Sporting Kansas City faced a disappointing elimination from the Leagues Cup 2023 tournament, suffering a 4-1 defeat against Liga MX team Deportivo Toluca FC in the Round of 32 at Children’s Mercy Park.
The match marked a rematch between Sporting KC and Toluca, with the Mexican side seeking revenge after their 5-0 aggregate loss to Sporting in the 2019 Concacaf Champions League. Toluca succeeded in their vengeance, netting two goals in each half to secure a spot in the Round of 16 against Minnesota United FC.
Despite the loss, Sporting KC managed to salvage a late consolation goal when forward Willy Agada, returning from injury, found the back of the net. However, it wasn’t enough to turn the tide in favor of the home team.
Sporting Kansas City’s manager Peter Vermes fielded an unchanged starting lineup from their previous match, but Toluca’s strong attacking play proved to be the difference. Goals from Toluca’s Pedro Raul, Robert Morales, and Juan Dominguez secured their victory, with Sporting struggling to find their rhythm.
Despite the loss, Sporting KC will now have a break before resuming their 2023 MLS regular season campaign. The team is set to return to action on August 26th when they face the San Jose Earthquakes at Children’s Mercy Park.
The defeat in the Leagues Cup marks a setback for Sporting Kansas City, but they will now focus on their upcoming MLS matches and strive to maintain a strong performance in their domestic league.
