Sporting KC Edges San Diego FC 1-0 on Penalty
André Luiz's 77th-minute penalty kick decided the Decision Day match between the two clubs.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Soccer
Sporting Kansas City defeated San Diego FC 1-0 on Decision Day, with André Luiz scoring the lone goal on a penalty kick in the 77th minute. The penalty was awarded after Luiz was fouled by San Diego defender Kieran Sargeant.
Why it matters
The result closes out a season that ended without postseason play for either club, leaving Sporting KC at 7-22-5 and San Diego at 9-14-11. For Kansas City soccer fans, the win provides a single bright spot after a difficult campaign.
Stefan Cleveland stopped four shots for Sporting KC, and Pablo Sisniega made five saves in his sixth start for San Diego this season. Cleveland, 32, has two clean sheets through his first 25 starts in the league, while André Luiz scored on his eighth time in his first 13 MLS appearances.
The players
André Luiz
Sporting Kansas City forward who scored the match-winning penalty kick, his eighth goal-scoring appearance in his first 13 MLS matches.
Stefan Cleveland
Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper who made four saves in the match and holds two clean sheets through his first 25 league starts.
Pablo Sisniega
San Diego FC goalkeeper who recorded five saves in his sixth start of the season.
Kieran Sargeant
San Diego FC defender whose foul on Luiz led to the penalty kick that decided the match.
The details
Luiz was fouled by Kieran Sargeant in the box, and his penalty kick in the 77th minute proved decisive. Both goalkeepers were busy in a scoreless first half, with Cleveland making three saves and Sisniega two.
Timeline
March: San Diego beat Sporting KC 1-0 in Kansas earlier in the season.
November 7, 2026 (Saturday): Sporting KC defeated San Diego 1-0 on Decision Day.
Season Trajectory
Both clubs were eliminated from postseason contention before this match, so the result changes no playoff outcome but caps a season marked by losing records. The 7-22-5 mark for Sporting KC and 9-14-11 for San Diego place both sides at the lower end of the league standings as offseason planning begins.
The result leaves both clubs' 2026 records set, with Sporting KC's 7-22-5 and San Diego's 9-14-11 marks now final. Fantasy and roster watchers should note that Luiz's penalty goal and Cleveland's four saves are the match's most relevant individual contributions.
The takeaway
A single set piece can decide a match that changes nothing in the standings, and Decision Day results often carry more weight for player evaluation than for team outcomes. For readers following either club, the individual performances of Luiz and the two goalkeepers offer the clearest signals heading into the offseason.
Further reading
Find more coverage in the Soccer section for Kansas City.
