Roger Espinoza to miss game against Union after sending off in SKC opener

If Sporting Kansas City head coach Peter Vermes was planning on rotating his squad Sunday afternoon against the Philadelphia Union after a Thursday Champions League match, one change has already been made for him.

Veteran midfielder Roger Espinoza was shown a second yellow card in the 84th minute on the road at Los Angeles FC on Sunday night in a game LAFC was able to win 2-1 on a stoppage time winner by Adama Diomande. It was the seventh card shown against Kansas City in the game, a club record. Espinoza’s first came in the 31st minute with SKC leading 1-0 on a Krisztián Németh goal in the 16th minute.

Espinoza made his 13th straight start for SKC in the match dating back to last season in MLS play. He missed the game against the Union in July 2017 due to red card suspension. That game ended in a 1-1 draw. He played 85 minutes in the match at Talen Energy Stadium last season that the Union won 2-0 on September 23.

SKC faces Panamanian club Independiente FC on Thursday at home in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal.