Sporting Kansas City host FC Dallas at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night in a clash between two struggling sides in the MLS Western Conference. Both clubs have picked up just four wins this season and find themselves in 12th and 11th place respectively as they aim to revive their postseason hopes.
Each side enters this fixture with inconsistent form and major questions over their defensive reliability, setting the stage for an unpredictable showdown.
Match Overview
The game will kick off at 7:30 PM local time (01:30 WAT, Sunday) in Kansas City, Missouri. It’s a crucial match for both teams, who are level on points and in desperate need of a result to close the gap to the playoff spots.
Sporting Kansas City are winless in five of their last six league outings but had pieced together a four-game unbeaten run before falling 3-1 to LAFC. FC Dallas, meanwhile, haven’t won since late April and are winless in their last six matches in all competitions.
This fixture has often been closely contested in recent years, and with both sides in survival mode, it promises to be a tense encounter.
Team News
Sporting Kansas City may recall Jake Davis to the midfield in place of Memo Rodriguez, with Tim Leibold pushing for a start at left-back. Despite their loss to LAFC, head coach Kerry Zavagnin is unlikely to make drastic changes, with top scorer Dejan Joveljic leading the line once again.
SKC have picked up just eight points at home this season from seven matches, and their defense has looked vulnerable, particularly in transition.
Dallas will be forced to reshuffle their backline due to suspensions. Lalas Abubakar was sent off in their last match and will miss this fixture, while fellow center-back Sebastien Ibeagha also serves a one-match ban. If fit, Osaze Urhoghide will return to anchor the defense, potentially alongside Marco Farfan, with Nolan Norris slotting in at left-back.
Head coach Eric Quill may rely on Musa upfront, with Jader Obrian and Sebastian Lletget likely to be called upon from the bench if chasing a result. The Texans’ away record has been a rare bright spot this season, earning 13 points from 9 road games, although they’ve lost two of their last three away.
Tactical Review
Sporting Kansas City under Zavagnin are a possession-focused side that prefers to work the ball into the box with quick interchanges and overloads in wide areas. While this has yielded some goals, defensive lapses have cost them crucial points, especially when losing control in the second half.
Dallas prefer to soak up pressure and hit on the counter with direct passing through the middle. The midfield duo of Asier Illarramendi and Ramiro Enrique often look to launch attacks quickly, while Musa’s physicality gives them a focal point in the box. However, their defense has been makeshift and unstable, especially in recent weeks.
Expect a cautious game early on, with both teams prioritizing structure over creativity.
How to Watch
Fans in the United States can watch this match live on Apple TV via MLS Season Pass. Nigerian viewers can catch the action on StarTimes Sports Premium or stream through the StarTimes ON app. International viewers should check their local broadcasters for coverage of Major League Soccer matches.
Predictions
Softfootball Prediction: Sporting Kansas City 1-1 FC Dallas
With both teams struggling to convert possession into results and fielding weakened backlines, a draw seems likely. Sporting KC’s home form is shaky, and Dallas’ away resilience might just earn them a share of the spoils in a low-scoring contest.