April 13, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
Sporting Kansas City (2-2-4, 10 points) fell 3-2 to Inter Miami CF (4-2-3, 15 points) on a record-setting Saturday night at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
An electric crowd of 72,610 fans-the largest in Missouri history and the third largest attendance for a standalone MLS regular season match-saw a gripping interconference clash sway in favor of the visitors on the 28-year anniversary of Kansas City’s inaugural MLS match at Arrowhead Stadium in 1996. Despite a brilliant brace from Sporting midfielder Erik Thommy, Miami emerged with three points behind a goal and an assist from 2023 FIFA Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi and additional strikes from Diego Gomez and Luis Suarez.
With multiple goals in five consecutive regular season matches for the first time since 2000, Sporting will look to bounce back next Saturday, April 20, when archrivals St. Louis City SC (1-1-5, 8 points) visit Children’s Mercy Park for another mouthwatering battle in the Soccer Capital of America. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. CT with tickets available at SeatGeek.com and live coverage on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Coaching his 567th match for Sporting in all competitions, Manager Peter Vermes made two changes to his starting lineup from Sunday’s 3-3 draw against the Portland Timbers. Andreu Fontas, returning from a hamstring injury for his first appearance since March 9, replaced Robert Voloder in central defense. Further up the field, Designated Player Alan Pulido earned his first start since March 23, stepping in for injured midfielder Memo Rodriguez. On the Sporting bench, forward Johnny Russell was available after missing each of the last three games with a hamstring strain.
A riveting atmosphere in one of America’s most iconic sports venues set the stage for an excellent end-to-end spectacle on the pitch. Buoyed by its boisterous home supporters, Sporting drew first blood after just six minutes as a pair of Germans combined to breach the Miami defense. Left back Tim Leibold swiftly won possession with a crunching tackle near midfield and carried the ball forward before spreading it right to Thommy, who took a settling touch on the right edge of the box before sending a superb, dipping drive to the far left corner past Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender. The lethal strike was Sporting’s earliest goal of the season and the earliest goal by SKC since Thommy scored in the fourth minute of a 3-2 road win…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at OurSports Central Major League Soccer MLS News…