Quintilla Joins Puerto Rico, Davis Rejoining Houston - Former SKC Wizards Update

Jordi Quintilla's search for a new club is over, this past week the former Kansas City midfielder signed a deal with NASL side Puerto Rico FC. The NASL side will compete in their first full season in the NASL after competing in just the Fall Season in 2016. Quintilla's first taste of club soccer since being waived by Sporting KC though will come in international competition as Puerto Rico FC will host their group in the CFU Club Championships. Puerto Rico will host Transvaal of Suriname, Scholars International of the Cayman Islands, and Portmore United of Jamaica in mid-March with the group winner advancing to the final round with six other group winners and Central FC of Trinidad. The top four teams from that phase will advance to this year's CONCACAF Champions League.

Elsewhere, former Kansas City midfielder is rejoining his former club, the Houston Dynamo. Davis spent 10 seasons with the Dynamo before spending the 2016 season with Sporting KC. Davis retired following the 2016 season but will sign a one day contract with the Dynamo to allow him to retire as a member of the club he's best remembered for playing for.

Here's the rest of this week's update.

Active without a club or unknown
Emmanuel Appiah
Vicente Arze
Amadou Dia
Tomas Granitto
Connor Hallisey
Jeferson
Jon Kempin
Justin Mapp
Neven Markovic
Rauwshan McKenzie
Victor Munoz
Brendan Ruiz
Michael Thomas
Ualefi

MLS
Jalil Anibaba - Houston - Offseason.
Bernardo Anor - Minnesota - Offseason.
Teal Bunbury - New England - Offseason.
Servando Carrasco - Orlando City - Offseason.
Aurelien Collin - New York - Offseason.
Marcel de Jong - Vancouver - Offseason
Michael Harrington - Chicago - Offseason.
Kei Kamara - New England - Offseason.
Alec Kann - Atlanta - Offseason.
Eric Kronberg - Montreal - Offseason.
Mikey Lopez - NYCFC - Offseason.
Yura Movsisyan - Salt Lake - Offseason.
Chance Myers - Portland - Offseason.
Amobi Okugo - Portland - Offseason.
Lawrence Olum - Portland - Offseason.
Jacob Peterson - Atlanta - Offseason.
Tony Rocha - Orlando - Offseason.
CJ Sapong - Philadelphia - Offseason.
Sal Zizzo - New York - Offseason.

NASL
Mechack Jerome - Jacksonville - Offseason.
Michael Kafari - Puerto Rico - Offseason.
Chris Konopka - Edmonton - Offseason.
James Marcelin - North Carolina - Offseason.
Alex Molano - North Carolina - Offseason.
Jordi Quintilla - Puerto Rico - Offseason.

USL
Stefan Antonijevic - Tampa Bay - Offseason.
Omar Bravo - Phoenix - Offseason.
Amer Didic - Swope Park - Offseason.
Christian Duke - Swope Park - Offseason.
David Greczek - Swope Park - Offseason.
Cyprian Hedrick - San Antonio - Offseason.
Ryan James - Rochester - Offseason.
Alex Martinez - Charlotte - Offseason.
Nansel Selbol - Swope Park - Offseason.
Kris Tyrpak - San Antonio - Offseason.
Yomby William - Richmond - Offseason.

Indoor
Jamar Beasley - Cedar Rapids - Did not play in Cedar Rapids' 8-2 loss to Milwaukee.
Pat Healey - Baltimore - No game this week.
Mike Jones - Dallas - Did not play in either of Dallas' games.
Boris Pardo - San Diego - Started in San Diego's 10-4 win over El Paso.

International
Korede Aiyegbusi - AFC Eskilstuna City- Sweden - No game until 4/1.
Ever Alvarado - Olimpia - Honduras - Dressed but did not play in Olimpia's 7-1 win over Vida. Started and played 90 minutes in Olimpia's 3-1 win over Real Espana.
Scott Angevine - YPA - Finland - Offseason.
Federico Bessone - AE Prat - Spain - Started and played 90 minutes in Prat's 1-0 loss to Levante II.
Claudio Bieler - Belgrano - Argentina - No game until 2/25.
Reinaldo Brenes - Belen Siglo XXI - Dressed but did not play in either of Belen's games.
Sunil Chhetri - Bengaluru - India - Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in Bengaluru's 1-1 draw with Minerva Punjab.
Jorge Claros - Real Espana - Honduras - Started and played 90 minutes in Real's 1-0 win over Platense. Started and played 90 minutes in Real's 3-1 loss to Olimpia.
Nuno Coelho - GD Chaves - Portugal - Started and played 90 minutes in Chaves' 0-0 draw with Vitoria Setubal.
Daneil Cyrus - W Connection - Trinidad - Offseason.
Toni Dovale - Rayo Vallecano - Spain - Came off the bench and played 45 minutes in Rayo's 2-1 loss to Mallorca.
Pablo Escobar - Real Cartagena - Colombia - Started and played 90 minutes in Real Cartagena's 3-2 loss to Union Magdalena.
Luis Gil - Queretaro - Mexico - Dressed but did not play in Queretaro's 2-1 win over Leon.
Faik Hajderovic - Vinograder - Croatia - No game until 2/25.
Will John - RoPS - Finland - Did not play in RoPS 9-0 win over OPS.
Peterson Joseph - Sudeva Moonlight - India - Did not dress in either of Sudeva's games.
Igor Kostrov - Slavia-Mozyr - Belarus - Offseason.
Luis Marin - CD Temuco - Chile - Started and played 90 minutes in Temuco's 1-0 loss to Universidad Chile. Started and played 90 minutes in Temuco's 1-0 win over Huachipato.
Michal Mravec - Senica - Slovakia - No game until 2/18.
Krisztian Nemeth - Al-Gharafa - Qatar - Came off the bench and played 28 minutes in Al Gharafa's 2-0 loss to Al Arabi.
Akeem Priestley - Harbour View - Jamaica - Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in Harbour View's 3-2 win over Portmore United.
Pablo Punyed - IBV - Iceland - No game this week.
Oriol Rosell - Belenenses (Sporting Club de Portugal)(loan) - Portugal - Did not dress in Belenenses' 1-1 draw with Nacional.
Peter Schmetz - Wuppertaler SV - Germany - No game until 2/18.
Yann Songo'o - Plymouth Argyle - England - Started and played 90 minutes in Plymouth's 3-0 win over Exeter City. Started and played 90 minutes in Plymouth's 3-2 loss to Leyton Orient.
Kevin Souter - Deveronvale FC - Scotland - No game this week.
Martin Steuble - Ceres-La Salle - Philippines - No game until 2/20.
Milos Stojcev - Veria - Greece - Started and played 81 minutes in Veria's 1-0 loss to Panionios.
Matt Taylor - Kickers Offenbach - No game until 2/18.

Youngest and Oldest to Play for Kansas City

Another stat update, this time the youngest and oldest players to appear and start for Sporting KC.

There was no movement among league appearances for young players. There are still some candidates that can join the list in 2017 though, specifically Latif Blessing and Daniel Salloi are both young enough to get themselves on to the list in 2017.

Ten youngest to appear in a league game for KC.
1. Erik Palmer-Brown - 17 years, 24 days - 5/18/2014 - Chicago
2. Nino da Silva - 18 years, 158 days - 8/31/1997 - DC United
3. Yura Movsisyan - 18 years, 311 days - 5/13/2006 - DC United
4. Soony Saad - 19 years, 0 days - 8/17/2011 - Portland
5. Jake Dancy - 19 years, 137 days - 8/24/1997 - San Jose
6. Jose Burciaga - 19 years, 184 days - 5/19/2001 - Chicago
7. Jimmy Medranda - 19 years, 212 days - 9/7/2013 - Columbus
8. Igor Julião - 19 years, 264 days - 5/14/2014 - Philadelphia
9. Teal Bunbury - 20 years, 28 days - 3/27/2011 - DC United
10. Oriol Rosell - 20 years, 35 days - 8/11/2012 - DC United
11. Chance Myers - 20 years, 124 days - 4/9/2008 - New England
12. Francisco Gomez - 20 years, 132 days - 6/6/1999 - Los Angeles
13. Daneil Cyrus - 20 years, 220 days - 7/23/2011 - Toronto
14. Peter Byaruhanga - 20 years, 325 days - 7/8/2000 - New York
15. Nick Garcia - 20 years, 351 days - 3/25/2000 - Chicago
16. Michael Harrington - 21 years, 80 days - 4/14/2007 - DC United
17. Will John - 21 years, 81 days - 9/2/2006 - Los Angeles
18. Jon Kempin - 21 years, 124 days - 8/10/2014 - Vancouver
19. Scott Vermillion - 21 years, 144 days - 5/16/1998 - New England
20. Mikey Lopez - 21 years, 146 days - 7/16/2014 - Columbus

In all competitions, Nansel Selbol joined the list for youngest players to appear in a game for Sporting KC. Selbol at 19 years, 141 days came in at seventh place on the list. Blessing and Salloi are both players that could still jump onto this list in 2017.

Ten youngest to appear in a competitive game for KC.
1. Erik Palmer-Brown - 17 years, 24 days - 5/18/2014 - Chicago
2. Nino da Silva - 18 years, 158 days - 8/31/1997 - DC United
3. Yura Movsisyan - 18 years, 311 days - 5/13/2006 - DC United
4. Soony Saad - 19 years, 0 days - 8/17/2011 - Portland
5. Jon Kempin - 19 years, 51 days - 5/29/2012 - Orlando
6. Jake Dancy - 19 years, 137 days - 8/24/1997 - San Jose
7. Nansel Selbol - 19 years, 141 days - 10/19/2016 - Central FC
8. Jose Burciaga - 19 years, 184 days - 5/19/2001 - Chicago
9. Jimmy Medranda - 19 years, 212 days - 9/7/2013 - Columbus
10. Igor Julião - 19 years, 264 days - 5/14/2014 - Philadelphia
11. Teal Bunbury - 20 years, 28 days - 3/27/2011 - DC United
12. Oriol Rosell - 20 years, 35 days - 8/11/2012 - DC United
13. Mikey Lopez - 20 years, 97 days - 5/28/2013 - Des Moines
14. Chance Myers - 20 years, 124 days - 4/9/2008 - New England
15. Francisco Gomez - 20 years, 132 days - 6/6/1999 - Los Angeles
16. Daneil Cyrus - 20 years, 220 days - 7/23/2011 - Toronto
17. Peter Byaruhanga - 20 years, 325 days - 7/8/2000 - New York
18. Nick Garcia - 20 years, 351 days - 3/25/2000 - Chicago
19. Kevin Ellis - 20 years, 363 days - 6/28/2011 - Chicago PDL
20. Will John - 21 years, 29 days - 7/12/2006 - Des Moines

As with league appearances, no player made their way onto the list for starts in league play in 2017.

Ten youngest players to START a league match.
1. Erik Palmer-Brown - 17 years, 24 days - 5/18/2014 - Chicago
2. Yura Movsisyan - 18 years, 357 days - 6/28/2006 - DC United
3. Jose Burciaga - 19 years, 184 days - 5/19/2001 - Chicago
4. Igor Julião - 19 years, 264 days - 5/14/2014 - Philadelphia
5. Soony Saad - 19 years, 308 days - 6/20/2012 - Seattle
6. Nino da Silva - 20 years, 11 days - 6/6/1999 - Los Angeles
7. Jimmy Medranda - 20 years, 37 days - 3/16/2014 - Dallas
8. Jake Dancy - 20 years, 52 days - 5/31/1998 - Colorado
9. Oriol Rosell - 20 years, 77 days - 9/22/2012 - Montreal
10. Teal Bunbury - 20 years, 85 days - 5/23/2010 - Columbus
11. Chance Myers - 20 years, 127 days - 4/12/2008 - Houston
12. Daneil Cyrus - 20 years ,227 days - 7/30/2011 - New England
13. Francisco Gomez - 20 years, 228 days - 9/10/1999 - Colorado
14. Nick Garcia - 20 years, 351 days - 3/25/2000 - Chicago
15. Peter Byaruhanga - 20 years, 364 days - 8/16/2000 - San Jose
16. Michael Harrington - 21 years, 80 days - 4/14/2007 - DC United
17. Jon Kempin - 21 years, 130 days - 8/16/2014 - Toronto
18. Scott Vermillion - 21 years, 144 days - 5/16/1998 - New England
19. Mikey Lopez - 21 years, 146 days - 7/16/2014 - Columbus
20T. Vicente Figueroa - 21 years, 170 days - 4/10/1999 - San Jose
20T. Roger Espinoza - 21 years, 170 days - 4/12/2008 - Houston

In all competitions, Selbol again made his way onto the list, becoming the fourth youngest player to start a game in all competitions for KC.

Ten youngest players to START a competitive game for KC.
1. Erik Palmer-Brown - 17 years, 24 days - 5/18/2014 - Chicago
2. Yura Movsisyan - 18 years, 357 days - 6/28/2006 - DC United
3. Jon Kempin - 19 years, 51 days - 5/29/2012 - Orlando
4. Nansel Selbol - 19 years, 141 days - 10/19/2016 - Central FC
5. Jose Burciaga - 19 years, 184 days - 5/19/2001 - Chicago
6. Igor Julião - 19 years, 264 days - 5/14/2014 - Philadelphia
7. Soony Saad - 19 years, 286 days - 5/29/2012 - Orlando
8. Nino da Silva - 20 years, 11 days - 6/6/1999 - Los Angeles
9. Jimmy Medranda - 20 years, 37 days - 3/16/2014 - Dallas
10. Teal Bunbury - 20 years, 45 days - 4/13/2010 - Colorado
11. Jake Dancy - 20 years, 52 days - 5/31/1998 - Colorado
12. Oriol Rosell - 20 years, 77 days - 9/22/2012 - Montreal
13. Mikey Lopez - 20 years, 97 days - 5/28/2013 - Des Moines
14. Chance Myers - 20 years, 127 days - 4/12/2008 - Houston
15. Daneil Cyrus - 20 years ,227 days - 7/30/2011 - New England
16. Francisco Gomez - 20 years, 228 days - 9/10/1999 - Colorado
17. Nick Garcia - 20 years, 351 days - 3/25/2000 - Chicago
18. Peter Byaruhanga - 20 years, 364 days - 8/16/2000 - San Jose
19. Will John - 21 years, 62 days - 8/14/2006 - Chicago
20. Michael Harrington - 21 years, 80 days - 4/14/2007 - DC United

As for the oldest players to appear in a game for KC, two players joined the list in 2016, Brad Davis in his first appearance for the club immediately jumped onto the list and ended up finishing as the 10th oldest player to appear in a game for Kansas City. Further down the list, Paulo Nagamura got onto the list and finished as the 17th oldest player to appear in a game by the time he retired. With KC getting younger in the offseason there's no one that will be joining any of the lists in 2017 that is currently on the roster.

Ten oldest players to appear in a league game for KC.
1. Preki - 42 years, 113 days - 10/15/2005 - Dallas
2. Mo Johnston - 38 years, 121 days - 8/12/2001 - Colorado
3. Jimmy Nielsen - 36 years, 81 days - 10/26/2013 - Philadelphia
4. Peter Vermes - 35 years, 303 days - 9/20/2002 - Colorado
5. Tony Meola - 35 years, 179 days - 8/18/2004 - Columbus
6. Richard Gough - 35 years, 174 days - 9/26/1997 - Colorado
7. Kevin Hartman - 35 years, 152 days - 10/24/2009 - DC United
8. Claudio Lopez - 35 years, 99 days - 10/24/2009 - DC United
9. Bo Oshoniyi - 34 years, 345 days - 10/14/2006 - New York
10. Brad Davis - 34 years ,321 days - 9/24/2016 - San Jose
11. Kerry Zavagnin - 34 years, 115 days - 10/25/2008 - New England
12. Paul Rideout - 34 years, 44 days - 9/27/1998 - San Jose
13. Julio Cesar - 33 years, 341 days - 10/24/2012 - Philadelphia
14. Refik Sabanadzovic - 33 years, 279 days - 5/8/1999 - Los Angeles
15. Jimmy Conrad - 33 years, 242 days - 10/12/2010 - Chicago
16. Josh Wolff - 33 years, 240 days -  10/23/2010 - San Jose
17. Paulo Nagamura - 33 years, 235 days - 10/23/2016 - San Jose
18. Mark Santel - 33 years, 65 days - 9/8/2001 - San Jose
19. Roy Lassiter - 33 years, 63 days - 5/11/2002 - Colorado
20. Uche Okafor - 33 years, 32 days - 9/9/2000 - Tampa Bay



Ten oldest players in all competitions for KC.
1. Preki - 42 years, 113 days - 10/15/2005 - Dallas
2. Mo Johnston - 38 years, 222 days - 11/21/2001 - Santos Laguna
3. Jimmy Nielsen - 36 years, 123 days - 12/7/2013 - Salt Lake
4. Peter Vermes - 35 years, 315 days - 10/2/2002 - Los Angeles
5. Tony Meola - 35 years, 214 days - 9/22/2004 - Chicago
6. Richard Gough - 35 years, 186 days - 10/8/1997 - Colorado
7. Kevin Hartman - 35 years, 152 days - 10/24/2009 - DC United
8. Claudio Lopez - 35 years, 99 days - 10/24/2009 - DC United
9. Bo Oshoniyi - 34 years, 345 days - 10/14/2006 - New York
10. Brad Davis - 34 years, 321 days - 9/24/2016 - San Jose
11. Kerry Zavagnin - 34 years, 115 days - 10/25/2008 - New England
12. Paul Rideout - 34 years, 44 days - 9/27/1998 - San Jose
13. Julio Cesar - 33 years, 352 days - 11/4/2012 - Houston
14. Refik Sabanadzovic - 33 years, 279 days - 5/8/1999 - Los Angeles
15. Jimmy Conrad - 33 years, 242 days - 10/12/2010 - Chicago
16. Josh Wolff - 33 years, 240 days -  10/23/2010 - San Jose
17. Paulo Nagamura - 33 years, 239 days - 10/27/2016 - Seattle
18. Mark Santel - 33 years, 104 days - 10/17/2001 - Barcelona
19. Uche Okafor - 33 years, 68 days - 10/15/2000 - Chicago
20. Roy Lassiter - 33 years, 63 days - 5/11/2002 - Colorado

Ten oldest players to START a league game.
1. Preki - 42 years, 99 days - 10/1/2005 - Chicago
2. Mo Johnston - 38 years, 113 days - 8/4/2001 - Columbus
3. Jimmy Nielsen - 36 years, 81 days - 10/26/2013 - Philadelphia
4. Peter Vermes - 35 years, 303 days - 9/20/2002 - Colorado
5. Tony Meola - 35 years, 179 days - 8/18/2004 - Columbus
6. Richard Gough - 35 years, 174 days - 9/26/1997 - Colorado
7. Kevin Hartman - 35 years, 152 days - 10/24/2009 - DC United
8. Claudio Lopez - 35 years, 99 days - 10/24/2009 - DC United
9. Bo Oshoniyi - 34 years, 345 days - 10/14/2006 - New York
10. Brad Davis - 34 years, 315 days - 9/18/2016 - Los Angeles
11. Kerry Zavagnin - 34 years, 67 days - 9/7/2008 - Houston
12. Paul Rideout - 34 years, 44 days - 9/27/1998 - San Jose
13. Julio Cesar - 33 years, 341 days - 10/24/2012 - Philadelphia
14. Refik Sabanadzovic - 33 years, 279 days - 5/8/1999 - Los Angeles
15. Jimmy Conrad - 33 years, 242 days - 10/12/2010 - Chicago
16. Paulo Nagamura - 33 years, 235 days - 10/23/2016 - San Jose
17. Josh Wolff - 33 years, 233 days - 10/16/2010 - New England
18. Mark Santel - 33 years, 38 days - 8/12/2001 - Colorado
19. Roy Lassiter - 33 years, 14 days - 3/23/2002 - Colorado
20. Uche Okafor - 32 years, 346 days - 7/19/2000 - New England

Ten oldest players to START a competitive game for KC.
1. Preki - 42 years, 99 days - 10/1/2005 - Chicago
2. Mo Johnston - 38 years, 222 days - 11/21/2001 - Santos Laguna
3. Jimmy Nielsen - 36 years, 123 days - 12/7/2013 - Salt Lake
4. Peter Vermes - 35 years, 315 days - 10/2/2002 - Los Angeles
5. Tony Meola - 35 years, 214 days - 9/22/2004 - Chicago
6. Richard Gough - 35 years, 186 days - 10/8/1997 - Colorado
7. Kevin Hartman - 35 years, 152 days - 10/24/2009 - DC United
8. Claudio Lopez - 35 years, 99 days - 10/24/2009 - DC United
9. Bo Oshoniyi - 34 years, 345 days - 10/14/2006 - New York
10. Brad Davis - 34 years, 315 days - 9/18/2016 - Los Angeles
11. Kerry Zavagnin - 34 years, 67 days - 9/7/2008 - Houston
12. Paul Rideout - 34 years, 44 days - 9/27/1998 - San Jose
13. Julio Cesar - 33 years, 352 days - 11/4/2012 - Houston
14. Refik Sabanadzovic - 33 years, 279 days - 5/8/1999 - Los Angeles
15. Jimmy Conrad - 33 years, 242 days - 10/12/2010 - Chicago
16. Paulo Nagamura - 33 years, 239 days - 10/27/2016 - Seattle
17. Josh Wolff - 33 years, 233 days - 10/16/2010 - New England
18. Mark Santel - 33 years, 104 days - 10/17/2001 - Barcelona
19. Roy Lassiter - 33 years, 46 days - 4/24/2002 - Santos Laguna
20. Alex Bunbury - 32 years, 362 days - 6/14/2000 - Chicago Sockers

Youngest and Oldest Goal Scorers for Kansas City

Another stats update, this time the youngest and oldest goal scorers for Kansas City.

In league play, two players joined the list, Jimmy Medranda and Diego Rubio. Medranda in his first season as a regular contributor for the first team scored from his left back position with a deflected shot in KC's 3-1 win over New York City FC. Rubio joined the list in his first season in KC. His time with the first team was limited due to Dom DWyer's continual strong play at the center forward position and then an ACL tear late in the season. There's still time for the likes of Daniel Salloi and Erik Palmer-Brown to join the list for KC as could new addition Latif Blessing.

1. Soony Saad - 19 years, 0 days - 8/17/2011 vs Portland
2. Yura Movsisyan - 19 years, 293 days - 4/25/2007 vs Toronto
3. Oriol Rosell - 20 years, 56 days - 9/1/2012 vs Toronto
4. Teal Bunbury - 20 years, 137 days - 7/14/2010 vs Columbus
5. Francisco Gomez - 20 years, 146 days - 6/20/1999 vs New York
6. Michael Harrington - 21 years,  80 days - 4/14/2007 vs DC
7. Scott Vermillion - 21 years, 243 days - 8/23/1998 vs Miami
8. Roger Espinoza - 21 years, 266 days - 7/17/2008 vs Columbus
9. Ryan Pore - 21 years, 344 days - 9/3/2005 vs New York
10. Eddie Johnson - 22 years, 1 day - 4/1/2006 vs Columbus
11. Chris Brown - 22 years, 31 days - 4/10/1999 vs San Jose
12. CJ Sapong - 22 years, 82 days - 3/19/2011 vs Chivas
13. Jimmy Medranda - 22 years, 154 days - 7/10/2016 Vs NYCFC
14. Jose Burciaga - 22 years, 223 days - 6/26/2004 vs San Jose
15. Matt McKeon - 22 years, 240 days - 5/22/1997 vs Columbus
16. Matt Taylor - 22 years, 246 days - 6/19/2004 vs New England
17. Vicente Figueroa - 22 years, 299 days - 8/16/2000 vs San Jose
18. Diego Rubio - 22 years, 348 days - 4/27/2016 vs Vancouver
19. Davy Arnaud - 22 years, 350 days - 6/7/2003 vs New York
20. Dom Dwyer - 23 years, 4 days - 8/3/2013 vs New York

In all competitions, Medranda also joined the list, coming in at 16th place on that list. Rubio didn't make it, but two other players did for their goals in KC's meaningless CONCACAF Champions League game against Central FC. Swope Park Rangers and former Sporting KC academy player, Nansel Selbol, on loan to Sporting KC scored the second goal of the game for KC, what proved to be the game winner. He became the second youngest player to ever score for KC in a game, behind only Soony Saad. In his final appearance for Sporting KC, Connor Hallisey also joined the list, scoring on a penalty kick for his first and only goal for the club putting him on the list.

1. Soony Saad - 19 years, 0 days - 8/17/2011 vs Portland
2. Nansel Selbol - 19 years, 141 days - 10/19/2016 vs Central FC
3. Yura Movsisyan - 19 years, 293 days - 4/25/2007 vs Toronto
4. Teal Bunbury - 20 years, 45 days - 4/13/2010 vs Colorado
5. Oriol Rosell - 20 years, 56 days - 9/1/2012 vs Toronto
6. Francisco Gomez - 20 years, 146 days - 6/20/1999 vs New York
7. Michael Harrington - 21 years,  80 days - 4/14/2007 vs DC
8. Scott Vermillion - 21 years, 243 days - 8/23/1998 vs Miami
9. Roger Espinoza - 21 years, 266 days - 7/17/2008 vs Columbus
10. Ryan Pore - 21 years, 344 days - 9/3/2005 vs New York
11. Justin Detter - 21 years, 363 days - 8/4/2004 vs Dallas
12. Eddie Johnson - 22 years, 1 day - 4/1/2006 vs Columbus
13. Matt McKeon - 22 years, 2 days - 9/26/1996 vs Dallas
14. Chris Brown - 22 years, 31 days - 4/10/1999 vs San Jose
15. CJ Sapong - 22 years, 82 days - 3/19/2011 vs Chivas
16. Jimmy Medranda - 22 years, 154 days - 7/10/2016 vs NYCFC
17T. Jose Burciaga - 22 years, 223 days - 6/26/2004 vs San Jose
17T. Rauwshan McKenzie - 22 years, 223 days - 6/30/2009 vs Minnesota
19. Matt Taylor - 22 years, 246 days - 6/19/2004 vs New England
20. Connor Hallisey - 22 years, 253 days - 10/19/2016 vs Central FC

For the oldest scorers for Sporting KC, two players joined the list in 2016 with another moving up the list. Brad Davis jumped onto the list in his only season in KC, coming in fourth overall behind only Preki, Mo Johnston, and Claudio Lopez. Further down the list, the returning Lawrence Olum joined the list coming in at 15th. Further down, Benny Feilhaber moved up from 19th to 17th on the list in 2016. Both Olum and Feilhaber will have the chance to move further up the list in 2016.

1. Preki - 42 years, 113 days - 10/15/2005 vs Dallas
2. Mo Johnston - 38 years, 5 days - 4/18/2001 vs Miami
3. Claudio Lopez - 35 years, 99 days - 10/24/2009 vs DC
4. Brad Davis - 34 years, 175 days - 5/1/2016 vs LA
5. Paul Rideout - 34 years, 2 days - 8/16/1998 vs Columbus
6. Julio Cesar - 33 years, 211 days - 6/16/2012 vs Toronto
7. Josh Wolff - 33 years, 209 days - 9/22/2010 vs Houston
8. Jimmy Conrad - 33 years, 197 days - 8/28/2010 vs LA
9. Peter Vermes - 33 years, 188 days - 5/27/2000 vs Tampa
10. Kerry Zavagnin - 33 years, 27 days - 7/29/2007 vs Chivas USA
11. Mark Santel - 33  years, 24 days - 7/29/2001 vs New England
12. Roy Lassiter - 33 years, 183 days - 9/8/2001 vs San Jose
13. Paulo Nagamura - 32 years, 166 days - 8/15/2015 vs Vancouver
14. Alex Bunbury - 32 years, 57 days - 8/14/1999 vs New York
15. Lawrence Olum - 31 years, 345 days - 6/19/2016 vs Dallas
16. Diego Gutierrez - 31 years, 320 days - 9/18/2004 vs San Jose
17. Benny Feilhaber - 31 years, 278 days - 10/23/2016 vs San Jose
18. Birahim Diop - 31 years, 258 days - 10/23/2010 vs San Jose
19. Santiago Hirsig - 31 years, 247 days - 9/16/2009 vs Dallas
20. Omar Bravo - 31 years, 204 days - 9/23/2011 vs Philadelphia

In all competitions the same movement happened for all players with Davis in at fourth, Olum at 15th and Feilhaber at 17.

1. Preki - 42 years, 113 days - 10/15/2005 vs Dallas
2. Mo Johnston - 38 years, 5 days - 4/18/2001 vs Miami
3. Claudio Lopez - 35 years, 99 days - 10/24/2009 vs DC
4. Brad Davis - 34 years, 234 days - 6/29/2016 vs Houston
5. Paul Rideout - 34 years, 2 days - 8/16/1998 vs Columbus
6. Julio Cesar - 33 years, 211 days - 6/16/2012 vs Toronto
7. Josh Wolff - 33 years, 209 days - 9/22/2010 vs Houston
8. Jimmy Conrad - 33 years, 197 days - 8/28/2010 vs LA
9. Peter Vermes - 33 years, 188 days - 5/27/2000 vs Tampa
10. Kerry Zavagnin - 33 years, 27 days - 7/29/2007 vs Chivas USA
11. Mark Santel - 33  years, 24 days - 7/29/2001 vs New England
12. Roy Lassiter - 32 years, 222 days - 10/17/2001 vs Barcelona
13. Paulo Nagamura - 32 years, 166 days - 8/15/2015 vs Vancouver
14. Alex Bunbury - 32 years, 57 days - 8/14/1999 vs New York
15. Lawrence Olum - 31 years, 345 days - 6/19/2016 vs Dallas
16. Diego Gutierrez - 31 years, 320 days - 9/18/2004 vs San Jose
17. Benny Feilhaber - 31 years, 278 days - 10/23/2016 vs San Jose
18. Birahim Diop - 31 years, 258 days - 10/23/2010 vs San Jose
19. Santiago Hirsig - 31 years, 247 days - 9/16/2009 vs Dallas
20. Mike Burns - 31 years, 245 days - 3/16/2001 vs W Connection

2016 Moments of the Year

One last look back at 2016, here are my end of year awards for moment of the year in 2016.

Game of the year - Comets vs Mustangs 12/3/16 - Shutouts don't happen often in indoor soccer, since the Kansas City Comets rebirth back in 2010, the Comets had never had one. That changed in December of this year when the Comets defeated the previously unbeaten Chicago Mustangs 6-0 at the Silverstein Eye Centers Arena. The Comets jumped out to a two goal lead in the first quarter thanks to goals by Ignacio Flores and Lucas Rodriguez. After a scoreless second quarter, Rodriguez scored his second goal of the game off a set piece with a second assist to John Sosa and the Comets were up 3-0.

The Comets extended their lead early in the fourth quarter as Odaine Sinclair scored two minutes in to make it 4-0. Vahid Assadpour added a goal before Ramone Palmer scored with less than a minute left against the sixth attacker to make it 6-0. For his part in goal for the Comets, Stephen Paterson faced 19 shots, saving all of them in route to the shutout.



Goal of the Year - Brad Davis vs Galaxy - When Sporting KC brought in Brad Davis, Sporting was expecting to get another player to help set up goals while scoring a few himself. The assists never really came for Davis in Kansas City, but he did score some important goals for KC early on against LA and Toronto. The one that wins goal of the year is his finish against the LA Galaxy that seemed to even impress him. In the 30th minute of a scoreless game, Graham Zusi headed a long ball into the path of an on-rushing Davis. Davis chased the ball into the box and took a single touch, cutting the ball back that allowed him to beat both Emmanuel Boateng and Jelle Van Damme. With his second touch he curled a beautiful shot with his left foot that curled around goalkeeper Brian Rowe as he dove for the ball, and inside the far post to put Sporting up 1-0 on the Galaxy. Davis didn't have a ton of highlights in his final season of professional soccer, but this was certainly one of them.



Assist of the Year - Benny Feilhaber vs Orlando - I'm cheating just a little bit because it's the secondary assist, but I'm a sucker for Feilhaber's scoop passes. Down 1-0 in the 74th minute, Feilhaber received a ball just outside the top of the box, took a touch and scooped the ball into the box for substitute, Jacob Peterson, who headed the ball back into the middle for Dom Dwyer, who headed the ball in to tie the game at 1-1 in a game KC would eventually win 2-1.



Single Game Performance of the Year - Nicole Barnhart vs Western New York - It wasn't the greatest season for FC Kansas City as they missed out on the playoffs for the first time in their history, but there were some bright spots. From the emergence of Shea Groom, to the return of Desiree Scott, to the defensive performance, FCKC had plenty of highlights. One of those was Nicole Barnart against the Wester New York Flash in July of this year. Playing against the highest scoring team in the league, KC sat a little deeper and absorbed a lot of pressure in the game. That led to a number of opportunities for the Flash. Barnhart though was up to the task, making 14 saves against the Flash in route to a 1-0 win. The performance was enough to earn Barnhart player of the week honors.



Low Point of the Year - Sporting KC vs DC United 5/27 - Heading into the game, at Children's Mercy Park, Sporting KC had won just one game in their last nine after starting the season 3-1. KC had gone 1-6-2 in the nine games priorgoing 1-2-1 at home in that stretch. KC had scored more than one goal just once in that nine game stretch (their only win) and had been shutout three times, scoring just seven goals while allowing 14. Welcoming a DC United team that was 0-2-3 on the road heading into the game. KC completely controlled the game (as KC tends to do in a lot of home games) with 58% of the possession, out shooting DC 18-5, and creating the better of the opportunities. But KC paid for putting just three of their 18 shots on goal as DC United struck late to steal all three points as Alhaji Kamara beat Tim Melia to a ball near the penalty spot, knocking the ball down and then burying his shot into the net as Melia was on the ground after coming for the ball and missing. The 1-0 loss mean that KC had won just one of their last 10, a streak that would turn into 11 games the following week after a 0-0 draw in LA before KC got back to winning against FC Dallas on June 19th.


Non-Kansas City-KC Player Moment of the Year - Matt Besler Scores First International goal - 2016 probably isn't going to go down as the best year in Matt Besler's professional soccer career. He started 2016 as Sporting KC's captain, but then lost it to Roger Espinoza, lost his starting spot with Sporting KC for a time and played the fewest games for his club since his second season as a pro in 2010. It'll still be a memorable year for Besler though as he welcomed his first child.

In early September, Besler had been called up for US national team qualifiers against St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago. Besler traveled to the game in St. Vincent and while there heard that his wife was having their first child. Due to travel, Besler was unable to leave to get home in time for the birth of his daughter so instead took the field for the US, starting in central defense for Klinsmann's side. Already up 1-0 in the 32nd minute, Graham Zusi chipped a free kick into the box where a St. Vincent defender cleared the ball right into the path of Besler who chested the ball down and blasted it into the net for his first international goal. He followed it immediately with a celebration with his teammates in honor of his just becoming a father. The US went on to win the game 6-0 and Besler left to be with his family instead of flying to Jacksonville for the second game.



KC Soccer Player of the Year - Amer Didic - No player on the KC soccer scene probably had a better year than Amer Didic did for the Swope Park Rangers and Sporting KC. The Baker product started the season as a bench player for the Rangers, getting garbage minutes at the end of the game to preserve the lead and kill some time off the clock. After a string of three straight losses and a red card to Oumar Ballo, Didic got a start in Swope's 2-1 win over Tulsa and never looked back. He started 21 of the final 24 games in the regular season for SPR and started all four of their playoff games. He formed a strong partnership with Ballo that helped carry the SPR defense to the USL final, going 13-1-2 when paired together, the only loss in the USL final. Didic's play with SPR earned him a call up to Sporting KC where he started three of KC's four CONCACAF Champions League games, the only game he didn't was the final meaningless one, just days before the USL final. Didic has already signed on to return to SPR in 2017 and continued solid performances should see him up with Sporting KC either on a temporary contract or full time soon enough.

Sporting KC Player of the Year - Dom Dwyer - Dwyer had his second most successful season in terms of goal scoring in his career this past season. Take out Dwyer's penalty kicks in 2014 and Dwyer actually scored more goals from the run of play in 2016 than he did in 2014 (16 to 15). This despite not having a secondary threat to really take the pressure off and being on Dwyer Island for long periods of time in the season.

FCKC Player of the Year - Shea Groom - The second year forward had the unevnyable task of having to try to replace the scoring of Amy Rodriguez and Sydney Leroux, who both missed the season. Groom didn't miss a beat though, scoring eight goals for the Blues in 2016, good for fifth in the league. Groom's eight goals were good for 44% of the Blues' offense in the 2016 season. Add in Rodriguez and Leroux in 2017 and the Blues look to have a strong offense.

Comets Player of the Year - Vahid Assadpour - The Comets captain and assistant coach is one of the few remaining players who have been with the Comets since their rebirth in 2010. He finished last season third in the league in points with 23 goals and 27 assists and was a first team all league selection. So far in the 2016-2017 season he has added five goals and four assists, which is fifth on the team in goals and fourth in assists.

Newcomer of the Year - Didic - Didic does the double winning the player of the year award, and winning that it's easy to see why he's also newcomer to professional soccer in Kansas City in 2016. Didic is probably one of the leading candidates to be the next player to make the jump from the Rangers to Sporting KC permanently.

Chicago See Out Storm, Down Sporting

After a storm delayed the kick off of the game for almost two hours, Sporting KC took the field against the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park in the second game of three in seven days for Sporting. Shuffling the lineup a little bit KC looked to extend their unbeaten run to six. Unfortunately missed chances, missed calls, and missed marks left KC on the wrong end of a 1-0 defeat to the Fire.

Things looked like they had started extremely brightly for Kansas City as in the first couple minutes Dom Dwyer headed in a Benny Feilhaber free kick thinking he'd put KC up 1-0. Unfortunately for Dwyer and KC the assistant referee raised is flag signalling offside. On replay it appeared that Dwyer may have just been a little bit in front of the last defender, although many people will argue when it's that close you'd like to see those calls given to the attacking team. KC continued to attack but couldn't make much of their efforts not testing Sean Johnson in the Chicago net. The 19th minute saw the referee crew again involved in the play that led to the Chicago goal. After a foul on Kansas City Chicago took a quick restart as the referee Hima Saghafi blew his whistle to allow play to restart. On the broadcast shortly after the kick is taken you hear another whistle from Saghafi that would seem to signify that play was dead. Play continued though with Razvan Cocis crossing the ball into the box for Michael de Leeuw who had lost Matt Besler in the box and he tapped it home. Kansas City seemed to hestitate just a bit after that second whistle and it certainly cost them as Besler especially completely lost track of de Leeuw. Things got worse for Kansas City minutes later as Nuno Coelho went down with what appeared to be another hamstring injury, the injury that had caused him to miss a month of the season. Coelho was subbed out and looks like he'll miss more time for Kansas City. Sporting though continued to control the game, keeping the Fire pinned back as they hoped to play the ball long and allow David Accam to run onto. KC though couldn't generate much in the way of chances. Jacob Peterson had the best of KC's chances in the first half, first making a good run into the box but then firing a shot high and wide of the post and then in stoppage time he got on the end of a Connor Hallisey cross but put his finish back across goal and into the post. The ball bounced back into play and seconds later half time was called.

The second half continued to see the same strategy for Kansas City as they held Chicago in their own end. Chicago for their part was very willing to let KC possess the ball 25 plus yards away from goal and play in crosses to out numbered forwards in the box. KC didn't get their first shot on goal until the 80th minute when Brad Davis forced a good save out of Johnson off a free kick. The final 10 minutes saw Kansas City really push the game, throwing Ike Opara up as a target forward trying to find an equalizer. Later on Dwyer forced a good save from Johnson off of a corner kick that had to be scrambled away after Johnson got down well on the header. Late on Davis had another great opportunity from a free kick, but curled it just wide of the near post as Johnson scrambled over. KC though for all their pressure fell for the first time in five league games and will now travel to Colorado to take on the Rapids on Saturday to close out this busy week.

Wizards Man of the Match - Brad Davis - Gave the Kansas City offense life when he came on, his set pieces were on point and had some of the best chances of the game for KC coming in off the bench.

Player Ratings - Melia 5, Abdul-Salaam 6, Besler 4, Coelho 5, Medranda 6, Mustivar 6, Espinoza 6, Feilhaber 6, Hallisey 4, Dwyer 4, Peterson 4. Subs Opara 6, Davis 7, Mapp NR.

Sporting's Winless Run Hits Five

The winless run has hit five for Sporting Kansas City after the club was unable to break down another bunkered, shorthanded defense in their 1-1 draw against the LA Galaxy last night at Children's Mercy Park. After a 3-0 start to the season, Sporting has now gone 1-4-2 over their last seven games to see them fall well down the standings in MLS. With that fall, Peter Vermes made some changes to the lineup for the game against the Galaxy and even went to a new formation to try to get more out of the team. Vermes played all three of the club's healthy center backs, and seemed to go from a three man back line to a four man back line depending on whether KC was defending or attacking. If KC had three in the back it was Sporting's three center backs. When they switched to four in the back, Seth Sinovic and Graham Zusi took over the outside back positions with Nuno Coelho sliding up into the holding midfield role.

The formation switched paid off for Kansas City as they came out and controlled the game against the Galaxy, but really failed to test goalkeeper Brian Rowe. Finally in the 30th minute though KC found a way through the Galaxy defense. A long ball by Matt Besler was knocked into the path of Brad Davis by Zusi, the left footed winger dribbled at his defender before cutting inside to his left foot where he curled a shot around Jelle Van Damme around Rowe and into the far side netting, a beautiful finish by Davis to put KC on top 1-0. Kansas City kept up the pressure but was unable to add to their lead. The inability to capitalize on their possession came back to bite them in the 40th minute when a quick counter by the Galaxy led to the equalizer. A poor header back by Benny Feilhaber was picked off and Gyasi Zardes immediately raced up field before playing a ball over the top to Giovanni Dos Santos. Dos Santos took a shot touching the ball into the box and then softly chipped the ball over an on rushing Tim Melia and into the net to tie the game at 1-1.

With the game tied again it set off a flurry of activity for Kansas City in front of the LA goal but they were still unable to find a second goal. Feilhaber and Ike Opara both missed good chances on goal from inside the box, putting efforts wide of the posts as the teams went into the half tied at 1-1.

The second half continued to be more of the same for Kansas City as they pushed forward and kept the Galaxy pinned back for the most part. Kansas City though couldn't get through their defense and get a good look at goal. The game changed further in KC's favor in the 69th and 70th minute where Galaxy defender Ashley Cole picked up a pair of yellows in a matter of a few seconds. The first came as Cole was getting ready to take a throw in. He took longer than referee Chris Penso liked and the referee handed him a yellow card. Seconds later after the throw in Feilhaber won the ball and was heading towards goal when Cole came sliding through, getting the ball but putting his exposed studs right into Feilhaber's ankle. Penso went to his pocket again and produced a second yellow for Cole giving him his marching orders.

Up a man for the fourth time this season Kansas City kept up the pressure but remained unable to break down the Galaxy defense. Over the final 20 minutes KC couldn't manage a single shot on goal during that stretch, in fact KC recorded just three shots in those 20 minutes, two of which were from distance and blocked away. In the end KC again couldn't take advantage of the man advantage and ended with a 1-1 draw with the Galaxy

Wizards Man of the Match - Jimmy Medranda - The Colombian has had himself a good run of games with Kansas City this season. After playing the Swope Park Rangers first game, Medranda has pretty much been a fixture for Sporting KC and has been making the most of his time too. He's been dangerous on the wing and has caused plenty of trouble so far.

Player Ratings - Melia 5, Besler 6, Opara 6, Coelho 6, Sinovic 6, Espinoza 7, Feilhaber 6, Zusi 7, Davis 6, Dwyer 4, Medranda 7. Subs Mapp NR.

SAS Monday After Stats

Brad Davis made his 400th appearance in all MLS competitions (league and playoff) in his career.

Matt Besler made his 216th start in all competitions for KC, tying him with Chris Klein for 6th all time on that list.

At 31 years, 282 days, Lawrence Olum became the 16th oldest player to score a goal for KC in all competitions, knocking Benny Feilhaber out of the top 20.

He also became the 16th oldest goal scorer in all competitions for KC, knocking Frank Klopas out of the top 20.

Benny Feilhaber's assist was his 26th in league play for KC, tying him with Josh Wolff for 6th all time on that list for KC.

Roger Espinoza made his 156th appearance in all competitions for KC, tying him with Tony Meola for 15th all time on that list.

Seth Sinovic made his 125th league appearance for KC, tying him with Meola for 17th all time on that list.

Sporting Up Performance But Still Fall on the Road

Sporting KC came out and played much better on the road tonight in Dallas than they had at home on Wednesday against the Colorado Rapids, but it wasn't enough as Sporting fell for the third time in four matches. KC scored first but couldn't make the lead hold up and couldn't find an equalizer late with a flurry of chances to fall 2-1.

Kansas City started the game off well as Kansas City almost too the lead in the 14th minute. A long ball over the top found Brad Davis, who got a nice deflection off of Ryan Hollingshead to keep it in his path. The touch carried the ball towards goal where Davis squared the ball to Dom Dwyer, but before he could get a shot off Zach Loyd made a great sliding tackle to knock the ball away and ending the chance. Dwyer had another opportunity minutes later off a free kick. Dwyer got on the end of it and pushed an effort towards goal, Chris Seitz made the save and the ball came back to Dwyer as he was falling over, Dwyer got the ball past Seitz towards the goal line but then the ball hit his arm, keeping the ball in front of him as he headed the ball across the line from his stomach. The play was called back due to the handball on Dwyer though. Throughout the first half a lot of Dallas' best efforts came through Fabian Castillo, mainly coming down the right side of KC's defense. He made Saad Abdul-Salaam and Nuno Coelho both look silly in the 20th minute when he cut between the two of them before knocking a ball across the face of goal that no one for Dallas got on the end of. Two minutes later, Kansas City grabbed the lead at the other end of a Benny Feilhaber corner. The ball went near post towards Coelho, but no one got a head or hand to it and the ball bounced towards the back post where Lawrence Olum had lost Hollingshead and was able to knock the ball into the net. After the goal Dallas really started to press the game on KC, but would have to wait until the 35th minute to find the equalizer as Sporting's defense made a number of mistakes to set it up. On a long ball by Kellyn Acosta, Matt Besler tried to step in front of Maximiliano Urruti to win the ball, half way into his step up realized he wasn't going to get there. Urruti then beat Amadou Dia to the ball and then touched the ball ahead to Michael Barrios. Barrios seemed to be offside when Urruti touched it, but no call was made. Barrios controlled the ball and then fired a shot from a tight angle that Tim Melia got plenty of hand/body on but couldn't keep it out as Dallas tied the game. Dallas really started to push the game after that and KC seemed desperate to get to half time, in the 40th minute they had another good chance as Castillo played Victor Ulloa through on goal, but Melia was quick off his line and blocked Ulloa's shot. Late on KC had one good chance as Dwyer was played in on goal but with just Seitz to beat, the KC striker fired his shot wide of the post as the teams went into the half level at 1-1.

Over half time KC seemed to get things settled with their defense and came out in the second half looking much better than they had defensively in the first. On the offensive end, KC should have taken the lead in the 60th when Dwyer played a nicely flicked pass into the path of Jimmy Medranda, but Seitz came up with a good save. Dallas went the other way quickly and Castillo forced a good save out of Melia at the other end. For the most part though that was Castillo's big contribution of the second half as Sporting were able to shut the Colombian down in the second half. Unfortunately a foul by Dia on Urruti at the top of the box gave Dallas a free kick in the 68th. Like the first Dallas goal it was a situation KC could have avoided with some better defensive clearing, but Mauro Rosales stepped up and curled the free kick over the wall and into the net to put Dallas on top 2-1. Over the final 20 minutes KC kept Dallas pinned in their own end for the majority of the play, but really couldn't create clear chances on goal that really tested Seitz in the Dallas goal. The best chances came in second half stoppage time. First off a Davis free kick from a similar position as Rosales, Davis curled his through the wall but Seitz was there to make a save. The ball got knocked back and another cross came towards substitute, Ike Opara, Seitz came way off his line for it, but missed leaving the goal wide open but Roger Espinoza's knock towards goal was cleared off the line by Dallas and eventually out for a corner. Off the corner another chance came to KC through Diego Rubio, but Rubio fired his shot from inside the box over the goal for KC's last decent chance of the game as Dallas walked out with all three points.

Wizards Man of the Match - Brad Davis - Was a constant headache for Dallas down KC's left side throughout the first half; so much so that Dallas brought on Atiba Harris at half time to try and deal with him better than Hollingshead did. Served in a number of dangerous free kicks and had forced a strong save from Seitz late on for Dallas to preserve the win.

Player Ratings - Melia 5, Abdul-Salaam 6, Coelho 6, Besler 4, Dia 4, Olum 5, Espinoza 5, Feilhaber 5, Davis 6, Dwyer 6, Medranda 6. Subs Opara 5, Sinovic 5, Rubio NR.

Sunday After Stats

The goal by Justen Glad for Salt Lake was the 1,000th conceded by Kansas City in all competitions.

At 34 years, 146 days, Brad Davis is the second oldest player in his first start for Kansas City.

Davis is the 10th oldest player to start a game for Kansas City, knocking Alex Bunbury out of the top 20 on that list.

Benny Feilhaber's goal was his 10th at home in league play, tying him with Jack Jewsbury and Eddie Johnson for 16th on that list.

It was his 12th at home in all competitions, giving him sole possession of 17th place on that list.

At 31 years, 74 days, he passed Frank Klopas and is now the 19th oldest player to score a goal for KC in league play.

In all competitions he jumped back onto the list, passing Klopas for 20th place.

It was Feilhaber's 18th league goal for KC, breaking his tie with Johnson and Jimmy Conrad for 14th all time on that list.

It was his 21st in all competitions, tying him with Mark Chung for 13th all time on that list.

Kevin Ellis made his 50th league appearance for KC, he's the 54th player to hit that mark.

Chance Myers made his 166th league appearance for KC, breaking his tie with Josh Wolff for 13th place on that list.

Myers made his 136th start in all competitions for KC, breaking his tie with Diego Gutierrez for 17th all time on that list.

S.A.S. Monday After Stats

At 34 years, 133 days, Brad Davis became the oldest player to score their first goal for Sporting KC, topping the old record of 33 years, 256 days set by Claudio Lopez.

Overall, Davis is the third oldest player to score a goal for KC, behind Lopez, Mo Johnston, and Preki, knocking Claudio Bieler off the top 20 list for league play, and Benny Feilhaber off the list in all competitions.

The red card to Roger Espinoza was his fifth red card for KC in league play in his career, tying Nick Garcia for the most red cards in KC's history.

It was his sixth in all competitions breaking his tie with Davy Arnaud for second on that list, he still trails Nick Garcia by one there.

Espinoza started his 129th game in all competitions for KC, tying him with Aurelien Collin for 19th all time on that list.

In the sixth minute, Matt Besler passed Chris Klein and moved into sixth place for minutes played in all competitions for KC, he finished the game with 19,522 minutes played.

Chance Myers made his 165th appearance for KC in all competitions, tying him with Josh Wolff for 13th all time on that list.

Myers started his 135th game in all competitions for KC, tying him with Diego Gutierrez for 17th all time on that list.

Myers started his 111th in league play for KC, breaking his tie with Jose Burciaga for 18th on that list.

Sporting Continue Unbeaten Start

Sporting Kansas City continued their unbeaten start to the 2016 MLS season with a 1-0 win over the visiting Toronto FC at Children's Mercy Park. The win moves KC to 3-0 the only team with three wins through three games so far this season.

For the third straight game Kansas City started the same lineup, starting Connor Hallisey with Dom Dwyer and Graham Zusi up top while Jordi Quintilla filled in for Benny Feilhaber in midfield. The first half as a whole lacked for excitement as neither team got any real quality looks on goal. KC's best chance came from a flick by Roger Espinoza in the ninth minute off a Graham Zusi corner kick. His shot though was cleared out for another corner that came to nothing for Sporting KC. Toronto's best chance of the first half came in the 40th minute when Sebastian Giovinco got behind the KC defense, cut back inside and squared a ball to Will Johnson, but his shot was right at Tim Melia who made the save.

KC made one change at half time, bringing on Brad Davis for Hallisey, but the move didn't pay dividends immediately for KC, instead it was Toronto that created the best chance in the game up to that point as Giovinco played a nice through ball to Tsubasa Endoh who had gotten in behind Chance Myers. Endoh fired a shot on goal that Melia got a hand on and was able to push onto the cross bar to keep it out and keep Kansas City level. Davis brought some much needed fire for KC though, causing trouble for the Toronto defense and Toronto as a whole when he didn't play the ball out when a Toronto player was down hurt, instead playing until referee Baldomero Toledo blew his whistle. Less than 10 minutes after Endoh's chance KC grabbed the lead. A long ball over the top by Nuno Coelho was flicked on by Dom Dwyer into the path of Davis. Davis muscled defender Justin Morrow off the ball, and with no foul called Davis continued to play, cutting back a bit and curling a shot into the far corner to put KC on top 1-0. From that point Toronto really pushed the game and Giovinco started to find space more and more on the back shoulder of the Sporting KC defense, but Melia was up to the effort of keeping the Italian out of the net. Things got even more interesting in the 84th minute when a heavy touch by Espinoza let the ball get away from him into the path of Marco Delgado. Espinoza arrived at the play late, catching Delgado with a cleat in the ankle area and referee Baldomero Toledo did not hesitate to go to the back pocket, putting KC down a man for the next six minute plus stoppage time. KC rode out the storm though, including a late Giovinco free kick that Chance Myers blocked with his face to give Kansas City all three points.

Wizards Man of the Match - Nuno Coelho - Coelho and his center back partner, Matt Besler did a good job of shutting down Giovinco. While shutting down isn't the right term for the situation as Giovinco is going to get his chances, Coelho and Besler were able to limit his chances to opportunities away from goal and at odd angles that Melia was able to deal with.

Honorable Mention - Matt Besler, Brad Davis

Player Ratings - Melia 7, Dia 6, Besler 8, Coelho 8, Myers 7, Mustivar 6, Espinoza 6, Quintilla 5, Zusi 5, Dwyer 5, Hallisey 4. Davis 7, Olum NR.

Sunday After Stats

At 34 years, 125 days, Brad Davis is the second oldest player to make their debut for KC, behind only Richard Gough at 35 years, 35 days.

Davis is the 10th oldest player to play in a game for Kansas City, he knocked Diego Gutierrez out of the top 20.

Dom Dwyer's two goals moved him to 47 in all competitions for KC, moving him past Josh Wolff and into third place all time on that list.

Dwyer's two goals gave him 38 in league play for KC, tying him with Kei Kamara for fifth on that list.

Dwyer's two goals gave him 31 in home games in all competitions for KC, moving him past Kamara and into third place on that list.

The game winning goal was Dwyer's 10th in league play for KC, tying him with Davy Arnaud for fifth all time on that list.

It was Dwyer's 13th game winner in all competitions for KC, tying him with Arnaud and Chris Klein for second all time on that list.

Graham Zusi's assist was his 45th in league play for KC, tying him with Klein for second all time on that list.

Chance Myers' assist was his 16th in league play for KC, breaking his tie with Claudio Lopez, Chris Henderson, and Roger Espinoza for 16th on that list.

It was Myers' 18th in all competitions for KC, tying him with Jose Burciaga and Francisco Gomez for 15th in all competitions.

Myers' made his 110th start in league play for KC, tying him with Burciaga for 18th on that list.

In the 20th minute, Roger Espinoza moved past Aurelien Colliin and into 19th place in minutes played in all competitions. Espinoza finished the game with 11,535 minutes played.

Sporting KC Season Preview - Forwards

Full disclosure, this was written earlier today before the Diego Rubio rumors, please keep that in mind.

To finish out the look at Sporting KC's roster we reach the front line. It's a very winger heavy front line with five of the seven being predominately wingers. The team still has the reported new #9 coming in "in the next few days" according to Peter Vermes, that should add some much needed depth to KC's center forward position. Should make it less likely that Kansas City would be forced to play with a false 9 again this season as they did a couple times last season with Jacob Peterson and Graham Zusi.

Brad Davis - MLS' active leader in assists and second in terms of appearances in MLS play. He's currently 11 appearances behind the active leader, Kyle Beckermann, who is the league's all-time leader in appearances. 10 appearances and he can pass second place, Steve Ralston. He's only 14 behind Landon Donovan for first all time in assists, although that may be a stretch to hit this season. Still KC's pick up of probably one of the more disliked opponents since the rebranding was an interesting pick up. But you can't deny that Davis still have the ability to play at this level last season. He has hit double digits in assists six of the last seven seasons and has scored at least four goals a season in that same span. He's not going to be a like for like replacement of Krisztian Nemeth on that left wing, but he'll certainly fill the gap in a different way.

Dom Dwyer - Most people have said that Dwyer had a "down year" in 2015, and considering his 2014 when he set a club record for goals scored, that's hard to argue, since he only scored 12 goals in league play in 2015. To be fair to Dwyer there though he also had more support in 2015 and didn't "need" to score 20+ goals for KC last year. With help from the likes of Nemeth and Benny Feilhaber both hitting double digits in goals KC got a more balanced attack that made them a better team in 2015. This year though, depending on the new forward brought in, more of the weight is going to fall on Dwyer's shoulders without Nemeth. Davis, Justin Mapp, and Graham Zusi are not going to be double digit goal scorers, and expecting Feilhaber to completely repeat his 2015 performance may be asking too much. With more true "wingers" on the wings though Dwyer should get better service in 2016 which he should be able to get on the end of.

Connor Hallisey - Probably the big winner of preseason this year for Sporting KC, Hallisey scored a couple goals, had a couple assists, and in the games I saw looked much more ready to contribute in 2016. Last year at times Hallisey looked frustrating with his pace and with taking players on. In preseason games this year I thought he looked much better, he'd beat players on the dribble, he was able to get to the end line and send in crosses, he just looked overall more dangerous in those minimal minutes than he did in his time last year. He's gone from a player I thought would spend the entire season with the Swope Park Rangers to one that I think could be a decent contributor to Sporting this year as a spark off the bench.

Justin Mapp - The first free agent signing in MLS history, Mapp missed most of preseason with a turf toe injury. Mapp like Davis will both spend time on the left wing this season. Mapp provides a bit more of the dynamic dribbling that Nemeth brought, but nowhere near the same level. Mapp though is a deceptive player that will provide some creativity in terms of the dribble. He's not a flashy signing, but if he can stay healthy he'll be a solid contributor for KC this year.

Jacob Peterson - If there was a prototypical type of Peter Vermes player, it would probably be pretty close to Jacob Peterson. Peterson isn't a flashy player, he'll play basically anywhere on the field he's asked, for KC he's basically played everywhere but in goal. He has a strong work rate that has seen him continue to get time on the field. The down side is that his hustle, work rate, and willingness only go so far, he's frustrating to many fans with his play and that leads to lots of frustration with Vermes for continuing to give him time. With more depth on the team this year, if they can stay healthy, Peterson should see a decrease in the number of minutes that he's on the field for Sporting.

Daniel Salloi - KC's "work around and within the system" signing, the 19 year old Hungarian homegrown player is KC's only other "true" forward on the roster along with Dwyer. Salloi last year scored seven goals and added four assists across 16 games in all competitions for Ujpest FC in Hungary. Salloi may be a prime candidate to make some back and forth movement between Sporting KC and the Rangers depending on the needs of Sporting at the time.

Graham Zusi - Zusi is coming off the worst year of his career since becoming a starter in 2011 he scored just two goals and added just five assists in league play. Questions of his healthy since the end of the 2014 World Cup have dogged him the entire time. He apparently spent a good portion of the offseason not even putting on soccer cleats. Vermes has talked highly of him being ready to return to form from before the 2014 World Cup and re-establish himself in the lineup. Zusi may be the big recipient of the addition of Davis and Mapp as he has a history of scoring goals by making those back post runs for crosses. With better crosses on the wing opposite him he may be able score a few more of those in 2016.

The big question for the forward line will be the goals, Dwyer will get his fair share of them, but where's the secondary scoring going to come from? None of the other forwards on the roster are big goal scorers, or at least not yet. If there's one need that really still needs to be addressed by Vermes and company, it's the goal scoring. Hopefully whoever the young forward is that Kansas City is close to signing is able to help pick up some of the slack. Compared to last year though I am much more comfortable with the ability of a substitution off the bench to make a difference offensively should KC need it, I feel like KC could at the very least have a spark.

Replacing Nemeth

It's been about a week since Krisztian Nemeth departed Kansas City for the Qatari league, and most of the venom that was being spewed at either Nemeth or the team seems to have died down just a little bit at this point. With the gut reactions out of the way I felt it was time to take a look at what Sporting KC is going to do at this point now that the club's second leading scorer last season has left.

The first part of the replacement is who is going to take his starting spot on KC's left wing. The favorite for that position, at least to start the season will likely be the newly acquired Brad Davis. While Davis played centrally a lot for the Houston Dynamo last season he is still able to play out wide and would be able to provide crosses to not only Dom Dwyer but to Graham Zusi to knock home at the far post similar to goals he's scored in the past. With Davis being 34 years old though he's unlikely going to be expected to start every game for Kansas City, especially with the way that Kansas City plays. That's where the addition of Justin Mapp comes in. Mapp and Davis will likely split duties for the most part out on the left wing for Kansas City throughout the season. Mapp will be able to spell Davis and KC won't see much of any drop off in talent, especially in April and May when the games come very fast for Sporting KC ahead of the summer break.

The next part of replacing him to look at is the goals that he scored. Nemeth scored 10 league goals and 16 in all competitions for KC last season, second on the team behind Dom Dwyer's 12 and 17 respectively. Those are some numbers that will be hard to hit for just one player on the team not named Dom Dwyer or Benny Feilhaber (with help from the penalty spot), so don't expect all those goals to be filled by just one player, expect the scoring slack to be picked up by committee among not just his on field replacements in Davis and Mapp, but also from a healthy Zusi. Davis has scored four goals in each of the last three seasons after a career high of eight in 2012. Mapp hasn't scored a goal in either of the last two seasons (2015 he only played five times due to injury) but over the course of his career has averaged a goal every 925 minutes. If you go off the mindset that he's going to be getting a number of games this season in relief of Davis, expecting at least two goals out of Mapp isn't wholly unexpected. Then you get to Zusi who scored just two goals last year for Kansas City, a career low since becoming a regular starter in 2011. He'd been averaging about five goals a season since 2011 up to last season, it's not beyond the realm of possibility that he could return to that level of form, especially with the likes of Davis and Mapp playing balls across the box that Zusi could get on the end of at the back post. So combined the three of them could make up for the loss of Nemeth in terms of goals. In terms of assists I don't think I even need to make a point on that when you consider that Davis and Mapp have a combined 187 assists in MLS play, they'll be able to replace Nemeth's assists without a problem.

To look at it from another angle, KC scored 48 goals in league play last season, the same number that the club scored in 2014 without Nemeth. In fact, in the five seasons since the club rebranded they've averaged 47 goals a season; four of those seasons have been without Nemeth. The counter to that is that KC scored 64 goals across all competitions last season, the second most in club history, only behind the 1996 season when the club scored 71 goals across all competitions.

While KC is able to replace those areas above with some work with the players currently on the roster there are some areas that KC will struggle with the loss of Nemeth. One area is his ability to take players on one-v-one and beat defenders on the dribble. The closest that KC has to that now is Mapp, who can replace it to an extent and has always shown flashes of being able to beat players not like Nemeth did against Portland, but can be players on the dribble. The problem is that while Mapp can do those things the problem for him has always been his ability to do it consistently. Early in the 2015 season Mapp showed that off in Montreal's run to the CONCACAF Champions League final. Many will argue that while Mapp does that, he also will disappear from games quite often, but that is something that Nemeth had issues with as well, especially on the wing for Kansas City. So while Mapp may not be able to score a goal like Nemeth did against Portland, or do it as consistently as Nemeth did, but Mapp does give KC a threat in one-v-one situations.

The one area that this may hurt KC is the most is probably in a position that Nemeth didn't even play much last year, center forward. While Dwyer started 28 games last season, when he didn't start it wasn't Nemeth that played the center forward position for the most part in his absence, it was the likes of Zusi and Jacob Peterson that played that spot. But if Dwyer had gone down for an extended period of time for some reason, you would have to think that Nemeth would have slid centrally to be the center forward on a more regular basis. With him now gone KC is extremely thin at the center forward position. The club has Peterson, who is a prototypical Peter Vermes player with his style of play and his work ethic on the field. But with only one goal last season (coming when he was a center forward) he's not going to strike an imposing presence as a center forward for Kansas City. After him you have the likes of Zusi, playing a false nine or Daniel Salloi, who while he has scored in the top division in Hungary is still just 19 years old. KC's striker depth is probably the largest worry in terms of Nemeth leaving the club.

So overall, while the loss of Nemeth is certainly a big loss for Kansas City the loss is something that KC should be able to survive. In the end I should have put "replacing" in quotes though, because Kansas City really isn't going to be straight replacing him, at least not immediately. The team will need to make adjustments to the playing style that they had at the end of the season to adjust to not having Nemeth on the wing.

Sporting Win Preseason Opener

Sporting Kansas City stepped onto the field for the first time in 2016 to face off against an opponent today in Tucson when they played PDL side FC Tucson in a 60 minute scrimmage. Playing two separate lineups that saw the first 30 minutes played by the predominately first team (save Lawrence Olum starting instead of Soni Mustivar and Jordi Quintilla instead of Benny Feilhaber) KC jumped out to a 2-0 lead as Brad Davis and Dom Dwyer traded playing set up man and finisher. First Dwyer set up Davis to put KC up 1-0 before he returned the favor to Dwyer to make it 2-0.

Full scale changes after 30 minutes didn't keep Kansas City from adding two more on the PDL side. Second year man, Connor Hallisey scored both for Sporting off assists from Benny Feilhaber and Justin Mapp. KC will face the same team again on Wednesday before closing out the first phase of preseason in Tucson next Sunday February 7th against South Korean side, Seongnam FC.

Sporting KC Acquire Brad Davis From Houston

Sporting KC made the long rumored Brad Davis trade official today as the club sent two draft picks, a second round in 2017 and a third round in 2018, and future considerations to the Houston Dynamo in exchange for the 14 year veteran. The long time Dynamo midfielder recently turned 34, but still showed very well for the Dynamo last season scoring four goals and adding 10 assists. It was the sixth time in seven seasons that Davis has hit double digits in league assists, and the one season he didn't he got nine. All those assists have left him third all-time in terms of assists with 122, just 14 behind the all-time leader, Landon Donovan. His presence for KC will also give the club another threat when it comes to delivering set pieces into the box.

The move, which allows Davis to move closer to his hometown of St. Charles, MO, has been one that has been a rumored trade for years as Davis has continued to play in Houston. It is also one that Davis apparently approached the Dynamo about this offseason.

For Kansas City they add more depth and talent to their attack for very little in return as any draft picks after the first round are becoming less and less useful to MLS teams with academies. There are some questions about the move though, including where Davis would play in KC's system. Last year in Houston Davis played much more centrally than the wing position that he had played for much of his career. That would put him in a fight with the likes of Benny Feilhaber, who himself had a very good season in the attacking midfield position. He could also take on the attacking midfield role with Feilhaber sliding into the deep lying playmaker role that he played in early last season. Davis could also provide competition on the wing on the left where KC currently has Justin Mapp and Krisztian Nemeth available (although Nemeth is likely to miss time in 2016 with the Euros). If he is on the wing one issue that still isn't addressed is KC's lack of pace out wide, at 34 Davis isn't going to provide a whole lot of speed on the wing.

That leads to the question of his salary though. With KC seemingly having set starters at Davis' two best positions, is he worth the $400,000 salary he made last season according to the players' union numbers? Probably not, but if Davis is the one that really pushed for this trade then I'd assume that he was likely willing to take some sort of a pay cut. If not either KC is likely using general allocation money, or hopefully Houston is covering some of his salary.

One thing that Davis is going to have to overcome in KC, at least among a few fans there is still a lot of dislike for Houston, and Davis in particular. Davis didn't earn a lot of friends in KC during the height of the KC-Houston rivalry between 2011 and 2013. It will be interesting to see the type of reception he earns.

For me I don't dislike this trade as much as some do. I want to know what Davis is getting paid to play for Kansas City that will be a big sticking point. If he's still on $400,000 and KC is covering all of that I'm going to look at the trade a lot differently. But at the very least this helps to address some of the depth issues that people were unhappy about last year.

Sporting KC to Trade for Brad Davis?

Sporting KC's season ended a week ago, and eyes have already stopped looking back and are looking forward to next season. And with the eyes toward next season, the rumors have already started. Reports out of Houston today are that the Dynamo are looking to get rid of their captain, Brad Davis this winter via a trade. The Houston Chronicle is reporting that KC is the rumored location that Davis will land in. Davis played in 30 of Houston's 34 league games this year, scoring four goals and adding 10 assists as the Dynamo finished in eighth place in the Western Conference, nine points outside a playoff spot.

The St. Louis native, Davis isn't exactly loved in KC from his time with the Dynamo. From KC's first four years since the rebranding as Sporting KC, Davis was the face of a Houston Dynamo team that met KC in the playoffs three straight years, twice knocking KC out. I've seen the word hate thrown around quite a bit this morning in regards to Davis and this rumor. It'll probably take some convincing for KC fans to really come around to the idea of Davis in Sporting blue.

Beside his lack of popularity in KC, there are other questions about this potential move for KC. First, Davis turns 34 years in three days; questions have to be asked about his ability to make it through many more seasons, especially with KC's "Sporting fit" philosophy. The second big issue is that Davis had a base salary of $400,000 last season. On KC, that'd tie him with Dom Dwyer for the third highest paid player on the team. Going after him would seem to imply that either someone else in an attacking position (Dwyer, Benny Feilhaber, Krisztian Nemeth, or Graham Zusi) who is highly paid is moving or he'd come in as a depth signing. And if the latter is true it needs to happen with a significant pay cut. Finally the question for this move is what of KC's issues from this past season does it really help? Davis can still play in set pieces with the best of them, but with Feilhaber and Zusi to take free kicks, a move for Davis in that regard seems redundant. Also there would seem to be bigger holes that KC needs to fill than a midfielder/winger that is getting a little long in the tooth.

It'll be an interesting offseason as this is likely just the start of the rumors around this team.