A dominant start translated into the opening goal. Then one goal became two. And two became three. And by the time Costa Rican referee Henry Bejarano put Deportivo Toluca FC out of their misery with the full-time whistle, Sporting Kansas City had made history and SportingKC.com's first Beyond the Box Score of 2019 had practically written itself.
Manager Peter Vermes’ side cruised to an emphatic 3-0 win over Toluca on Thursday night at Children’s Mercy Park in the first leg of the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Round of 16. Krisztian Nemeth, Gerso Fernandes and Ilie Sanchez found the back of the net as Sporting built an advantageous cushion heading into next Thursday’s return leg at Estadio Nemesio Diez Toluca, Mexico.