Sporting Kansas City remains at home this weekend when the team hosts the Philadelphia Union at Sporting Park on Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT and will be available to stream on Apple TV, while the game will also be broadcast locally on the radio via Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Grande 1340 AM. Tickets are available via SeatGeek.
1. SCORING AT WILL
Sporting Kansas City snapped a seven-game winless run this past weekend, dominating LAFC en route to a 3-1 victory at Sporting Park on Saturday night behind goals from Andre Luiz, Taylor Calheira and Jacob Bartlett.
Having also found the net three times in the 4-3 loss to Dallas on Sept.5, Sporting has now scored three goals in back-to-back matches for the first time since May 31, 2025.
While record-signing Andre stole the headlines with his stunning opening goal on his first start at Sporting Park, the victory over LAFC was also secured by a much improved defensive showing - as Stefan Cleveland tied his season high and tied the MLS matchday high with seven saves, while defender Wyatt Meyer’s seven clearances were second most in MLS this weekend (most of any player in the Western Conference) and the most by an SKC player in a regular-season match since 2024.
Sporting has 10 matches remaining to see if the team can drag itself up the table with the team still occupying 15th place in the West with 18 points.
2. HOME vs. IN-FORM PHILADELPHIA
Sporting Kansas City remains at home this weekend when the team hosts the scorching-hot Philadelphia Union at Sporting Park on Saturday night. After entering the World Cup break occupying last place in the Supporters’ Shield standings with just seven points, the Union have gone on a tear since July - going undefeated during an 8-0-2 run.
Sporting last hosted the Union during the team’s 2024 season opener on March 2, 2024, sharing the spoils in following a 1-1 draw. Remi Walter fired Sporting into a first-half lead with a well-taken strike from the edge of the area before Philadelphia grabbed a controversial last-gasp equalizer through Alejandro Bedoya, stemming from an incorrect throw-in decision as time expired.
Sporting visited Subaru Park the previous season on April 1, 2023 as the two teams also played out a draw. Following a lengthy weather delay that postponed kickoff to the match, the two sides saw out a 0-0 draw with chances at a premium on the night.
The all-time regular-season series between the two clubs is deadlocked at 6-6-7, while Sporting defeated Philadelphia in the 2015 U.S. Open Cup Final at Subaru Park.
3. ANDRE ARRIVES WITH A BANG
Sporting Kansas City record signing Andre Luiz left an indelible mark on his first start at Sporting Park this past weekend, dazzling the home crowd with a brilliant first goal for the club coming just 18 minutes into the team’s 3-1 victory over LAFC - leading to his inclusion in the MLS Team of the Matchday.
Andre received a pass from Justin Reynolds just inside the right side of the area, cut beyond former Flamengo and Estrela de Amadora teammate Igor Jesus, and slammed home a stunning finish off the underside of the crossbar to send Sporting on their way to a much-needed win at home.
Andre was a constant thorn in LAFC’s side and ended the match with a game-high seven shots and five fouls suffered. In fact, Andre’s seven shots were the third most in MLS on Matchday 26 - and most of any player in the Western Conference - and the most by any Sporting player in a regular-season match this season.
The 24-year-old Brazilian was acquired by Sporting in a club-record transfer from Greek giants Olympiacos FC in August, having broken out during the first half of the 2025-2026 season with Rio Ave FC in Portugal where he tallied seven goals and six assists in half a season.
4. CALHEIRA A MAN IN FORM
Sporting Kansas City forward Taylor Calheira continued his blistering form this past weekend, scoring for the second straight week to make it three goals in his last two matches for Sporting when he tallied the game-winner in the team’s 3-1 victory over LAFC at Sporting Park.
Calheira scored his first two goals for the club - and his first two MLS goals - in the 4-3 setback against FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium on Sept. 5 before heading home from close range on Saturday night to give Sporting a 2-0 halftime lead with what would eventually stand as the game-winning goal - his first for the club.
The goal was the culmination of an extended period of possession for Sporting, where the team held the ball for two minutes, completed 39 passes and every player on the team touched the ball at least once before Stephen Afrifa’s looping header struck the post, allowing Calheira to knock it home from the goalline.
Calheira, 24, joined Sporting from FC Tulsa in the USL Championship in February 2026 and now has three goals and two assists in 17 appearances for the club.
5. BARTLETT SCORES INSURANCE GOAL
Sporting Kansas City Homegrown product Jacob Bartlett scored the third and final goal of the team’s 3-1 victory over LAFC at Sporting Park on Saturday night, rifling home from the edge of the area after Andre Luiz’s shot had been charged down.
Bartlett, a 20-year-old Overland Park native, showed excellent composure to settle the ball before stroking a precise finish into the bottom corner with legendary goalkeeper Hugo Lloris frozen to the spot. It was Bartlett’s second goal of his professional career, having also tallied in the team’s 3-1 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes at Sporting Park earlier this year on April 11, 2026.
Bartlett signed with Sporting as a Homegrown Player ahead of the 2025 season after rising through the SKC Academy and playing one season of collegiate soccer at Notre Dame. Since making his debut in the Concacaf Champions Cup last February, Bartlett has appeared in 52 matches for the club, tallying two goals and three assists across all competitions.
