Fresh off the back of ending their seven-match losing streak in the league, Sporting Kansas City journey to the Dignity Health Sports Park to face Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday.
The Galaxy head into the weekend as one of two Western Conference sides yet to lose a league game at home this season and will be looking to extend this impressive run.
Match preview
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Los Angeles Galaxy continue to struggle for results in their travels as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Chicago Fire when the sides met at Soldier Field a fortnight ago.
Riqui Puig continued his red-hot form in front of goal as he converted his seventh-minute penalty to put the visitors in front but Hugo Cuypers and Brian Gutierrez hit the target to turn the game on its head.
Los Angeles Galaxy have now gone five consecutive away matches without a win, losing twice and picking up three draws while scoring three goals and conceding six since a 3-1 loss at Vancouver Whitecaps on April 14.
Prior to the Fire defeat, Greg Vanney's men were on a six-game unbeaten run, playing out four straight stalemates before securing back-to-back victories over Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas in their final two games in May.
The Galaxy have now lost three of their 17 MLS matches while claiming seven wins and seven draws to collect 28 points and sit fourth in the Western Conference table, five points adrift of first-placed Real Salt Lake.
Los Angeles Galaxy will be backing themselves to return to winning ways this weekend as they return home where they are unbeaten this season, having picked up four wins and three draws in their seven matches so far.
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Elsewhere, Sporting Kansas City finally stopped the rot last Sunday when they fought back from behind to secure a 2-1 victory over 10-man Seattle Sounders at Children's Mercy Park.
In a game where Reed Baker-Whiting received his marching orders, Johnny Russell and Alenis Vargas found the back of the net to cancel out Jordan Morris's 12th-minute opener and hand the Sounders their first home defeat of the season.
This was a much-needed respite for Peter Joseph Vermes's men, who were on a seven-match losing streak and had managed just two points from the previous 30 available since the start of April.
With nine points from nine matches, Sporting Kansas City are currently 12th in the West, just two points above rock-bottom but could move into level with seventh-placed Portland Timbers with all three points this weekend.
While the Wizards will be looking to secure back-to-back victories for the first time this season, next up is the challenge of a Los Angeles Galaxy side whom they have failed to get the better of in their previous four encounters since a 4-2 victory in August 2022.
Team News
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Los Angeles Galaxy will take to the pitch without Uruguayan midfielder Gaston Brugman, who has missed each of the last two matches since coming off with a knee injury against Houston Dynamo on May 26.
He is joined the club's injury table by Ghanaian striker Joseph Paintsil, who is set to sit out his fifth consecutive game since picking up a hamstring problem against Minnesota United on May 16.
Former Barcelona man Puig has been on song for the Galaxy and the 24-year-old, who has six goals and five assists in 16 MLS games, will be one to keep an eye out for.
Honduras, on the other hand, will have to cope without 20-year-old forward Vargas, who is currently away with the Honduras national team.
On the injury front, Vermes will be unable to name the midfield duo of Daniel Rosero and Remi Walter, who are currently recuperating from hip and knee injuries respectively.
Fellow midfielder Danny Flores has been out of action since coming off injury in May, while Belgian defender Logan Ndenbe is yet to feature this year as he continues his recovery from an ACL injury.
Los Angeles Galaxy possible starting lineup:
Micovic; Yamane, Caceres, Yoshida, Aude; Delgado, Cerrillo, Puig; Pec, Berry, Perez
Sporting Kansas City possible starting lineup:
Melia; Davis, Rosero, Castellanos, Bassong; Hernandez, Radoja, Rodriguez; Russell, Agada, Tzionis
We say: Los Angeles Galaxy 2-0 Sporting Kansas City
While Sporting Kansas City will be looking to pick up where they left off against Seattle, they face the stern challenge of taking on a LA Galaxy side who have been near-impenetrable at home this season. We predict that Vanney's side will continue with their fine run at the Dignity Health Sports Park and claim all three points.
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Joshua Ojele
