When Sporting Kansas City takes the field Thursday night against Seattle Sounders FC in the Western Conference Knockout Round, a familiar face will patrol the middle of the pitch. PRO released the referee assignments for the first round of the playoffs and assigned 34-year-old Ismail Elfath to Sporting KC’s match.
Elfath has been the center referee for Sporting KC matches eight times in his career including the club’s recent 0-0 draw at Real Salt Lake on October 16. In those eight matches, Sporting KC is 7-0-1. Elfath was in charge of Sporting KC’s 1-0 win over Seattle at Children’s Mercy Park in June 2015.