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Sporting Kansas City build character, not points in MLS home opener

The momentum earned with industry and ingenuity died as Sporting Kansas City, unable to finish their earlier chances, could not break through the packed San Jose defense.   

Published

3 months ago

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Thad Bell Photography

It is Saturday night at Children’s Mercy Park as Sporting Kansas City hosts San Jose Earthquakes in their home opener for the 2025 MLS season. A strong opening night crowd – despite the chilly air of early March – is bringing the noise and their wishes for an entertaining three points complements of their beloved club.

It is a wish shared by all. Home-Away losses to Inter Miami in the CONCACAF Champions Cup by the scores of 1-0 and 3-1 respectively combined with a 1-0 loss at Austin FC in the 2025 MLS Season-opener have Kansas City have listing in the competitive waters after three matches on the year.

The match is Sporting Kansas City’s fourth in just 11 days to start the season. Overall, Sporting will be looking to pull the plug on a streak of eight straight losses across three different competitions back to September 2024.

Manager Peter Vermes chose this Starting 11:

Yet, a fortuitous start was not to be. After forward Josef Martinez was fed into Kansas City’s box in the 3rd minute, the ball was stripped. Unmarked centrally, #9 Cristian “Chicho” Arango latched on and struck from 12 yards under the diving Sporting goalkeeper John Pulskamp for the 1-0 lead.

Sporting quickly countered after the ensuing kickoff. Thommy wrestled for position in the box with a San Jose defender Rodrigues draped on his back. The ‘Quakes got the call, and ire from KC left back Tim Liebold who shot for goal putting the ball into the booing mass of The Cauldron. The effort meant yellow for Liebold.

After a Kansas City corner was taken short, Garcia picked up the loose ball and juked around one. His talismanic attitude took form of a blistering run to the top of the box full of intent. The Spaniard fired his shot just over the bar. No goal, but the effort was a win in the hearts of Kansas City’s faithful.

Garcia was not alone. Right winger Shapi Suleymanov – both signed in a transfer from Aris Thessaloniki in Greece at the start of February – drove at the defense repeatedly and craftily with cut and chop one after another, putting the ‘Quakes on alert.

San Jose’s second rush on goal came in the 19th minute after Sporting had gained the advantage in both shots and corners. The result was a corner from the left wing. During the scrum in the box for the serve, the ball fell through a flailing Pulskamp, bounced, and was sent home by Martinez. There was a palpable drone in the crowd and an early and disappointing two-goal deficit for the home side.

The deficit, frankly, only pissed off the hosts. No one would go quietly into the night. Kansas City continued to go at San Jose. In the 25th minute it paid off. After a Sporting shot nicked the arm of San Jose’s Ian Harkes, Referee Sergii Boiko called for the spot kick. The other Sporting debutant Dejan Joveljic manned up from the spot and drove Kansas City to within one and the crowd into desired joy.

 

Now past a long-running streak of missed penalties, and now feeding off their momentum, Sporting upped the offensive pressure. Left back Tim Liebold, roaming inside often, shot from a low cross from right back Jake Davis that eked through the crowd. Moments later, Garcia went top shelf, only too high. No rest for the wicked.

The wicked do get back up. And the ‘Quakes nearly rose in the 34th. Martinez, MLS’s 6th all-time leading scorer, went airborne with an acrobatic side volley that Pulskamp swatted away. Gaining a further advantage on the right wing with Cristian Espinoza running Liebold ragged, San Jose looked primed to add to their lead.

Sporting, however, made it to the five minutes of stoppage time where the battle that had been brewing all half turned to harbinger. Trying to keep possession in Kansas City’s end, San Jose midfielder Hernan Lopez pestered Davis, then fouled Bartlett. As Boiko whistled a foul on Lopez, Davis pleaded for – and won – the yellow for Lopez.

The event-filled half ended when Kansas City center back Joaquin Fernandez skidded a header off the bar from a Shapi free-kick.

No changes were made by either manager at the half. Not until harbinger turned into reality, anyway. A leaping tackle into Erik Thommy’s ankle from behind in the 52nd minute meant red for Lopez. San Jose would have to hold onto the lead one man down.

Injecting fresh legs and perhaps a new look, Vermes sent on left back Logan Ndenbe, right back Andrew Brody, and holding midfielder Nemanja Radoja for Liebold, Davis, and Jacob Bartlett in the 56th minute.

Vermes used his last two subs in the 77th as left winger Daniel Salloi came on for Thommy and central midfielder Memo Rodriguez for Zorhan Bassong.

The momentum earned with industry and ingenuity died a slow death as Sporting, unable to finish their earlier chances, could not break through the packed San Jose defense.

Thus, despite the fight shown and statistical advantage earned by their club, more than a few fans went away unsatisfied as boos were heard at the final whistle.

Sporting Kansas City will next travel to DC United for a Saturday evening clash with United and high-scoring striker Christian Benteke.

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