2020 Sporting Kansas City season
# 2020 Sporting Kansas City season

The 2020 Sporting Kansas City season was the twenty-fifth season of the team's existence in Major League Soccer and the tenth year played under the Sporting Kansas City moniker. The season was suspended on March 12, for 30 days, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following that decision, on March 19 Major League Soccer extended its temporary suspension until May 10. Following that decision, on April 17 Major League Soccer extended its temporary suspension until June 8.

## Summary

### Preseason

Sporting will spend the whole of its pre-season training camp in Scottsdale, Arizona for the sixth straight year, led by Coach and Sporting Director Peter Vermes. From January 19 to Feb 1 and from Feb. 8–22 the club will practice in Scottsdale before kicking off its 25th season in Major League Soccer on Feb 29 or March 1.

## Roster

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Squad correct as of August 16, 2019.

| No. | Pos. | Player | Nation |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | GK | Richard Sánchez | Mexico |
| 2 | DF | Botond Baráth | Hungary |
| 3 | DF | Andreu Fontas | Spain |
| 4 | DF | Roberto Punčec | Croatia |
| 5 | DF | Matt Besler (Captain) | United States |
| 6 | MF | Ilie Sánchez | Spain |
| 7 | FW | Johnny Russell (DP) | Scotland |
| 8 | DF | Graham Zusi | United States |
| 9 | FW | Alan Pulido (DP) | Mexico |
| 10 | MF | Felipe Gutiérrez (DP) | Chile |
| 11 | FW | Khiry Shelton | United States |
| 12 | FW | Gerso Fernandes | Guinea-Bissau |
| 13 | DF | Amadou Dia | United States |
| 15 | MF | Roger Espinoza | Honduras |
| 16 | DF | Graham Smith | United States |
| 17 | MF | Gadi Kinda | Israel |
| 18 | GK | Eric Dick | United States |
| 19 | FW | Erik Hurtado | United States |
| 20 | FW | Dániel Sallói (HGP) | Hungary |
| 21 | MF | Felipe Hernandez (HGP) | Colombia |
| 22 | DF | Winston Reid | New Zealand |
| 23 | FW | Tyler Freeman (HGP) | United States |
| 24 | GK | John Pulskamp | United States |
| 26 | DF | Jaylin Lindsey (HGP) | United States |
| 27 | MF | Gianluca Busio (HGP) | United States |
| 28 | DF | Cameron Duke (HGP) | United States |
| 29 | GK | Tim Melia | United States |
| 36 | DF | Luís Martins | Portugal |
| 75 | MF | Wan Kuzain | United States |

## Player movement

### In

Per Major League Soccer and club policies terms of the deals do not get disclosed.

| Date | Player | Position | Previous club | Fee/notes |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| November 26, 2019 | Richard Sánchez | GK | Chicago Fire FC | 2019 MLS Re-Entry Draft |
| December 4, 2019 | Roberto Punčec | DF | Rijeka | Undisclosed |
| December 9, 2019 | Khiry Shelton | FW | SC Paderborn 07 | Undisclosed |
| December 10, 2019 | Alan Pulido | FW | C.D. Guadalajara | Undisclosed |
| January 10, 2020 | Amadou Dia | DF | Phoenix Rising FC | Signed for 2020 season with contract options through 2022 |
| February 24, 2020 | John Pulskamp | GK | Sporting Kansas City II | Promotion to first team |

**Draft picks**

Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster. Only trades involving draft picks and executed after the start of 2020 MLS SuperDraft will be listed in the notes.

| Round | Pick Number | Player | Position | School |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 3 | 58 | Jaret Townsend | MF | University of Washington |
| 4 | 84 | James Kasak | FW | Virginia Tech |

### Out

| Date | Player | Position | Destination club | Notes |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| November 19, 2019 | Jimmy Medranda | MF | Nashville SC | Selected in 2019 MLS Expansion Draft |
| November 19, 2019 | Adrian Zendejas | GK | Nashville SC | Traded for $125,000 in 2020 TAM and $50,000 in 2020 GAM |
| November 21, 2019 | Seth Sinovic | DF | New England Revolution | Option Declined |
| November 21, 2019 | Benny Feilhaber | MF | Retired | Option Declined |
| November 21, 2019 | Gedion Zelalem | MF | New York City FC | Option Declined |
| November 21, 2019 | Krisztián Németh | FW | DAC Dunajská Streda | Option Declined |
| November 21, 2019 | Nicolas Hasler | DF | FC Thun | Option Declined |
| November 21, 2019 | Rodney Wallace | DF | Retired | Option Declined |

### Loans

Per Major League Soccer and club policies terms of the deals do not get disclosed.

**In**

| Date | Player | Position | Loaned from | Notes | Ref |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| January 23, 2020 | Gadi Kinda | MF | Beitar Jerusalem F.C. | One-year loan using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM), with an option to exercise a permanent transfer at the end of 2020 | |
| February 14, 2020 | Winston Reid | DF | West Ham United F.C. | One-year loan | |

**Out**

| Date | Player | Position | Loaned to | Notes | Ref |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| February 4, 2020 | Eric Dick | GK | Phoenix Rising FC | Loaned to Phoenix Rising FC (USL Championship) for the 2020 season. | |

## Competitions

### Preseason

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

Preseason schedule announced on January 14, 2020.

### MLS is Back Tournament

**Group stage**

Group D results :

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Sporting Kansas City | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 6 | Advanced to knockout stage |
| 2 | Minnesota United FC | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 5 | Advanced to knockout stage |
| 3 | Real Salt Lake | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | Advanced to knockout stage |
| 4 | Colorado Rapids | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | −3 | 1 | |

### Regular season

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

### Standings

**Western Conference**

2020 Western Conference standings :

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Sporting Kansas City | 21 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 38 | 25 | +13 | 39 | 1.86 | Qualification for the Playoffs first round and Leagues Cup |
| 2 | Seattle Sounders FC | 22 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 44 | 23 | +21 | 39 | 1.77 | Qualification for the Playoffs first round and Leagues Cup |
| 3 | Portland Timbers | 23 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 46 | 35 | +11 | 39 | 1.70 | Qualification for the Playoffs first round and 2021 CONCACAF Champions League |
| 4 | Minnesota United FC | 21 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 36 | 26 | +10 | 34 | 1.62 | Qualification for the Playoffs first round |
| 5 | Colorado Rapids | 18 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 32 | 28 | +4 | 28 | 1.56 | Qualification for the Playoffs first round |

* ↑ As MLS is Back Tournament winners

**Overall table**

2020 MLS overall standings :

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Philadelphia Union (S) | 23 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 44 | 20 | +24 | 47 | 2.04 | 2021 CONCACAF Champions League |
| 2 | Toronto FC (V) | 23 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 33 | 26 | +7 | 44 | 1.91 | 2021 CONCACAF Champions League |
| 3 | Sporting Kansas City | 21 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 38 | 25 | +13 | 39 | 1.86 | 2021 Leagues Cup |
| 4 | Columbus Crew SC (C) | 23 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 36 | 21 | +15 | 41 | 1.78 | 2021 CONCACAF Champions League |
| 5 | Orlando City SC | 23 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 40 | 25 | +15 | 41 | 1.78 | 2021 Leagues Cup |

* ↑ As Supporters' Shield winners (USA2)
* ↑ As 2020 Canadian Championship finalists (awarded by Canada Soccer) (CAN1)
* ↑ As 1st, Western Conference (MLS1)
* ↑ As MLS Cup 2020 champions (USA1)
* ↑ As 4th, Eastern Conference (MLS2)

### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Stadium | A | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H |
| Result | W | W | L | W | W | W | L | D | D | L | W | L | L | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Player statistics

### Squad appearances and goals

    Last updated on September 23, 2020.

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Major League Soccer | Major League Soccer | MLS is Back | MLS is Back | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||||
| 1 | GK | MEX | Richard Sánchez | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 45 | GK | USA | John Pulskamp | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | GK | USA | Tim Melia | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||||
| 3 | DF | ESP | Andreu Fontas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | CRO | Roberto Punčec | 6 | 0 | 4+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | USA | Matt Besler | 5 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | DF | USA | Graham Zusi | 7 | 0 | 6+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | DF | USA | Amadou Dia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | USA | Graham Smith | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | NZL | Winston Reid | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | DF | USA | Jaylin Lindsey | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | DF | POR | Luís Martins | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||||
| 6 | MF | ESP | Ilie | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | CHI | Felipe Gutiérrez | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | HON | Roger Espinoza | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | ISR | Gadi Kinda | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | COL | Felipe Hernandez | 5 | 0 | 2+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | USA | Gianluca Busio | 7 | 1 | 5+2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | USA | Cameron Duke | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 75 | MF | MAS | Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||||
| 7 | FW | SCO | Johnny Russell | 6 | 1 | 5+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | MEX | Alan Pulido | 5 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | USA | Khiry Shelton | 7 | 2 | 6+1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | FW | GNB | Gerso | 6 | 0 | 3+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | USA | Erik Hurtado | 5 | 2 | 1+4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | HUN | Dániel Sallói | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | FW | USA | Tyler Freeman | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players who have made an appearance or had a squad number this season but have left the club ||||||||||||

    0+1 means player did came on as a sub once. 1+1 means player started once and came on as a sub once.
    The group stage matches of the MLS is Back Tournament count as regular season matches and data will be listed under Regular Season.

### Top scorers

| Number | Position | Name | MLS | MLS is Back | Open Cup | Playoffs | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 7 | FW | Johnny Russell | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 17 | MF | Gadi Kinda | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 11 | FW | Khiry Shelton | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 9 | FW | Alan Pulido | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 19 | FW | Erik Hurtado | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 15 | MF | Roger Espinoza | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | DF | Graham Zusi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | FW | Gerso | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 27 | MF | Gianluca Busio | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| N/A | N/A | Own Goal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 24 |

As of September 23, 2020

### Disciplinary record

| Number | Position | Name | MLS | MLS | MLS | MLS is Back | MLS is Back | MLS is Back | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Total | Total | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 17 | MF | Gadi Kinda | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | Ilie | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | Khiry Shelton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | Roger Espinoza | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Alan Pulido | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | Gianluca Busio | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | Graham Smith | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | FW | Gerso | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | Cameron Duke | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | Roberto Punčec | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | Johnny Russell | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | GK | Tim Melia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | Matt Besler | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |

As of March 1, 2021

### Injury record

| N | P | Name | Type | Source | Match | Inj. Date | Ret. Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 7 | FW | Johnny Russell | Muscle Tear | thebluetestament.com | Unknown | November 2019 | February 29, 2020 |
| 10 | MF | Felipe Gutiérrez | knee injury | mlssoccer.com | Unknown | February 2020 | |
| 3 | DF | Andreu Fontas | Achilles surgery | mlssoccer.com | Unknown | February 2020 | |

- Player is injured

- Player has recovered from injury Last updated: March 2, 2020 Source: SportingKC.com

