Sporting Kansas City raised the curtains on 2017 with a 1-0 defeat to the San Jose Earthquakes on Tuesday at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona.
Midfielder Tommy Thompson scored the decisive goal in the 90th minute as 30 different players featured for Sporting Kansas City in its first match of the 2017 preseason, presented by Children’s Mercy.
Tuesday’s scrimmage was separated into three 30-minute periods, giving Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes the opportunity to assess most of the players who have traveled to Tucson for the first phase of preseason training.
Sporting KC’s first chance fell to Ghanaian newcomer Latif Blessing, who received a pass from Seth Sinovic and blazed wide of goal in the 15th minute.