San Jose Earthquakes at Sporting Kansas City
Friday, June 17, 2011 – 7:30 p.m. CT
LIVESTRONG Sporting Park | Kansas City, Kansas
English TV: Fox Soccer Channel
Spanish Radio: La Gran D 1340 AM
For full game notes: Click here
With a 10-game winless streak emphatically snapped in a 4-1 win over FC Dallas on Sunday, Sporting Kansas City returns home to LIVESTRONG Sporting Park to take on an in-form San Jose Earthquakes side on Friday at 7:30 p.m. CT. Friday’s match will be broadcast nationally by FOX Soccer as part of the new ‘Soccer Night in America’ series featuring commentary from J.P. Dellacamera, Kyle Martino and Brian Dunseth.
Sporting Kansas City trails in the all-time series with San Jose with a record of 18-20-6 since the series began in 1996. However, Sporting Kansas City’s record when hosting San Jose is 14-7-1.
The Earthquakes and Sporting Kansas City split the season series in 2010, with each side gaining the full three points at home. Chris Wondolowski scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win at Buck Shaw Stadium for the Earthquakes on August 14 and forward Birahim Diop scored a hat trick atCommunityAmerica Ballpark as Sporting Kansas City capped the regular seasonwith a 4-1 win over San Jose on October 23. The match also marked the debut for goalkeeper Eric Kronberg. This is the first meeting of the 2011 season between the two clubs.
Sporting Kansas City will be without midfielder Craig Rocastle due to a right knee sprain suffered while playing for Grenada in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Sporting Kansas City still have two players missing to Gold Cup duties, however. Honduras and Jamaica have both advanced to the quarterfinals, meaning that defenders Roger Espinoza and Shavar Thomas will not be available for Friday’s match. Guadeloupe were eliminated from the tournament on Tuesday against the United States in Kansas City, meaning midfielder Stephane Auvray could see the pitch at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park for the second time in four days.
The Earthquakes, unbeaten in their last six matches, enter Friday night’s contest coming off of a 4-2 win away to D.C. United courtesy of a hat trick from forward Steven Lenhart. Lenhart will once again be expected to lead the line for San Jose, as Ryan Johnson and 2010 MLS Golden Boot winner Wondolowski are both away with Jamaica and the United States respectively at this summer’s Gold Cup.
Festivities at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park will kick-off at 6:00 p.m. CT in the Sprint Plaza featuring a free concert from the ACB’s as part of the Live at LSP concert series presented by INK. Additionally, the first 10,000 fans in attendance tomorrow night will receive a free schedule magnet courtesy of U.S. Bank. Following the match, the Members’ Club will be open to anyone in attendance for a postgame party featuring a performance from DJ Mike Scott. The team’s official play-by-play account, @SKCGameday, will be used to provide a running commentary of on-field action. Fans can also follow @SportingKC, @ElSportingKC, @LIVESTRONGPark for other updates throughout the evening.
