After my first visit to LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, I know I want to go back. If you’ve been there, you know what I’m talking about. This might be a nice package for a few families to share, with some nice games remaining including the Portland Timbers visit to Kansas City on August 17th.

Choose any five remaining MLS season matches, including the L.A. Galaxy and New York Red Bulls, for one incredible price:

Sections - Per Game - Package Price
West Stand – $44 – $220
East Stand Midfield – $39 – $195
West Stand (goallines) – $34 - $170
East Stand - $29 – $145
South Stand – $23 – $115
Members – $20 – $100

Click here to purchase tickets or call 888 4KC GOAL

Sporting KC continues to tear through Major League Soccer, they stretched their MLS unbeaten streak to eight with a 2-1 win on the road against the Portland Timbers.

With the win, KC is now 4-6-5 and has moved into a tie for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.

Rookie CJ Sapong was the hero for KC, he scored in the 15^th minute and assisted Aurelien Collin on the team’s other goal four minutes later.

Just before halftime, Portland’s Darlington Nagbe turned in the goal of the year thus far when he juggled the ball twice just outside the box before firing a bullet just inside the far post.

From there, the Sporting defense stepped up and shut out the Timbers in the second half. Defense has been the story for KC, they have allowed only three goals in their past seven games.

This match marked the first time that KC has faced their former teammate, Kickapoo star Jack Jewsbury, now a defender for the Timbers. Jewsbury nearly ruined the night for KC, but his shot in the 89^th minute was just wide of the post.

Sporting returns home Wednesday to take on the Colorado Rapids.

Photography by www.craigmitchelldyer.com

Sporting KC visits Portland tonight, a reunion of sorts for Jack Jewsbury with his former teammates.

There’s also a double-header on Monday on ESPN2. Enjoy!

SATURDAY, July 2
SAN JOSE-NEW YORK (live) 9:30 pm. – ESPN2
D.C. UNITED-PHILADELPHIA (live) 6 pm. – FOX SOCCER CHANNEL
CHIVAS USA-CHICAGO (live) 9 pm. – GALAVISION
DALLAS-COLUMBUS (live) 8 pm. – MLS DIRECT KICK
PORTLAND-KANSAS CITY (live) 10 pm. – MLS DIRECT KICK
SAN JOSE-NEW YORK (live) 9:30 pm. – ESPN3.com

SUNDAY, July 3
COLORADO-HOUSTON (live) 8 pm. – ESPN2

MONDAY, July 4
SALT LAKE-NEW ENGLAND (live) 7:30 pm. – ESPN2
LOS ANGELES-SEATTLE (live) 9:30 pm. – ESPN2

On the morning of June 9, Graham Zusi was riding the bench for a 1-6-3 Sporting KC squad. That night, the team opened their new stadium, Livestrong Sporting Park with a match against the Chicago Fire.

A couple of hours before the game, Zusi learned that he would be starting in place of midfielder Ryan Smith, who was bothered by a groin injury. Zusi played well against Chicago and since then he has been on a tear.

It’s no coincidence that KC is 3-0-2 since Zusi got his spot in the starting line-up. He has dropped the game-winning assist in each of the team’s last three wins and he scored twice in a big 4-1 win at FC Dallas.

Today, Zusi was named MLS Player of the Month for June. He is the first KC player to receive the award since Eddie Johnson back in April 2007.

“Overall, the past month or so we’ve been getting some great results and luckily I’ve been able to help play my part,” Zusi said in a press release. “I’m very happy with the way I’m playing right now and I hope that I continue to make an impact for the team in front of all our great fans at Livestrong Sporting Park.”

Zusi was ready when coach Peter Vermes called his number and Sporting KC has followed his lead.

Korede Aiyegbusi, Sporting KC

Teal Bunbury, Milos Stojcev and Kei Kamara provided the goals and Eric Kronberg made one save for a Sporting Kansas City side that now advances to the quarterfinal round of the tournament for the first time since 2009. Sporting Kansas City will host the Richmond Kickers on July 12th at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park.

The action got going early, as Sporting were able to convert their first chance of the match in just the third minute. A foul at the edge of the area saw a free kick given against the Fire PDL. Standing over the ball, Luke Sassano rolled a quick pass to Teal Bunbury, and the second-year forward smashed a low drive past Fire PDL goalkeeper David Meves.

Catch the whole story on the Sporting KC website, including video

I’ll be taking in Livestrong Sporting Park on Tuesday for the US Open Cup match between Sporting KC and the Chicago Fire PDL squad. Look for photos and a game story on Wednesday. Sporting KC offers these notes on the match…

Fresh off a win in MLS play over the weekend, Sporting Kansas City faces a quick turnaround as they host Chicago Fire PDL of the USL Premier Development League Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. CT in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The match will be held at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park and is the first-ever U.S. Open Cup match to be played at the brand new stadium.

Tickets for the match are just $10 for Sporting Kansas City season ticket members and $15 for the general public. Tickets can be purchased here or at the LIVESTRONG Sporting Park box office.

Sporting Kansas City enter the third round of the tournament by virtue of a 5-0 win over the New England Revolution on May 25th at the Blue Valley District Activities Complex in Overland Park, Kansas. Chance Myers and C.J. Sapong each scored twice while Aurelien Collin got his first competitive goal for Sporting Kansas City in the victory.

The Fire PDL enter Tuesday’s contest after edging the NPSL’s Madison 56ers by a 2-0 scoreline in Madison, Wisconsin on Wednesday, June 22nd. Andrew Ribeiro and Thierry Zahui got the goals in a match that took 24 hours to complete after a lightning delay forced the match to be abandoned the previous night.

The winner of Tuesday’s contest will advance to the quarterfinal round of the tournament, set to be held on July 12th, against the winner of the match between the Columbus Crew and the Richmond Kickers of USL Pro. Should Sporting Kansas City advance, the quarterfinal match will be played at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park.

The U.S. Open Cup has been held annually since 1914 and is named after Lamar Hunt, original owner of Sporting Kansas City from 1995-2006. Kansas City won the U.S. Open Cup in 2004,defeating the Chicago Fire 1-0 on a golden goal by striker Igor Simutenkov off a free kick in the 95th minute at Arrowhead Stadium on September 22nd, 2004. Current Sporting Kansas City captain Davy Arnaud featured in the starting lineup for Kansas City in the final.

Sporting KC knew that it was better than its 1-6-1 start. Saturday night in Kansas City, Sporting finally climbed out of last place in the Eastern Conference with a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Vancouver jumped on KC early when Camilo Sanvezzo scored in the 15th minute. But Sporting came right back as Omar Bravo and Julio Santos Correa each scored before halftime to put KC up for good.

With the win, KC (4-6-5) has not lost in its last seven games and remain unbeaten at Sporting Livestrong Park.

Vancouver meanwhile is an MLS worse 2-8-7.

Sporting KC continued to rely on its stellar defense in notching a 0-0 tie in Philadelphia Wednesday night.

By keeping the Union off the scoreboard, KC (3-6-5) has not lost in its last six matches.

The defense is a big reason for KC’s success of late. Sporting has only given up two goals in their past six matches.

The Union (6-4-5) remained undefeated at home with the tie. Philadelphia, LA and KC are the only teams who have not gone down at home this year.

KC returns to Sporting Livestrong Park Saturday to take on Vancouver.

The announcement came Tuesday that Sporting KC midfielder Ryan Smith has left the team due to family reasons.

It has been a rough year for the 24-year-old English midfielder. He appeared in only six MLS games this year after offseason knee surgery kept him out early and a groin strain has kept him on the sidelines recently. His only goal this year came in a 1-1 draw with Colorado.

In a press release, manager Peter Vermes said that things are sometimes difficult for international players.

“With some of the family issues that Ryan has back at home, he felt like this was the best decision for both him and his family, and we support him,” Vermes said.

Smith signed with Sporting KC before the 2010 season, he played in 26 games last year recording three goals and leading the team with seven assists.