Although it started dangerously, Sporting Kansas City’s 28th Major League Soccer season ended better than many could have predicted in April.
Sporting’s slow start was set aside in early May as the team finished the season with the best record in the Western Conference, outperforming all other teams combined. The season was long and
exhausting. And when the season did end, Manager Peter Vermes’ team had a lot to be happy about.
In our year-end edition of By The Numbers, presented by Compass Minerals, we look back at the biggest moments of 2023 after a season that tested Sporting’s resolve and ultimately treated supporters to an incredible playoff victory over bitter rivals St. Louis City SC.
For the fourth time since 2018, Sporting advanced to the conference semifinals of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs—a feat shared by only three other teams (New York City FC, Philadelphia Union, Seattle Sounders FC).
For the first time since winning the MLS Cup in 2013, Sporting advanced past two opponents in a single postseason by defeating the San Jose Earthquakes and St. Louis City SC in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
Sporting improved to a perfect 5-0 in penalty kick shootouts at Children’s Mercy Park with a shootout victory over San Jose in the Wild Card round. The team has won three of their last five games against San Jose.
Sporting became just the second No. 8 seed in the history of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs to defeat a No. 1 seed after a decisive two-game sweep of St. Louis City SC.
Having started the regular season winless in ten games and with a record of 0-7-3, Sporting became the first club in league history to make it to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. Additionally, Kansas City was the first team to qualify for the playoffs despite having won just five of its first ten regular-season games.
