"By The Numbers" is a season-long series presented by the Kansas Department of Transportation that gives a statistical preview of every Sporting match. To visit the series archive, click here.
Traffic Safety By The Numbers: Did you know that six months is the minimum time an ignition interlock device is required for a first-offense DUI in Kansas? Visit the Drive to Zero Coalition for more information.
Western Conference leaders Sporting Kansas City (10-4-4, 34 points) will look to extend their four-game road unbeaten streak on Saturday when they visit in-form FC Dallas (5-7-6, 21 points) on Saturday night at Toyota Stadium.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT and fans can catch the action live on Bally Sports Kansas City Plus, Bally Sports Midwest Plus, BallySports.com, the Bally Sports app, Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Grande 1340 AM. Additionally, supporters are invited to attend the official watch party for Saturday's match at Rancho Grande Cantina in Parkville, Missouri (11015 MO-45) with programming and specials starting at 7 p.m. CT.
Sporting occupy sole possession of first place in the West, having earned four points from their previous two league fixtures in trips to LAFC and the Colorado Rapids. FC Dallas, meanwhile, sit two points below the playoff line but boast a 3-0-1 record in their last four games—not to mention the fact that they have had Sporting's number in recent years.
As excitement builds toward Saturday, we take a statistical look at the fixture in our newest edition of By the Numbers, presented by the Kansas Department of Transportation.
Head-to-Head
- Dallas are 5-0-1 in the last six regular season meetings since 2019, scoring 15 goals and conceding four.
- Sporting are 10-16-5 in 31 regular season matches at Dallas all-time.
- Sporting are 1-5-2 in their last eight visits to Toyota Stadium dating back to 2013.
- Sporting have won twice at Toyota Stadium since the Peter Vermes era began in 2009, prevailing 4-1 in June 2011 and 3-0 in October 2018.
- Dallas holds a narrow edge in the regular season series, posting a 28-25-13 record through 66 meetings dating back to 1996.
- Dallas won the most recent meeting by a 2-1 scoreline on July 31 at Children's Mercy Park, receiving goals from Paxton Pomykal and Jesus Ferreira to overcome Johnny Russell's late header.
- Russell has four goals in seven regular season appearances against Dallas, including a header in the most recent meeting on July 31.
- Sporting defender Graham Zusi has three goals and eight assists in 19 career appearances against Dallas, including an assist on Russell's goal in the most recent meeting on July 31.
- Dallas forward Jesus Ferreira has three goals and one assist in five career appearances against Sporting, including the game-winner in his team's 2-1 victory on July 31.
Sporting Kansas City
- MLS record: 10-4-4, 34 points
- MLS standings: 1st in West
- MLS away record: 5-3-1 (16 GF, 10 GA)
- Last five matches: 2-1-2, 8 points (T-W-L-W-T)
- Last match: Tied 0-0 at Colorado Rapids on Aug. 7
- Sporting are unbeaten in four straight road matches since the start of July. This is the club's second separate four-game road unbeaten run since the start of 2020.
- Since the start of 2020, Sporting's .639 regular season road winning percentage (10-5-3 record) and plus-11 road goal differential are the best in MLS.
- Sporting are tied for the MLS lead with five away wins this season (5-3-1 record).
- Sporting rank second in MLS in goals (33) and goals per match (1.83). They have been shut out just twice this season.
- Sporting rank second in MLS with a plus-13 goal differential (33 scored, 20 conceded).
- Sporting are 8-2-3 in their last 13 matches since May 16.
- Sporting are on pace for 64 points in the regular season, which would eclipse the club record of 63 set in 2012.
- Sporting rank second in MLS in shots per match (15.4) and chances created per match (11.3).
- Sporting lead MLS with 17 points and five wins from losing positions this season. No other club has more than 11 points and three wins from losing positions.
- Sporting rank second in MLS in passing accuracy at 85.2% and third in possession at 53.7%.
- Sporting KC Academy products have accounted for 16 of 33 goals and 11 of 29 assists this season.
- Forward Daniel Salloi is tied for the MLS lead with 15 combined goals (10) and primary assists (five). He also leads the league with five game-winning goals.
- Defender Graham Zusi has four assists in his last three starts.
- Forward Johnny Russell has scored in three of his last four appearances.
- Defender Andreu Fontas leads MLS by a wide margin in passes (1,412) and passes completed (1,267) while also ranking second in touches (1,618).
- Midfielder Roger Espinoza and defender Luis Martins are the only Sporting players to feature in all 18 matches this season.
FC Dallas
- MLS record: 5-7-6, 21 points
- MLS standings: 9th in West
- MLS home record: 4-0-5 (18 GF, 8 GA)
- Last five matches: 3-1-1, 10 points (L-W-W-T-W)
- Last match: Won 2-0 vs. Austin FC on Aug. 7
- Dallas are 3-0-1 in their last four matches after starting the season 2-7-5.
- Dallas are unbeaten at home this season with a 4-0-5 record, scoring 18 goals and conceding eight.
- Dallas' home goal differential of plus-10 is the best in the Western Conference and third best in MLS.
- Dallas is averaging two goals per home match, tied for the second most in MLS.
- Dallas are unbeaten in 18 straight regular season home matches since Aug. 16, 2020, one shy of tying the seventh longest streak in MLS history.
- Dallas have outscored opponents 10-2 during their four-game unbeaten streak.
- Dallas are 5-0-1 when scoring first and 0-7-4 when conceding first.
- Forward Jesus Ferreira has two goals in his last three matches.
- At age 18, forward Ricardo Pepi leads the team with eight goals. No other Dallas player has more than three.
- Defender Ryan Hollingshead has started all 18 matches for Dallas. His four assists are tied for the team lead alongside Hungarian winger Szabolcs Schon.
- Defender and captain Bressan ranks eighth in MLS in both passes (1,022) and interceptions (22).
- Defender Nkosi Tafari ranks third in MLS with 78 clearances.
Milestones and Miscellany
- Forward Johnny Russell is one shy of tying Graham Zusi for ninth place on Sporting's all-time regular season goals chart with 29.
