Two underwhelming sides in the MLS Western Conference will square off at Children's Mercy Park on Sunday as Sporting Kansas City host Dallas.
On Thursday, SKC were beaten 2-1 by the Colorado Rapids, while an own-goal three minutes from the 90 lifted the Toros to a 3-2 victory over the Portland Timbers.
Match preview
© Reuters
When it looked like they were finally building up a little momentum, Sporting Kansas City found another way to lose on Thursday.
Their defeat versus the Burgundy Boys gives them 13 in the league this year, one fewer than 2023 when they made the playoffs.
Returning to the post-season in 2024 will be an uphill battle for Peter Vermes and his side, who are second from the bottom in the Western Conference, 11 points behind the playoff line with a dozen matches remaining.
Despite averaging over 1.5 goals per game, their fourth-highest rate under Vermes, KC have often been their own worst enemy, conceding 46 times after matchday 22, the second-most in MLS.
In part, Sporting have only themselves to blame for their current predicament, squandering 20 points in the 2024 regular season when scoring the opening goal.
With a victory this weekend, Sporting would claim consecutive regular-season triumphs against Dallas for the first time since 2021.
© Reuters
A stroke of good fortune on Thursday enabled the Toros to end a two-match MLS losing run, with an own-goal from Cristhian Paredes lifting them to a victory.
As a result, they have closed the gap in the race for a playoff berth, currently five points below that line in the Western Conference.
Interim manager Peter Luccin has yet to earn a point away from home in this competition, losing 3-2 at the Seattle Sounders last month, while Dallas are one of only two MLS sides this year without a road victory, the other being St Louis City.
If they suffer another defeat this weekend, it will be their 11th of the domestic campaign, surpassing their total from a year ago.
Sunday is the first of two meetings versus Sporting, as these two sides will clash again on Wednesday at Children's Mercy Park in the US Open Cup quarter-finals.
Dallas have not beaten SKC at Children's Mercy Park since the 2021 regular season, narrowly losing their previous visit there in 2023 (2-1).
Team News
© Reuters
Kansas City did not have Robert Castellanos available on Thursday due to a sore ankle, Remi Walter was sidelined with a knee issue and Logan Ndenbe continues to recover from a torn ACL sustained last season.
Midfielder Felipe Hernandez will be out indefinitely for this team as he is being investigated for allegedly making some illegal wagers.
Captain Johnny Russell scored the opening goal against the Rapids, giving him 150 in his professional club career, while Daniel Salloi needs one more goal or assist to reach 100 goal contributions for this club across all competitions.
The Toros were missing Liam Fraser against the Timbers with a knock, Tsiki Ntsabeleng sat out due to an illness, Carl Sainte has a lower leg issue and Patrickson Delgado continues to recover from a knee injury.
Jesus Ferreira remains a doubt because of a hamstring strain, Paxton Pomykal is out for the year after having surgery on his left knee, Alan Velasco is recovering from a torn ACL and MCL, Geovane Jesus tore his ACL and is still on the mend, while Sebastien Ibeagha will be suspended due to yellow card accumulation.
Before Paredes gifted Dallas the winning goal, Petar Musa and Nkosi Tafari scored second-half strikes, enabling them to collect all three points.
Sporting Kansas City possible starting lineup:
Melia; Pierre, Rosero, Fontas, Leibold; Davis, Rodoja, Thommy; Russell, Agada, Salloi
Dallas possible starting lineup:
Paes; Twumasi, Tafari, Junqua; Arriola, Lletget, Illarramendi, Farfan; Ntsabeleng, Kamungo; Musa
We say: Sporting Kansas City 2-0 Dallas
As poor as KC have been defensively this season, the Toros have been equally poor on the back end and in the attacking third away from home, so we project a stroke of good fortune for the home team.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
