Sporting Kansas City secured a spot in the Leagues Cup 2023 knockout stage with a dominant 1-0 victory against Liga MX powerhouse Chivas Guadalajara at a sold-out Children’s Mercy Park.
Captain Johnny Russell was the star of the match, delivering a ruthless strike in the 27th minute to seal the win for Kansas City and secure a second-place finish in Central Region Group 3, thus keeping their title hopes alive in the Leagues Cup.
With the victory, Sporting will face Central Region Group 4 winner Deportivo Toluca FC in a highly anticipated Round of 32 clash at Children’s Mercy Park on Friday night.
Sporting’s win was significant, as they defeated a Liga MX opponent for the first time since eliminating Toluca in the 2019 Concacaf Champions League. Chivas, despite being the Liga MX leaders, suffered their second defeat in four days and were eliminated from the Leagues Cup. They have now lost their last five matches against MLS teams dating back to 2018.
Sporting’s electric performance was fueled by a passionate crowd at Children’s Mercy Park. Russell’s goal in the 27th minute came as a result of a tantalizing service from Gadi Kinda, and his emphatic strike found the back of the net to give Sporting a crucial 1-0 lead.
Throughout the match, Russell continued to be a constant threat, nearly scoring on multiple occasions. Despite Chivas occasionally showing some spark, they failed to pose a significant threat to Sporting’s dominant display.
The win marks a significant moment for Sporting Kansas City, and the team will look to carry this momentum into the upcoming knockout stage match against Deportivo Toluca FC.
