
Sporting Kansas City will find themselves traveling east to continue Leagues Cup play, following their 2-1 loss Monday night to Deportivo Toluca at Children’s Mercy Park.
Toluca scored their first goal in the 40th minute when Jesus Angulo sent a low shot past keeper Tim Melia. Sporting equalized just before half when Stephen Afrifa rocketed a shot from outside the penalty box, with a goal that was captain Johnny Russell’s 50th assist for Sporting KC. The lone goal in the second half came from a header by Toluca’s Maximiliano Araujo. Both teams registered six shots on goal, with Sporting KC attempting 15 shots to Toluca’s 12.
With the loss, Sporting Kansas City finish runners-up in their western pool, but will enter the knockout stages on the eastern half of the bracket. Their Round of 32 contest is against defending MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew on Friday night in Columbus, with the winner getting either Toronto FC or Inter Miami.
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The Kansas City Current welcome their three fellow semifinalists in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup to CPKC Stadium for a doubleheader Tuesday evening.
The first contest at 4 p.m. will feature Angel City FC and NJ/NY Gotham FC. The Current will take on the North Carolina Courage at 8 p.m. The winners will have to wait until late October to play the championship match in San Antonio, as Kansas City will host a second international competition next week before returning to NWSL play.