The latest round of matches in the 2024 Major League Soccer season pits Sporting Kansas City against Orlando City at Children's Mercy Park on Saturday.
Both teams had to make do with a share of the spoils from their most recent league involvements, and will be keen to go one better in this weekend's encounter.
Match preview
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Sporting Kansas were knocked out of the Leagues Cup round of 32 in humiliating fashion courtesy of a 4-0 defeat to Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field on August 10.
This was in keeping with a topsy-turvy campaign to date for Peter Vermes's men, who currently sit 12th in the Western Conference standings, 13 points adrift of a guaranteed playoff place.
The Wizards will be keen to get themselves back on track having won just one of their last five matches across all competitions off the back of three straight wins prior.
One of those aforementioned three wins came against Dallas in the quarter-finals of the US Open Cup to leave Sporting Kansas two wins away from a first major trophy since 2017.
On that front, SKC have a semi-final against Indy Eleven to navigate next week, but the immediate focus will be on Saturday's clash as they take on an Orlando City outfit with little to choose between the teams over the previous six outings, which have yielded two wins apiece and two draws.
However, Saturday's hosts have picked four wins and one draw from their most recent five matches on home turf and will be confident of emerging triumphant in front of their fans.
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Orlando City put on a show during their Leagues Cup group-stage campaign but were eventually knocked out in the last 32 via a penalty shootout by Mexican side Cruz Azul.
That ended a run of seven games across all competitions without defeat for Oscar Pareja's men, five of which came in domestic action and yielded 13 points from a possible 15.
A much-needed return to form for The Lions—following a dismal run of one win from seven league games—has propelled them to seventh in the Eastern Conference standings, four points clear of Toronto in the race for the final automatic post-season berth.
While Orlando City drew a blank in their most recent outing, they have been impressive in front of goal of late, scoring 17 times across their most recent six matches, which accounts for over a third of their total goals scored this term.
Saturday's visitors will be looking to wreak more havoc at the top end of the pitch against an opposing side with the second-worst defensive record in the division, having let in 52 goals across 25 outings.
Team News
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Cesar Araujo will serve a one-game suspension here, having crossed the yellow-card threshold in Orlando's 1-1 draw against New York City FC back in July.
Michael Halliday was fit enough to be named on the bench last time out, but it remains to be seen if he will play any part in this one after spending the last three-and-a-half months on the sidelines.
Twenty-six-year-old Mason Stajduhar is still battling with a long-term leg injury and remains a considerable way off making his return to action for the away side.
Sporting Kansas City defender Kortne Ford is unavailable for selection this weekend having not featured in over two years due to an Achilles tendon injury.
Belgian Logan Ndenbe will be pushing for a first start since coming back from a knee problem, but Tim Leibold is expected to retain his place in the lineup.
William Agada will set out to continue his hot streak in front of goal after finding the back of the net four times in his last four league matches for the home side.
Sporting Kansas City possible starting lineup:
Melia; Leibold, Fontas, Castellanos, Shelton; Radoja, Walter; Salloi, Thommy, Afrifa; Agada
Orlando City possible starting lineup:
Gallese; Thorhallsson, Brekalo, Jansson, Santos; Cartagena, Lodeiro; Torres, Ojeda, Cortes; Enrique
We say: Sporting Kansas City 2-2 Orlando City
Orlando City are the more in-form side leading up to this one, but Sporting Kansas have been a tough nut to crack on home turf of late.
We expect an open and end-to-end affair with the sides playing out an entertaining stalemate at the end of the 90 minutes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adepoju Marvellous
