# 2011 Sporting Kansas City season

The 2011 Sporting Kansas City season was the sixteenth season of the team's existence in Major League Soccer but the first year played under the Sporting Kansas City moniker.
The club's first league game of the season was on March 19, 2011, at Chivas USA. The regular season concluded on October 22, 2011. Sporting began the season with a record 10 game road trip while its new stadium, Livestrong Sporting Park, was being completed. The first home game at the new stadium was on June 9, 2011, versus the Chicago Fire.

## Overview
### Preseason

After all players reported to Kansas City for entrance physicals and a week's worth of training at the Kansas City Chiefs Indoor Practice Facility, Sporting Kansas City traveled to Phoenix, Arizona for the second straight season to train at the Reach 11 Sports Complex. Designated Player Omar Bravo made his long-awaited debut with the team and the coaching staff brought in more than a dozen guest trialists for evaluation, including Chad Ochocinco.

## Squad
### First team roster

As of September 15, 2011.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | DEN | Jimmy Nielsen |
| 2 | DF | USA | Michael Harrington |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Korede Aiyegbusi |
| 4 | MF | GRN | Craig Rocastle |
| 5 | DF | USA | Matt Besler |
| 6 | DF | JAM | Shavar Thomas |
| 7 | DF | USA | Chance Myers |
| 8 | MF | USA | Graham Zusi |
| 9 | FW | USA | Teal Bunbury |
| 10 | MF | BRA | Jéferson |
| 11 | FW | USA | Soony Saad |
| 12 | MF | USA | Konrad Warzycha |
| 13 | DF | KEN | Lawrence Olum |
| 14 | DF | USA | Kevin Ellis |
| 15 | MF | HON | Roger Espinoza |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 16 | DF | USA | Seth Sinovic |
| 17 | FW | USA | C. J. Sapong |
| 18 | GK | USA | Eric Kronberg |
| 19 | MF | HAI | Peterson Joseph |
| 20 | MF | SEN | Birahim Diop |
| 21 | GK | USA | Jon Kempin |
| 22 | MF | USA | Davy Arnaud (captain) |
| 23 | FW | SLE | Kei Kamara |
| 24 | DF | USA | Scott Lorenz |
| 25 | DF | TRI | Daneil Cyrus |
| 32 | MF | USA | Luke Sassano |
| 55 | DF | BRA | Júlio César |
| 78 | DF | FRA | Aurélien Collin |
| 88 | MF | MNE | Miloš Stojčev |
| 99 | FW | MEX | Omar Bravo |

### Formation
## Player movement
### In

| Date | Player | Position | Previous club | Fee/notes |
| December 15, 2010 | Frankie Hejduk | DF | Columbus Crew | Selected in the Re-Entry Draft, subsequently traded |
| December 15, 2010 | Luke Sassano | MF | Los Angeles Galaxy | Acquired in exchange for Frankie Hejduk |
| January 1, 2011 | Omar Bravo | FW | C.D. Guadalajara | Undisclosed |
| February 18, 2011 | Kevin Ellis | DF | Sporting Kansas City Juniors | Homegrown Player |
| March 1, 2011 | C. J. Sapong | FW | James Madison University | SuperDraft, 1st round |
| March 1, 2011 | Mike Jones | DF | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | Supplemental Draft, 2nd round |
| March 1, 2011 | Scott Lorenz | DF | NSC Minnesota Stars | Free |
| March 3, 2011 | Konrad Warzycha | MF | Ohio State University | SuperDraft, 3rd round |
| March 14, 2011 | Júlio César | DF | Marítimo | Free |
| March 16, 2011 | Miloš Stojčev | MF | FK Borac Čačak | Undisclosed |
| April 15, 2011 | Aurélien Collin | DF | Vitória de Setúbal | Undisclosed |
| May 10, 2011 | Seth Sinovic | DF | New England Revolution | Free |
| July 5, 2011 | Soony Saad | FW | University of Michigan | Weighted lottery |
| September 1, 2011 | Peterson Joseph | MF | Braga | Undisclosed |
| September 15, 2011 | Lawrence Olum | DF | Orlando City | Undisclosed |

### Out

| Date | Player | Position | Destination club | Fee/notes |
| November 24, 2010 | Jamar Beasley | FW | Missouri Comets | Option declined |
| November 24, 2010 | Jonathan Leathers | DF | Vancouver Whitecaps | Selected in the Expansion Draft |
| December 8, 2010 | Aaron Hohlbein | DF | Columbus Crew | Selected in the Re-Entry Draft |
| December 15, 2010 | Jimmy Conrad | DF | Chivas USA | Selected in the Re-Entry Draft |
| December 15, 2010 | Josh Wolff | FW | D.C. United | Selected in the Re-Entry Draft |
| December 15, 2010 | Frankie Hejduk | DF | Los Angeles Galaxy | Traded for Luke Sassano |
| February 7, 2011 | Sunil Chhetri | FW | Chirag United | Option declined |
| February 7, 2011 | Nikos Kounenakis | DF | | Released |
| March 1, 2011 | Zoltan Hercegfalvi | FW | Budapest Honvéd FC II | Loan expired |
| March 1, 2011 | Jack Jewsbury | MF | Portland Timbers | Traded for allocation money |
| May 5, 2011 | Mike Jones | DF | New York Red Bulls | Released, free transfer |
| August 12, 2011 | Stéphane Auvray | MF | New York Red Bulls | Traded for 2nd round draft pick in 2013 MLS SuperDraft |

### Loans
#### In

| Date | Player | Position | Loaned from | Fee/notes | Ref |
| July 16, 2011 | Daneil Cyrus | DF | FC Santa Rosa | Thru the 2011 season | |
| July 17, 2011 | Jéferson | MF | Vasco da Gama | Thru the 2011 season, Designated Player | |

#### Out

| Date | Player | Position | Loaned to | Fee/notes | Ref |
| July 27, 2011 | Scott Lorenz | DF | NSC Minnesota Stars | Loan terminated September 8, 2011 | |

## Major League Soccer
### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | LA Galaxy (S, C) | 34 | 19 | 5 | 10 | 48 | 28 | +20 | 67 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 2 | Seattle Sounders FC | 34 | 18 | 7 | 9 | 56 | 37 | +19 | 63 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 3 | Real Salt Lake | 34 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 44 | 36 | +8 | 53 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 4 | FC Dallas | 34 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 42 | 39 | +3 | 52 | |
| 5 | Sporting Kansas City | 34 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 50 | 40 | +10 | 51 | |
| 6 | Houston Dynamo | 34 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 45 | 41 | +4 | 49 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 7 | Colorado Rapids | 34 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 44 | 41 | +3 | 49 | |
| 8 | Philadelphia Union | 34 | 11 | 8 | 15 | 44 | 36 | +8 | 48 | |
| 9 | Columbus Crew | 34 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 43 | 44 | −1 | 47 | |
| 10 | New York Red Bulls | 34 | 10 | 8 | 16 | 50 | 44 | +6 | 46 | |
| 11 | Chicago Fire | 34 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 46 | 45 | +1 | 43 | |
| 12 | Portland Timbers | 34 | 11 | 14 | 9 | 40 | 48 | −8 | 42 | |
| 13 | D.C. United | 34 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 49 | 52 | −3 | 39 | |
| 14 | San Jose Earthquakes | 34 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 40 | 45 | −5 | 38 | |
| 15 | Chivas USA | 34 | 8 | 14 | 12 | 41 | 43 | −2 | 36 | |
| 16 | Toronto FC | 34 | 6 | 13 | 15 | 36 | 59 | −23 | 33 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 17 | New England Revolution | 34 | 5 | 16 | 13 | 38 | 58 | −20 | 28 | |
| 18 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 34 | 6 | 18 | 10 | 35 | 55 | −20 | 28 | |

### Eastern Conference standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Sporting Kansas City | 34 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 50 | 40 | +10 | 51 | MLS Cup Conference Semifinals |
| 2 | Houston Dynamo | 34 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 45 | 41 | +4 | 49 | MLS Cup Conference Semifinals |
| 3 | Philadelphia Union | 34 | 11 | 8 | 15 | 44 | 36 | +8 | 48 | MLS Cup Conference Semifinals |
| 4 | Columbus Crew | 34 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 43 | 44 | −1 | 47 | MLS Cup Play-In Round |
| 5 | New York Red Bulls | 34 | 10 | 8 | 16 | 50 | 44 | +6 | 46 | MLS Cup Play-In Round |
| 6 | Chicago Fire | 34 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 46 | 45 | +1 | 43 | |
| 7 | D.C. United | 34 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 49 | 52 | −3 | 39 | |
| 8 | Toronto FC | 34 | 6 | 13 | 15 | 36 | 59 | −23 | 33 | |
| 9 | New England Revolution | 34 | 5 | 16 | 13 | 38 | 58 | −20 | 28 | |

### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
| Pld | Pts | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD |
| 34 | 51 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 50 | 40 | +10 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 29 | 16 | +13 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 21 | 24 | −3 |
Last updated: October 26, 2011 Source: MLSSoccer.com Pld = Matches played; Pts = Points; W = Matches won; T = Matches tied; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference
| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
| Stadium | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | A |
| Result | W | L | T | L | L | L | L | L | T | T | T | W | W | T | W | W | T | T | T | W | T | W | L | W | W | L | T | W | L | T | W | T | W | W |
| Position | 4 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |

### Match results

Win  Tie  Loss

#### MLS Cup Playoffs
## U.S. Open Cup

Sporting Kansas City began qualification for the 2011 U.S. Open Cup with a 1–0 victory over Houston Dynamo on April 6, 2011. Sporting Kansas City was one of ten MLS clubs vying for two play-in berths available. In the qualification finals, the club defeated New England Revolution 5–0 on May 25, 2011. Sporting KC entered the formal Cup competition in the Third round, defeating the Chicago Fire Premier club 3–0 on June 28, 2011. In the Quarterfinal round on July 12, 2011, they were defeated by the Richmond Kickers.
Kickoff times are in CDT.

## Friendly Matches

Sporting Kansas City team played a friendly match against the English Premier League team Newcastle United on July 20, 2011. They also hosted the Liga MX México Primera División team Club Deportivo Guadalajara on October 12, 2011.

## Recognition
### MLS Player of the Week

| Week | Player | Week's Statline |
| Week 1 | Omar Bravo | 2G |
| Week 23 | Graham Zusi | 2G |

### AT&T Goal of the Week

| Week | Player |
| Week 19 | Kei Kamara |
| Week 23 | Graham Zusi |

### MLS Save of the Week

| Week | Player |
| Week 19 | Jimmy Nielsen |
| Week 21 | Jimmy Nielsen |
| Week 25 | Jimmy Nielsen |
| Week 32 | Jimmy Nielsen |

### MLS Player of the Month

| Month | Player | Month's Statline |
| June | Graham Zusi | 2G 3A |

### MLS All-Stars 2011

| Position | Player | Note |
| DF | Matt Besler | AT&T Text Winner |
| FW | Omar Bravo | Commissioner Choice |

### 2011 Team Awards

| Player(s) | Award |
| Jimmy Nielsen | Sporting Kansas City 2011 Most Valuable Player |
| Matt Besler | Sporting Kansas City 2011 Defensive Player of the Year |
| Kei Kamara | Sporting Kansas City 2011 MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year |
| Nate Opperman | 2011 Bob Gansler Award - Most Outstanding Juniors Player of the Year |
| Omar Bravo Teal Bunbury Kei Kamara | Sporting Kansas City 2011 Budweiser Golden Boot |

## Notable reserve games

The reserve game on March 28, 2011, against the Kansas City Brass garnered widespread interest due to NFL player Chad Ochocinco appearing for Sporting. Ochocinco briefly trained with the team during the NFL lockout.

## Miscellany
### Allocation ranking

Sporting Kansas City is in the #4 position in the MLS Allocation Ranking. The allocation ranking is the mechanism used to determine which MLS club has first priority to acquire a U.S. National Team player who signs with MLS after playing abroad, or a former MLS player who returns to the league after having gone to a club abroad for a transfer fee. A ranking can be traded, provided that part of the compensation received in return is another club's ranking.

### International roster spots

Sporting Kansas City has 9 international roster spots. Each club in Major League Soccer is allocated 8 international roster spots, which can be traded. Sporting Kansas City acquired an additional spot from D.C. United on 3 February 2010 for use during the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Sporting had also acquired another spot from Real Salt Lake on 23 February 2010 but that spot was for the 2010 season only and reverted to Real Salt Lake on 1 January 2011.
There is no limit on the number of international slots on each club's roster. The remaining roster slots must belong to domestic players. For clubs based in the United States, a domestic player is either a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident (green card holder) or the holder of other special status (e.g., refugee or asylum status).

### Future draft pick trades

Future picks acquired: 2012 SuperDraft Round 2 pick acquired from FC Dallas; 2013 SuperDraft Round 2 pick acquired from New York Red Bulls. Future picks traded: 2012 SuperDraft Round 2 pick traded to Philadelphia Union.

### MLS rights to other players

It is believed that Sporting maintains the MLS rights to Herculez Gomez after the player declined a contract offer by the club and instead signed with a non-MLS side.