2015 Sporting Kansas City season

The 2015 Sporting Kansas City season was the twentieth season of the team's existence in Major League Soccer and the fifth year played under the Sporting Kansas City moniker.

Sporting Kansas City
2015 season
OwnerSporting Club
Head coachPeter Vermes
StadiumSporting Park
MLSConference: 6th
Overall: 10th
PlayoffsKnockout Stage
U.S. Open CupChampions
Top goalscorerLeague: Dom Dwyer 12
All: Dom Dwyer 17
Highest home attendance21,505
(June 6 vs. Seattle)
Lowest home attendanceLeague: 18,861
(September 18 vs. FC Dallas)
All: 16,117
(Aug 12 vs. Real Salt Lake)
Average home league attendanceLeague: 19,687
All: 19,371
← 2014
2016 →

Due to the dissolution of Chivas USA and MLS expansion to New York and Orlando, Sporting Kansas City moved to the Western Conference. Sporting was a member of the Western Conference for its first nine seasons before moving to the Eastern Conference for the previous ten seasons.

Squad

First team roster

As of October 13, 2015.[1]

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 13, 2015.[1]

No.Pos.Player Nation
2DFErik Palmer-Brown (HGP)  United States
3DFIke Opara  United States
4DFKevin Ellis (HGP)  United States
5DFMatt Besler (Captain; DP)  United States
6MFPaulo Nagamura  Brazil
7DFChance Myers  United States
8MFGraham Zusi (DP)  United States
9FWKrisztián Németh  Hungary
10MFBenny Feilhaber  United States
11MFBernardo Añor  Venezuela
12MFMikey Lopez (GA)  United States
13DFAmadou Dia  United States
14FWDom Dwyer  England
15DFSeth Sinovic  United States
17DFSaad Abdul-Salaam  United States
20DFAmobi Okugo  United States
21GKJon Kempin (HGP)  United States
22MFConnor Hallisey  United States
23DFJalil Anibaba  United States
27MFRoger Espinoza  Honduras
29GKTim Melia  United States
37FWJacob Peterson  United States
71DFMarcel de Jong  Canada
93MFSoni Mustivar  Haiti
94MFJimmy Medranda  Colombia
96MFJordi Quintillà  Spain

Player movement

In

DatePlayerPositionPrevious clubFee/notesRef
December 8, 2014 Bernardo AñorMF Columbus Crew SCTrade for Allocation Money[2]
December 12, 2014 Jalil AnibabaMF Orlando City SCTrade in exchange for Aurélien Collin[3]
December 16, 2014 James MarcelinMF Fort Lauderdale StrikersFree transfer[4]
December 18, 2014 Krisztián NémethFW Roda JC KerkradeFree transfer[5]
December 18, 2014 Luis MarínGK Universidad de ChileFree transfer[5]
December 23, 2014 Tim MeliaGK Chivas USAFree transfer[6]
January 6, 2015 Roger EspinozaMF Wigan AthleticFree transfer[7]
January 15, 2015 Connor HalliseyMF UC Berkeley2015 MLS SuperDraft[8]
January 15, 2015 Saad Abdul-SalaamDF University of Akron2015 MLS SuperDraft[8]
January 27, 2015 Servando CarrascoMF Houston DynamoTrade for rights in exchange for draft pick[8]
February 13, 2015 Soni MustivarMF FC Petrolul PloieștiFree transfer[8]
February 18, 2015 Amadou DiaMF Clemson University2015 MLS SuperDraft[8]
February 24, 2015 James Ansu RogersFW University of New Mexico2015 MLS SuperDraft[9]
March 2, 2015 Marcel de JongDF FC AugsburgFree[9]
July 20, 2015 Amobi OkugoDF/MF Orlando City SCTrade for Servando Carrasco[9]
August 6, 2015 Jordi QuintillàMF AjaccioTransfer[9]

Out

DatePlayerPositionNew clubFee/notesRef
November 25, 2014 Toni DovaleMF LugoOption declined[10]
November 25, 2014 Michael KafariMFOption declined[10]
November 25, 2014 Victor MuñozMF Arizona United SCOption declined[10]
November 25, 2014 Lawrence OlumMF Kedah FAContract terminated[10]
November 25, 2014 Soony SaadFW BEC Tero SasanaOut of contract[10]
November 25, 2014 Christian DukeMF Oklahoma City Energy FCWaived[11]
December 8, 2014 Aurélien CollinDF Orlando City SCTrade for Allocation Money and Jalil Anibaba[2]
December 8, 2014 C. J. SapongDF Philadelphia UnionTrade for 2015 MLS SuperDraft pick[2]
December 10, 2014 Sal ZizzoMF New York City FC2014 MLS Expansion Draft[12]
December 12, 2014 Eric KronbergGK Montreal ImpactOption declined[10]
December 12, 2014 Andy GruenebaumGK San Jose EarthquakesOption declined[10]
January 20, 2015 Claudio BielerFW QuilmesOut of contract[13]
February 24, 2015 Jorge ClarosMF Qingdao JonoonContract terminated[13]
May 27, 2015 Luis MarínGK PalestinoMutually terminated[14]
June 22, 2015 James Ansu RogersFWWaived[9]
July 20, 2015 Servando CarrascoMF Orlando City SCTrade for Amobi Okugo[9]

Loans

In

No.Pos.PlayerLoaned fromStartEndSource
40DF Igor Julião Fluminense FCApril 4, 2014December 31, 2014[9][15]

Out

No.Pos.PlayerLoaned toStartEndSource
21GK Jon Kempin San Antonio ScorpionsMarch 20, 2015May 27, 2015[9][16][14]
17DF Saad Abdul-Salaam San Antonio ScorpionsApril 1, 2015May 19, 2015[9][17][18]

Competitions

Match results

  Win  Tie  Loss

Preseason

Desert Friendlies

January 31, 2015 Portland Timbers 2–0 Sporting Kansas City Tucson, Arizona
19:00 CSTVillafaña  23'
Fernández 30' (p.k.)
Nanchoff 53'
ReportOtero  40'Stadium: North Stadium at Kino Sports Complex

Desert Diamond Cup

Kickoff times are in CST (UTC-06) unless shown otherwise

Major League Soccer

Western Conference standings

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPtsQualification
4Seattle Sounders FC34151364436+851MLS Cup Knockout Round
5LA Galaxy34141195646+1051
6Sporting Kansas City34141194845+351
7San Jose Earthquakes34131384139+247
8Houston Dynamo34111494249−742
Source: MLS

League table

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPtsQualification
8D.C. United34151364345−251
9LA Galaxy34141195646+1051
10Sporting Kansas City34141194845+351CONCACAF Champions League
11New England Revolution34141284847+150
12Toronto FC34151545858049
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored

Regular season

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

March 14, 2015 2 FC Dallas 3–1 Sporting Kansas City Frisco, Texas
19:30Perez 17 ', 52'
Harris  35'
Castillo 73'
Bekker  90'
ReportZusi  41'
Espinoza 44'
Ellis  90'
Stadium: Toyota Stadium
Attendance: 14,149
Referee: Jair Marrufo
April 11, 2015 6 Sporting Kansas City 0–0 Real Salt Lake Kansas City, Kansas
19:30Carrasco  61'ReportBeltran  44'
Saborio  61'
Beckerman  64'
Mansally  80'
Stadium: Sporting Park
Attendance: 20,087
Referee: Jorge González
April 18, 2015 7 LA Galaxy 2–1 Sporting Kansas City Carson, California
21:30Husidic 9'
Gargan  32'
Juninho  83'
Gonzalez 94+'
ReportNémeth 22'
Espinoza  30'
Dwyer  83'
Stadium: StubHub Center
Attendance: 20,018
Referee: Alan Kelly
April 25, 2015 8 Houston Dynamo 4–4 Sporting Kansas City Houston, Texas
19:30Barnes 11 ', 46'
Bruin 46+'  63'
Taylor  79'
Rodríguez 83'
ReportNémeth 2'
Espinoza  31'
Anibaba  43'
Ellis  53'
Dwyer 74'
Feilhaber 80' (pen.), 95+'
Stadium: BBVA Compass Stadium
Attendance: 21,046
Referee: Kevin Stott
May 3, 2015 9 Sporting Kansas City 1–0 Chicago Fire Kansas City, Kansas
16:00Sinovic  38'
Nagamura 75'  92+'
ReportAdaílton  32'
Ritter  58'
Accam  89'
Stadium: Sporting Park
Attendance: 19,581
Referee: Jose Carlos Rivero
May 20, 2015 11 Sporting Kansas City 4–2 New England Revolution Kansas City, Kansas
19:00Dwyer 29'  37'
Feilhaber  30' 43' (pen.)
Németh 39 ', 43'
Dia  71'
Mustivar  76'
ReportAgudelo 11'
Dorman  41'
Caldwell 64'
Goncalves  89'
Stadium: Sporting Park
Attendance: 18,864
Referee: Allen Chapman
May 29, 2015 13 Sporting Kansas City 4–0 FC Dallas Kansas City, Kansas
20:00Németh 19'
Feilhaber 51'
Ellis 57'
Zusi 64'
ReportLoyd  33'   43'Stadium: Sporting Park
Attendance: 20,172
Referee: Dave Gantar
June 21, 2015 15 Real Salt Lake 2–1 Sporting Kansas City Sandy, Utah
21:00Morales  15'
Jaime 15',  51'
Phillips  18'
Beckerman  47'
García 90+3',  90+3'
Report
Report
Mustivar  8'
Besler  14'
Dwyer 30'
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 19,155
Referee: Drew Fischer
July 24, 2015 19 Real Salt Lake 2–1 Sporting Kansas City Sandy, Utah
22:00Morales 34'
Plata 73' (pen.)  90'
Vásquez  90'
SummaryFeilhaber 50'  90'
Melia  72'
Palmer-Brown  77'
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 20,809
Referee: Allen Chapman
August 1, 2015 20 Sporting Kansas City 1–1 Houston Dynamo Kansas City, Kansas
19:30Dwyer 6'  45'
Besler  20'
Ellis  65'
Myers  76'
SummaryDeric  45'
Clark 78'
Torres  80'
Sturgis  86'
Stadium: Sporting Park
Attendance: 19,882
Referee: Jorge Gonzalez
August 15, 2015 22 Sporting Kansas City 4–3 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Kansas City, Kansas
20:00Ellis 53'
Dia  61'
Dwyer 81'
Nagamura 87 ', 95'  95'
ReportManneh 9 ', 41'
Laba  64'
Morales 75'
Stadium: Sporting Park
Attendance: 19,969
Referee: Juan Guzman
August 22, 2015 24 Columbus Crew SC 3–2 Sporting Kansas City Columbus, Ohio
18:30Finlay 35'
Tchani 80'
McInerney 88'  92+'
Reportde Jong 14'
Dwyer  33'
Medranda  39'
Zusi 62'
Lopez  79'
Stadium: MAPFRE Stadium
Attendance: 20,018
Referee: Chris Penso
August 29, 2015 25 Colorado Rapids 2–1 Sporting Kansas City Commerce City, Colorado
20:00Figueroa 53'
Sjöberg  58'
Sarvas  72'
Doyle 76'
ReportAbdul-Salaam  34'
Dwyer 47'
Sinovic  60'
Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 16,480
Referee: Jorge Gonzalez
September 9, 2015 26 Portland Timbers 0–0 Sporting Kansas City Portland, Oregon
21:30Melano  46+'ReportNagamura  40'
Peterson  48+'
Feilhaber  68'
Anor  94+'
Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 21,144
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
September 13, 2015 27 Orlando City SC 3–1 Sporting Kansas City Orlando, Florida
18:00Winter 3 ', 72'
Rochez 66'
Shea  83'
ReportNemeth 59'
Besler  83'
Dwyer  87'
Stadium: Citrus Bowl
Attendance: 22,241
Referee: Jair Marrufo
September 18, 2015 28 Sporting Kansas City 3–1 FC Dallas Kansas City, Kansas
18:00Feilhaber 65 ', 76' (pen.)
Dwyer 83'
Anor  86'
ReportUlloa 80'Stadium: Sporting Park
Attendance: 18,861
Referee: Mark Geiger
September 23, 2015 29 Houston Dynamo 1–0 Sporting Kansas City Houston, Texas
19:30Garcia  45'   70'
Bruin 67'
ReportMustivar  33'
Besler  41'
Sinovic  56'
Feilhaber  88'
Stadium: BBVA Compass Stadium
Attendance: 18,037
Referee: Sorin Stoica
October 21, 2015 33 Sporting Kansas City 0–2 Colorado Rapids Kansas City, Kansas
19:30Németh  78'
Ellis  89'
ReportPowers 78'
Sarvas 86'
Stadium: Sporting Park
Attendance: 18,897
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
October 25, 2015 34 Sporting Kansas City 2–1 LA Galaxy Kansas City, Kansas
18:00Dwyer  17' 65'
Ellis 38'
Myers  58'
Nagamura  66'
Feilhaber  92+'
ReportDeLaGarza  24'
Keane 46+'
Stadium: Sporting Park
Attendance: 19,422
Referee: Mark Geiger

MLS Cup Playoffs

Bracket

Source: [19]

Results
Knockout round

U.S. Open Cup

Bracket
Fourth round
June 16–17
Round of 16
June 30–July 1
Quarterfinals
July 14–22
Semifinals
August 12
Final
September 30
               
MLSNew York Red Bulls3
NASLAtlanta Silverbacks0
MLSNew York Red Bulls4
NASLNew York Cosmos1
NASLNew York Cosmos2(4)
MLSNew York City FC2(3)
MLSNew York Red Bulls1(3)
MLSPhiladelphia Union1(4)
MLSPhiladelphia Union0(3)
USLRochester Rhinos0(1)
MLSPhiladelphia Union2
MLSD.C. United1
USLPittsburgh Riverhounds1
MLSD.C. United3*
MLSPhiladelphia Union1
MLSChicago Fire0
MLSChicago Fire1*
USLLouisville City FC0
MLSChicago Fire3
USLCharlotte Independence1
MLSNew England Revolution0
USLCharlotte Independence1
MLSChicago Fire3
MLSOrlando City SC1
USLCharleston Battery4(7)
MLSOrlando City SC4(8)
MLSOrlando City SC2
MLSColumbus Crew0
USLRichmond Kickers1
MLSColumbus Crew3
MLSPhiladelphia Union1(6)
MLSSporting Kansas City1(7)
MLSSporting Kansas City1
USLSaint Louis FC0
MLSSporting Kansas City6
MLSFC Dallas2
MLSFC Dallas4
USLOklahoma City Energy FC1
MLSSporting Kansas City3
MLSHouston Dynamo1
MLSHouston Dynamo2
USLAustin Aztex0
MLSHouston Dynamo1
MLSColorado Rapids0
MLSColorado Rapids4
USLColorado Springs Switchbacks1
MLSSporting Kansas City3
MLSReal Salt Lake1
MLSReal Salt Lake2
USLSeattle Sounders FC 21
MLSReal Salt Lake2
MLSPortland Timbers0
MLSSeattle Sounders FC1
MLSPortland Timbers3*
MLS Real Salt Lake1
MLSLA Galaxy0
MLSSan Jose Earthquakes2(6)
USLSacramento Republic FC2(5)
MLSSan Jose Earthquakes0
MLSLA Galaxy1
MLSLA Galaxy6
USASAPSA Elite1
v Saint Louis FC
June 16, 2015 Fourth round Sporting Kansas City 1–0 Saint Louis FC Kansas City, Kansas
19:30Zusi 70'SKC Report
MLS Report
Renken  87'Stadium: Sporting Park
Attendance: 19,298
(Club USOC Record)
Referee: Baboucarr Jallow
v FC Dallas
July 1, 2015 Fifth round Sporting Kansas City 6–2 FC Dallas Kansas City, Kansas
19:30Dwyer 5', 30', 41' (pen.), 69'
Németh 45+1', 59'
ReportMichel  15'
Barrios 62'
Zimmerman  68'
Acosta 73'
Stadium: Sporting Park
Attendance: 19,113
Referee: Robert Sibiga

References