"By The Numbers" presented by Compass Minerals is a season-long series that gives a statistical preview of every Sporting match. To visit the series archive, click here.
A pair of MLS originals will lock horns Saturday night on the West Coast when Sporting Kansas City visits the San Jose Earthquakes for a 9:30 p.m. CT kickoff at PayPal Park. Fans can catch the action live for free on Apple TV, Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Grande 1340 AM.
Sporting (0-4-3, 3 points) have endured a frustrating start to 2023, dominating for large periods from box to box without goals to show for it, but Saturday presents another opportunity to get the campaign back on track. Meanwhile, the Earthquakes (3-2-2, 11 points) are looking to take another step forward on the heels of their best seven-game start to a season since 2016.
We take a statistical look at the matchup in our newest edition of By the Numbers, presented by Compass Minerals.
Head-to-Head
- Sporting are 8-1-5 against San Jose in the last 14 competitive meetings dating back to September 2016, including a 1-1 road draw and a 1-0 home win in 2022.
- The clubs last met on Aug. 27, 2022, when Daniel Salloi scored early to give Sporting a 1-0 victory at Children’s Mercy Park.
- The clubs last met at PayPal Park on May 22, 2022, playing to a 1-1 draw as Johnny Russell and Jackson Yueill traded goals.
- Sporting are 3-1-2 in their last six visits to PayPal Park after going winless in 18 straight away games at San Jose from 2000 to 2016.
- Sporting forward Daniel Salloi has three goals and two assists in six regular season appearances against San Jose.
- Since August 2004, the home team in the fixture is 24-4-7 across all competitions.
Sporting Kansas City
- 2023 MLS record: 0-4-3, 3 points (14th in West | 2 GF, 8 GA)
- 2023 MLS away record: 0-2-2 (1 GF, 3 GA)
- Last 5 Matches: 0-3-2 (T-L-L-T-L)
- Sporting rank second in MLS in both shots (107) and shots on target (38).
- Sporting rank second in MLS in key passes (77), second in corner kicks (50) and third in shooting accuracy (55.9%).
- Sporting have had 39 shots blocked this season, the second most in MLS.
- Sporting lead MLS in progressive carries (155) and rank fourth in progressive passes (319).
- Sporting rank third in MLS with 126 crosses from open play.
- Sporting lead MLS with a dribble success rate of 60.9%, completing 78 of 128 attempted dribbles.
- Midfielder Erik Thommy leads MLS in both shots (29) and shots on target (12). His 14 blocked shot attempts are also the most in MLS.
- Forward Daniel Salloi ranks fifth in MLS in shots (22), second in shots on target (nine), fourth in chances created (17) and second in successful crosses from open play (eight). He also leads MLS in progressive carries (31).
- Midfielder Remi Walter is tied for sixth in MLS with 15 interceptions. He has started 49 consecutive regular season matches for Sporting since Sept. 29, 2021, the third-longest active streak among MLS field players behind Jakob Glesnes (80) and Darlington Nagbe (74) and tied for the eighth-longest streak in club history.
San Jose Earthquakes
- 2023 MLS record: 3-2-2, 11 points (6th in West | 7 GF, 8 GA)
- 2023 MLS away record: 3-0-1 (5 GF, 2 GA)
- Last 5 Matches: 2-1-2 (W-L-T-W-T)
- San Jose’s 3-2-2 start (11 points) is its best seven-game start to a regular season since 2016 when the club began with the same record.
- San Jose are 3-0-1 at home this season with five goals scored, two goals conceded and two shutouts.
- Two of San Jose’s seven goals have come from the penalty spot. Their two penalty kick goals are tied for second most in MLS.
- San Jose have scored three goals after the 75th minute, tied for the second most in MLS. Five of their seven goals have come after the 60th minute, with the other two coming before the 15th minute.
- San Jose have conceded three goals after the 75th minute, one shy of the most in MLS.
- San Jose are tied for second in MLS with three wins by one goal. All of their victories have come by a one-goal margin this season.
- Forward Cristian Espinoza ranks second in MLS in shots on target (nine), chances created (22) and progressive carries (29) while leading the league in progressive passes received (73), crosses from open play (45) and successful crosses from open play (13).
- Espinoza leads San Jose in goals (four) and assists (two).
- Defender Jonathan Mensah and midfielder Jackson Yueill have played all 630 minutes this season.
- Defender Rodrigues ranks second in MLS in interceptions (18) and seventh in duels won (53).
- Defender Paul Marie ranks fifth with 15 tackles won.
Milestones and Miscellany
- Manager Peter Vermes will coach his 445th MLS regular season match on Saturday, passing Dominic Kinnear for third most in MLS history (Sigi Schmid 548, Bruce Arena 529).
- Goalkeeper Tim Melia is 25 minutes shy of 20,000 minutes in his MLS regular season career.
- Forward Daniel Salloi is one shy of his 50th goal for Sporting in all competitions.
- Forward Johnny Russell is one shy of his 50th goal for Sporting in MLS competitions and two shy of 50 regular season goals for the club. His 48 regular season goals and 53 goals in all competitions are both third most in club history.
- Midfielder Roger Espinoza is one shy of his 300th start in MLS competitions (regular season, playoffs and MLS is Back Tournament).
- Midfielder Remi Walter has made 49 straight regular season starts for Sporting, the third-longest active streak among MLS field players behind Jakob Glesnes (80) and Darlington Nagbe (74). His 49-game streak is the eighth longest in club history (Kevin Hartman 90, Jimmy Nielsen 90, Mark Chung 74, Tony Meola 55, Jimmy Conrad 52, Bo Oshoniyi 51, Ilie Sanchez 51).
- Goalkeeper Tim Melia has made 218 regular season appearance for Sporting, one shy of passing Preki for seventh-most in club history.
- Forward Khiry Shelton is one shy of 100 starts in his MLS regular season career.
