting has lost all four road matches at Austin since 2021.

In the 82nd minute, Vazquez looked to make it two for Austin. Sneaking behind Rosero, the US National Teamer fired from his left only to see his shot shake the frame.

Adding value for Kansas City diehards was the entry of new acquisition Shapi Suleymanov for Thommy in the 84th minute.

A header from Rosero that trickled wide in the second of six minutes of extra time was the lone chance created by Sporting. Thus, a 1-0 loss would be their fate after producing seven shots and an expected goals (xG) of 1.2 in their season opener.

Moments of good moderated the moments of… typical. The schedule makers have not made it easy on this club trialing through rebuild. And it’s early. Momentum will come. The desire is it comes soon.

A flight to Inter Miami CF is up next up for Sporting Kansas City for Tuesday night’s 7:00pm CT away leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup series as they seek to overcome a 1-0 deficit after the home leg last Wednesday. Sporting’s next MLS match is the 2025 home opener Saturday versus San Jose Earthquakes at 7:30pm CT.