SPORTING KC NEWS

What the 2021 MLS season meant for Sporting Kansas City ' MLSSoccer.com Another excellent regular season. Another disappointing playoff exit at home. A gif is worth a thousand words:

DECEMBER 8, 2021 • MLSSOCCER.COM

MLS expands diversity hiring requirements for sporting staff

Major League Soccer clubs must interview at least one Black candidate when hiring for sporting positions as part of updates to the diversity hiring policy announced by the league

DECEMBER 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

After red cards, late goals, Atletico advances to CL last 16

A win-or-bust match in the Champions League between Porto and Atletico Madrid saw three red cards, on-field brawls, countless chances and a flurry of late goals

DECEMBER 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

John Pulskamp ' USMNT ' U.S. Soccer Official Site John Pulskamp

DECEMBER 4, 2021 • USSOCCER.COM

Daniel Salloi - Quiet in playoff loss Salloi made a clearance and two interceptions in last weekend's 2-1 Western Conference semifinal defeat against Real Salt Lake.

Impact Salloi was ineffective in his side's playoff upset loss against Salt Lake, but he had an electric season overall with 16 goals and eight assists in 32 appearances (28 starts) on the left wing. The 25-year-old is one of the finalists for the MLS MVP Award for his individual performances, but he will be disappointed in how his side crashed out of the playoffs earlier than expected.

DECEMBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Alan Pulido - Takes two shots against Salt Lake Pulido took two shots (one on target) and won one of two tackles in last weekend's 2-1 Western Conference semifinal defeat against Real Salt Lake. He also made two clearances and a...

Impact Pulido made his return from a hamstring injury last week, but he couldn't breakthrough for a goal that could have sent his side to the Western Conference Final. He tallied eight goals and two assists in 22 appearances (16 starts) in MLS this season, missing chunks of time with multiple injuries. The forward will want to return fully fit in 2022.

DECEMBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Khiry Shelton - Subs on in playoff loss Shelton played the final 17 minutes of last weekend's Western Conference defeat against Real Salt Lake.

Impact Shelton posted four goals and two assists in 33 MLS appearances this season (26 starts), filling in across the front line whenever one of the starters was unavailable. The 28-year-old is a solid backup option behind a formidable attacking three in Kansas City.

DECEMBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Gadi Kinda - Quiet in playoff loss Kinda made a clearance and won one of one tackles in last weekend's 2-1 Western Conference semifinal defeat against Real Salt Lake.

Impact Kinda wasn't too effective against Salt Lake, but he had an excellent season overall with five goals and six assists in 28 MLS appearances (26 starts), despite missing the whole of June with a foot injury. He mostly played in midfield this year, but he filled in at forward for a few weeks due to injury troubles in the front three.

DECEMBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Remi Walter - Takes shot in playoff loss Walter took a shot and made three clearances in last weekend's 2-1 Western Conference semifinal defeat against Real Salt Lake. He also made two interceptions in the match.

Impact Walter finished his first MLS season with a goal and an assist in 30 appearances (25 starts) in midfield, instantly becoming a mainstay in Sporting KC's lineup after joining the club.

DECEMBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Jose Mauri - On bench in playoff loss Mauri was an unused substitute in last weekend's Western Conference semifinal defeat against Real Salt Lake.

Impact Mauri tallied a goal and an assist in nine MLS appearances (eight starts) after transferring to Kansas City in August, becoming a mainstay in the midfield lineup during September. The 25-year-old will benefit from having a preseason with the team heading into 2022.

DECEMBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Andreu Fontas - Makes four clearances in loss Fontas made four clearances and won one of one tackles in last weekend's 2-1 Western Conference semifinal defeat against Real Salt Lake.

Impact Fontas played almost every single MLS minute for Kansas City this season, only missing a victory against San Jose on May 23 as his side fell just short of making the Western Conference Final. He kept a personal best eight clean sheets in 35 games.

DECEMBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Nicolas Isimat-Mirin - Makes four clearances in loss Isimat-Mirin took a shot and made four clearances in last weekend's 2-1 Western Conference semifinal defeat against Real Salt Lake. He also won one of two tackles in the match.

Impact Isimat-Mirin finished his first MLS season with one goal and one clean sheet in 15 appearances (13 starts), and he got an extended run in the side for the final month as Ilie Sanchez was pushed into midfield.

DECEMBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Jaylin Lindsey - Ends season injured Lindsey was not in Kansas City's match day squad for last weekend's Western Conference semifinal defeat against Real Salt Lake.

Impact Lindsey finished the season with two goals in 14 MLS appearances (nine starts), but he has been out since early August with a hamstring injury. The 21-year-old will hope to return fully fit and ready to play at right back for Sporting KC in 2022.

DECEMBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Peter Vermes reveals Alan Pulido's season-long injury fight, Sporting KC's offseason approach ' MLSSoccer.com As well as Sporting Kansas City played through much of the 2021 MLS regular season, they perhaps never had a chance to reach their roster's...

DECEMBER 2, 2021 • MLSSOCCER.COM

Who will, and won't, be with Sporting KC in 2022 after another early exit from playoffs Sporting Kansas City starters Ilie Sanchez and Luis Martins headline a group of seven players who are on their way out of the club.

DECEMBER 2, 2021 • KANSASCITY.COM

Roger Espinoza - Contract negotiations ongoing Espinoza's contract has run out with Sporting KC, and he will become a free agent on Jan. 1 if no new deal is agreed upon.

Impact Espinoza recorded one assist this season in 34 MLS appearances (24 starts) in midfield, but the 35-year-old ended the season as more of a backup option than a starter. Kansas City is still in discussions with Espinoza for a potential new contract, but if nothing materializes then he will enter free agency at the end of the year.

DECEMBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Graham Zusi - Contract negotiations ongoing Zusi's contract has run out with Sporting KC, and he will become a free agent on Jan. 1 if no new deal is agreed upon.

Impact Zusi ended the season with six clean sheets, a goal and five assists in 28 MLS appearances (26 starts) even as he turned 35 years old in August. Kansas City is still in discussions with the right back for a potential new contract, but if nothing materializes then Zusi will enter free agency at the end of the year.

DECEMBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Villarreal, Granada and Celta Vigo advance in Copa del Rey

Villarreal and Granada have cruised past sixth-division teams in the opening round of the Copa del Rey

NOVEMBER 30, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mellinger Minutes: Sporting KC's end, Chiefs-Broncos, Royals, and the holidays If anyone tells you they know what’s going on in the AFC, what they’re really telling you is that they are a lying liar.

NOVEMBER 30, 2021 • KANSASCITY.COM

Tim Melia - Concedes two goals against Salt Lake Melia made three saves but conceded two goals in Sunday's 2-1 Western Conference semifinal defeat against Real Salt Lake.

Impact Melia was beaten by strikes from Anderson Julio and Bobby Wood as his opponents came from behind in the final 20 minutes to bounce Kansas City out of the playoffs on Sunday. Melia finished the season with seven clean sheets and 36 goals allowed in 30 MLS games, missing some time at the beginning of the season with a chest injury.

NOVEMBER 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Johnny Russell - Scores penalty against Salt Lake Russell scored a goal and created a chance in Sunday's 2-1 Western Conference semifinal defeat against Real Salt Lake. He also made a clearance and an interception in the match.

Impact Russell opened the scoring from the penalty spot on Sunday, but his team fell victim to the Salt Lake train and got knocked out of the playoffs in the second round. The 31-year-old had the best season of his MLS career in 2021, posting 16 goals and seven assists in 32 appearances (28 starts) on the right wing.

NOVEMBER 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Real Salt Lake beats Sporting KC, 2-1 in stoppage time

Bobby Wood directed Justin Meram's crossing pass from low into the right corner in the 90th minute to give Real Salt Lake a 2-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City on Sunday in Major...

NOVEMBER 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Recap: Sporting Kansas City 1, Real Salt Lake 2 ' MLSSoccer.com A Bobby Wood stoppage-time goal helped lift Real Salt Lake to a stunning come-from-behind 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City in the Audi MLS...

NOVEMBER 28, 2021 • MLSSOCCER.COM

Q&A: Sporting KC's Graham Zusi on his favorite RSL rivalry moment, seeing contemporaries retire and MLS change As SKC prepares to face RSL, Zusi is one of very few active players that took part in the sides' last postseason meeting: MLS Cup 2013

NOVEMBER 28, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM