2015 Sporting Kansas City season
# 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.

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.

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.

| No. | Pos. | Player | Nation |
| - | - | - | - |
| 2 | DF | Erik Palmer-Brown (HGP) | United States |
| 3 | DF | Ike Opara | United States |
| 4 | DF | Kevin Ellis (HGP) | United States |
| 5 | DF | Matt Besler (Captain; DP) | United States |
| 6 | MF | Paulo Nagamura | Brazil |
| 7 | DF | Chance Myers | United States |
| 8 | MF | Graham Zusi (DP) | United States |
| 9 | FW | Krisztián Németh | Hungary |
| 10 | MF | Benny Feilhaber | United States |
| 11 | MF | Bernardo Añor | Venezuela |
| 12 | MF | Mikey Lopez (GA) | United States |
| 13 | DF | Amadou Dia | United States |
| 14 | FW | Dom Dwyer | England |
| 15 | DF | Seth Sinovic | United States |
| 17 | DF | Saad Abdul-Salaam | United States |
| 20 | DF | Amobi Okugo | United States |
| 21 | GK | Jon Kempin (HGP) | United States |
| 22 | MF | Connor Hallisey | United States |
| 23 | DF | Jalil Anibaba | United States |
| 27 | MF | Roger Espinoza | Honduras |
| 29 | GK | Tim Melia | United States |
| 37 | FW | Jacob Peterson | United States |
| 71 | DF | Marcel de Jong | Canada |
| 93 | MF | Soni Mustivar | Haiti |
| 94 | MF | Jimmy Medranda | Colombia |
| 96 | MF | Jordi Quintillà | Spain |

## Player movement

### In

| Date | Player | Position | Previous club | Fee/notes |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| December 8, 2014 | Bernardo Añor | MF | Columbus Crew SC | Trade for Allocation Money |
| December 12, 2014 | Jalil Anibaba | MF | Orlando City SC | Trade in exchange for Aurélien Collin |
| December 16, 2014 | James Marcelin | MF | Fort Lauderdale Strikers | Free transfer |
| December 18, 2014 | Krisztián Németh | FW | Roda JC Kerkrade | Free transfer |
| December 18, 2014 | Luis Marín | GK | Universidad de Chile | Free transfer |
| December 23, 2014 | Tim Melia | GK | Chivas USA | Free transfer |
| January 6, 2015 | Roger Espinoza | MF | Wigan Athletic | Free transfer |
| January 15, 2015 | Connor Hallisey | MF | UC Berkeley | 2015 MLS SuperDraft |
| January 15, 2015 | Saad Abdul-Salaam | DF | University of Akron | 2015 MLS SuperDraft |
| January 27, 2015 | Servando Carrasco | MF | Houston Dynamo | Trade for rights in exchange for draft pick |
| February 13, 2015 | Soni Mustivar | MF | FC Petrolul Ploiești | Free transfer |
| February 18, 2015 | Amadou Dia | MF | Clemson University | 2015 MLS SuperDraft |
| February 24, 2015 | James Ansu Rogers | FW | University of New Mexico | 2015 MLS SuperDraft |
| March 2, 2015 | Marcel de Jong | DF | FC Augsburg | Free |
| July 20, 2015 | Amobi Okugo | DF/MF | Orlando City SC | Trade for Servando Carrasco |
| August 6, 2015 | Jordi Quintillà | MF | Ajaccio | Transfer |

### Out

| Date | Player | Position | New club | Fee/notes |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| November 25, 2014 | Toni Dovale | MF | Lugo | Option declined |
| November 25, 2014 | Michael Kafari | MF | | Option declined |
| November 25, 2014 | Victor Muñoz | MF | Arizona United SC | Option declined |
| November 25, 2014 | Lawrence Olum | MF | Kedah FA | Contract terminated |
| November 25, 2014 | Soony Saad | FW | BEC Tero Sasana | Out of contract |
| November 25, 2014 | Christian Duke | MF | Oklahoma City Energy FC | Waived |
| December 8, 2014 | Aurélien Collin | DF | Orlando City SC | Trade for Allocation Money and Jalil Anibaba |
| December 8, 2014 | C. J. Sapong | DF | Philadelphia Union | Trade for 2015 MLS SuperDraft pick |
| December 10, 2014 | Sal Zizzo | MF | New York City FC | 2014 MLS Expansion Draft |
| December 12, 2014 | Eric Kronberg | GK | Montreal Impact | Option declined |
| December 12, 2014 | Andy Gruenebaum | GK | San Jose Earthquakes | Option declined |
| January 20, 2015 | Claudio Bieler | FW | Quilmes | Out of contract |
| February 24, 2015 | Jorge Claros | MF | Qingdao Jonoon | Contract terminated |
| May 27, 2015 | Luis Marín | GK | Palestino | Mutually terminated |
| June 22, 2015 | James Ansu Rogers | FW | | Waived |
| July 20, 2015 | Servando Carrasco | MF | Orlando City SC | Trade for Amobi Okugo |

### Loans

**In**

| No. | Pos. | Player | Loaned from | Start | End | Source |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 40 | DF | Igor Julião | Fluminense FC | April 4, 2014 | December 31, 2014 | |

**Out**

| No. | Pos. | Player | Loaned to | Start | End | Source |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 21 | GK | Jon Kempin | San Antonio Scorpions | March 20, 2015 | May 27, 2015 | |
| 17 | DF | Saad Abdul-Salaam | San Antonio Scorpions | April 1, 2015 | May 19, 2015 | |

## Competitions

### Match results

Win  Tie  Loss

### Preseason

**Desert Diamond Cup**

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

### Major League Soccer

**Western Conference standings**

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 4 | Seattle Sounders FC | 34 | 15 | 13 | 6 | 44 | 36 | +8 | 51 | Knockout round |
| 5 | LA Galaxy | 34 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 56 | 46 | +10 | 51 | Knockout round |
| 6 | Sporting Kansas City | 34 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 48 | 45 | +3 | 51 | Knockout round |
| 7 | San Jose Earthquakes | 34 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 41 | 39 | +2 | 47 | |
| 8 | Houston Dynamo | 34 | 11 | 14 | 9 | 42 | 49 | −7 | 42 | |

**League table**

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 8 | D.C. United | 34 | 15 | 13 | 6 | 43 | 45 | −2 | 51 | |
| 9 | LA Galaxy | 34 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 56 | 46 | +10 | 51 | |
| 10 | Sporting Kansas City | 34 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 48 | 45 | +3 | 51 | 2016–17 CONCACAF Champions League |
| 11 | New England Revolution | 34 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 48 | 47 | +1 | 50 | |
| 12 | Toronto FC | 34 | 15 | 15 | 4 | 58 | 58 | 0 | 49 | |

* ↑ CONCACAF Champions League Selection Procedure Four US-based teams qualify for the 2016–17 CONCACAF Champions League: The winner of the MLS Cup 2015 (Portland Timbers); The winner of the Supporters' Shield (New York Red Bulls); The regular season conference champion that did not win the Supporters Shield (FC Dallas); The winner of the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (Sporting Kansas City) Each qualifier is placed in Pot 3, along with the four qualifiers from Mexico. One Canada-based team qualifies for the Champions League (NOTE: Canadian teams cannot qualify through MLS): The winner of the 2015 Canadian Championship (Vancouver Whitecaps) They are placed in Pot 2 along with two qualifiers each from Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Honduras, and one qualifier each from Panama.

**Regular season**

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

**MLS Cup Playoffs**

**Bracket**

| Knockout Round | Knockout Round | Knockout Round | Conference Semifinals | Conference Semifinals | Conference Semifinals | Conference Semifinals | Conference Semifinals | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | MLS Cup | MLS Cup | MLS Cup |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| October 29 – Stade Saputo | October 29 – Stade Saputo | October 29 – Stade Saputo | E3 | Montreal Impact | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| E6 | Toronto FC | 0 | E2 | Columbus Crew (a.e.t.) | 1 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| E6 | Toronto FC | 0 | E2 | Columbus Crew (a.e.t.) | 1 | 3 | 4 | E2 | Columbus Crew | 2 | 0 | 2 | | | |
| E3 | Montreal Impact | 3 | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | E2 | Columbus Crew | 2 | 0 | 2 | | | |
| E3 | Montreal Impact | 3 | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | E1 | New York Red Bulls | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | |
| October 28 – RFK Stadium | October 28 – RFK Stadium | October 28 – RFK Stadium | E4 | D.C. United | 0 | 0 | 0 | E1 | New York Red Bulls | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | |
| October 28 – RFK Stadium | October 28 – RFK Stadium | October 28 – RFK Stadium | E4 | D.C. United | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | December 6 – Mapfre Stadium | December 6 – Mapfre Stadium | December 6 – Mapfre Stadium |
| E5 | New England Revolution | 1 | E1 | New York Red Bulls | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | December 6 – Mapfre Stadium | December 6 – Mapfre Stadium | December 6 – Mapfre Stadium |
| E5 | New England Revolution | 1 | E1 | New York Red Bulls | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | E2 | Columbus Crew | 1 |
| E4 | D.C. United | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | E2 | Columbus Crew | 1 |
| E4 | D.C. United | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | W3 | Portland Timbers | 2 |
| October 29 – Providence Park | October 29 – Providence Park | October 29 – Providence Park | W3 | Portland Timbers | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | W3 | Portland Timbers | 2 |
| W6 | Sporting Kansas City | 2 (6) | W2 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| W6 | Sporting Kansas City | 2 (6) | W2 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | W3 | Portland Timbers | 3 | 2 | 5 | | | |
| W3 | Portland Timbers (p) | 2 (7) | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | W3 | Portland Timbers | 3 | 2 | 5 | | | |
| W3 | Portland Timbers (p) | 2 (7) | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | W1 | FC Dallas | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | |
| October 28 – CenturyLink Field | October 28 – CenturyLink Field | October 28 – CenturyLink Field | W4 | Seattle Sounders FC | 2 | 1 | 3 (2) | W1 | FC Dallas | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | |
| W5 | LA Galaxy | 2 | W1 | FC Dallas (p) | 1 | 2 | 3 (4) | | | | | | | | |
| W4 | Seattle Sounders FC | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

Source:

### U.S. Open Cup

| Fourth round June 16–17 | Fourth round June 16–17 | Fourth round June 16–17 | Round of 16 June 30–July 1 | Round of 16 June 30–July 1 | Round of 16 June 30–July 1 | Quarterfinals July 14–22 | Quarterfinals July 14–22 | Quarterfinals July 14–22 | | Semifinals August 12 | Semifinals August 12 | Semifinals August 12 | | Final September 30 | Final September 30 | Final September 30 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| MLS | New York Red Bulls | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| NASL | Atlanta Silverbacks | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| NASL | Atlanta Silverbacks | 0 | MLS | New York Red Bulls | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | NASL | New York Cosmos | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| NASL | New York Cosmos | 2(4) | NASL | New York Cosmos | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| MLS | New York City FC | 2(3) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| MLS | New York City FC | 2(3) | | | | MLS | New York Red Bulls | 1(3) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | MLS | Philadelphia Union | 1(4) | | | | | | | | |
| MLS | Philadelphia Union | 0(3) | | | | | | | MLS | Philadelphia Union | 1(4) | | | | | | | | |
| USL | Rochester Rhinos | 0(1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| USL | Rochester Rhinos | 0(1) | MLS | Philadelphia Union | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | MLS | D.C. United | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| USL | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 1 | MLS | D.C. United | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| MLS | D.C. United | 3* | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| MLS | D.C. United | 3* | | | | | | | | MLS | Philadelphia Union | 1 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | MLS | Chicago Fire | 0 | | | | |
| MLS | Chicago Fire | 1* | | | | | | | | | | | MLS | Chicago Fire | 0 | | | | |
| USL | Louisville City FC | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| USL | Louisville City FC | 0 | MLS | Chicago Fire | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | USL | Charlotte Independence | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| MLS | New England Revolution | 0 | USL | Charlotte Independence | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| USL | Charlotte Independence | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| USL | Charlotte Independence | 1 | | | | MLS | Chicago Fire | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | MLS | Orlando City SC | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| USL | Charleston Battery | 4(7) | | | | | | | MLS | Orlando City SC | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| MLS | Orlando City SC | 4(8) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| MLS | Orlando City SC | 4(8) | MLS | Orlando City SC | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | MLS | Columbus Crew | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| USL | Richmond Kickers | 1 | MLS | Columbus Crew | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| MLS | Columbus Crew | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| MLS | Columbus Crew | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | MLS | Philadelphia Union | 1(6) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MLS | Sporting Kansas City | 1(7) |
| MLS | Sporting Kansas City | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MLS | Sporting Kansas City | 1(7) |
| USL | Saint Louis FC | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| USL | Saint Louis FC | 0 | MLS | Sporting Kansas City | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | MLS | FC Dallas | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| MLS | FC Dallas | 4 | MLS | FC Dallas | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| USL | Oklahoma City Energy FC | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| USL | Oklahoma City Energy FC | 1 | | | | MLS | Sporting Kansas City | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | MLS | Houston Dynamo | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| MLS | Houston Dynamo | 2 | | | | | | | MLS | Houston Dynamo | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| USL | Austin Aztex | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| USL | Austin Aztex | 0 | MLS | Houston Dynamo | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | MLS | Colorado Rapids | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| MLS | Colorado Rapids | 4 | MLS | Colorado Rapids | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| USL | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| USL | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | 1 | | | | | | | | MLS | Sporting Kansas City | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | MLS | Real Salt Lake | 1 | | | | |
| MLS | Real Salt Lake | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | MLS | Real Salt Lake | 1 | | | | |
| USL | Seattle Sounders FC 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| USL | Seattle Sounders FC 2 | 1 | MLS | Real Salt Lake | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | MLS | Portland Timbers | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| MLS | Seattle Sounders FC | 1 | MLS | Portland Timbers | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| MLS | Portland Timbers | 3* | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| MLS | Portland Timbers | 3* | | | | MLS | Real Salt Lake | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | MLS | LA Galaxy | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| MLS | San Jose Earthquakes | 2(6) | | | | | | | MLS | LA Galaxy | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| USL | Sacramento Republic FC | 2(5) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| USL | Sacramento Republic FC | 2(5) | MLS | San Jose Earthquakes | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | MLS | LA Galaxy | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| MLS | LA Galaxy | 6 | MLS | LA Galaxy | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| USASA | PSA Elite | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

* Host team listed first
* Bold = winner
* * = after extra time, ( ) = penalty shootout score
