"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.
Two MLS originals and fellow unbeatens will continue their longstanding MLS rivalry on Saturday when Sporting Kansas City (1-0-3, 6 points) hosts LA Galaxy (1-0-3, 6 points) in a marquee Western Conference clash at Children's Mercy Park. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. CT with tickets available on SeatGeek.com and live coverage on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV, ESPN 94.5 FM and 1510 AM, and La Grande 1340 AM.
Sporting have navigated their first four games without a loss for the first time since 2017, backed by an in-form goalkeeper and a defense that has conceded just three goals through the first month of the season. The Galaxy, meanwhile, have their longest undefeated streak to start a campaign since 2013 thanks to a prolific attack that Sporting will aim to extinguish this weekend.
As two familiar foes prepare to lock horns in the Heartland, we offer a statistical preview of the matchup in our newest edition of By The Numbers presented by Compass Minerals.
Head-to-Head
- Sporting are 7-2-7 against LA in the last 16 regular season meetings since October 2015.
- Sporting are 3-0-3 in the last six regular season meetings since losing twice to the Galaxy in 2019.
- Sporting are 7-1-7 in their last 15 regular season home matches against LA since 2008. Their only loss during that time came by a 2-0 scoreline on May 29, 2019.
- LA head coach Gregg Vanney is 0-5-6 in 11 MLS meetings against Peter Vermes and Sporting, including a 0-2-3 mark with Toronto and a 0-3-3 record with LA.
- The last three meetings between the clubs have ended in draws, including the most recent contest at Children’s Mercy Park—a 0-0 stalemate on March 11, 2023—and a pair of 2-2 draws at LA.
- The clubs last met on June 21, 2023, playing to a 2-2 draw at LA. Galaxy goals from Martin Caceres and Preston Judd were bookended by a pair of Alan Pulido strikes for Sporting.
- Sporting forward Johnny Russell has six goals in nine regular season appearances against LA.
- Sporting forward Daniel Salloi has three goals and three assists in 11 regular season appearances against LA.
- Sporting forward Willy Agada scored his first two MLS goals in a 4-2 home win over LA on Aug. 6, 2022.
- Sporting midfielder Memo Rodriguez, who spent the first half of 2023 with LA, has two goals in 10 regular season appearances against LA.
- LA midfielder Diego Fagundez has four assists in 16 regular season appearances against Sporting, while midfielder Riqui Puig has two assists in three regular season meetings against SKC.
- LA goalkeeper John McCarthy has a 2-0-1 regular season record against Sporting but fell to Tim Melia and SKC as the Philadelphia Union’s goalkeeper in the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final. After a 1-1 draw, McCarthy entered the game for a shootout against Melia that saw SKC prevail 7-6 after eight rounds of penalties.
- In 70 regular season meetings all-time, Sporting and LA have 26 wins and 18 draws apiece.
Sporting Kansas City
- 2024 MLS record: 1-0-3, 6 points (6th in West | 4 GF, 3 GA)
- 2024 MLS home record: 1-0-1 (3 GF, 2 GA)
- First four matches: T-T-T-W
- Sporting are unbeaten in their first four matches of a regular season for the first time since 2017 when they went their first six games without a loss (3-0-3).
- Sporting are unbeaten in their first four matches of a regular season for the fourth time in club history (2000, 2012, 2017). In those previous three seasons, Sporting went on to win a major trophy (2000 Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup, 2012 U.S. Open Cup and 2017 U.S. Open Cup).
- Sporting have trailed for a total of seven minutes this season, fourth fewest in MLS (zero minutes for Cincinnati and Columbus, one minute for CF Montreal).
- Sporting have conceded three goals in four matches this season. The only Western Conference team with fewer goals allowed is Vancouver (two goals allowed in three games).
- Among MLS goalkeepers with at least four starts this season, Tim Melia is tied for third with a 0.75 goals against average.
- Defender Dany Rosero has scored four of Sporting’s seven headed goals since the start of 2023, all coming off set pieces. The center back, who provided the equalizer in Sporting’s 2-1 comeback win over San Jose last weekend, has scored all four of his SKC goals on headers.
- Defender Jake Davis has recorded four assists in his last eight regular season home appearances at Children’s Mercy Park since July 12, 2023, including assists in both home matches this season.
- Davis has started in each of Sporting’s last 31 matches in all competitions since May 28, 2023.
- Midfielder Remi Walter has scored goals in back-to-back regular season home starts for Sporting, having scored in the 2023 regular season finale and a 1-1 draw against Philadelphia on March 2.
- With his winning goal in Sporting’s 2-1 victory over San Jose last weekend, forward Alan Pulido moved to first in club history with 0.45 goals per match in the regular season (29 goals in 65 games).
- With his assist on Pulido’s goal, forward Johnny Russell moved into sole possession of sixth place in Sporting history with 36 assists in the regular season. His 92 total goal contributions in the regular season (56 goals, 36 assists) are third most in club history (Preki 169, Graham Zusi 105).
- Forward Daniel Salloi has appeared in 60 straight MLS matches (including playoffs) for Sporting since June 2022, the longest active streak on the team.
LA Galaxy
- 2024 MLS record: 1-0-3, 6 points (4th in West | 9 GF, 7 GA)
- 2024 MLS away record: 1-0-1 (5 GF, 3 GA)
- First four matches: T-W-T-T
- LA is unbeaten in its first four matches of a regular season for the first time since 2013 when the Galaxy started 2-0-2.
- LA has not started a regular season unbeaten in five games since winning the 2010 Supporters’ Shield with a 10-0-2 start.
- Alongside Sporting, LA is one of nine MLS clubs still unbeaten entering this weekend (SKC, LA, CIN, CLB, MIN, NSH, PHI, STL, VAN).
- LA ranks second in MLS in both goals (nine) and assists (eight). The Galaxy’s 16 combined goals scored and allowed after four matches are third most in MLS.
- LA leads MLS in shots on target (32) and ranks third in total shots (66) and shooting accuracy (48.5%).
- LA is one of four MLS clubs (Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia) that has yet to score zero goals or allow zero goals in a match this season.
- LA leads MLS in successful passes per match (481) while ranking third in passing accuracy (87.7%).
- LA has committed 42 fouls and suffered 69 fouls. Their +27 discrepancy in fouls is the largest in MLS.
- Forward Dejan Joveljic is tied for the MLS lead with four goals this season. He also leads the league in expected goals (5.06) while ranking second in shots on target (nine).
- Midfielder Marky Delgado leads MLS with five assists.
- Midfielder Riqui Puig leads MLS in fouls suffered (15), while forward Joseph Paintsil ranks second (13).
- Puig is tied for second in MLS with nine shots on target. He also leads the league in successful passes (344) and total passes (396) while ranking second in successful long balls (24).
- Delgado and Puig are tied for fourth in MLS with 10 key passes apiece.
- Both of LA’s penalty kick attempts this season have been saved—one by Puig on Feb. 24 against Inter Miami and one by Joveljic on March 10 at Nashville.
Milestones and Miscellany
- Forward Johnny Russell has 56 regular season goals for Sporting, one shy of tying Dom Dwyer for second most in club history.
- Forward Daniel Salloi has 77 goal contributions (45 goals, 32 assists) in the regular season, one shy of tying Davy Arnaud for fifth most in club history.
- Goalkeeper Tim Melia has 236 regular season appearances for Sporting, one shy of tying assistant coach Kerry Zavagnin for fifth most in club history.
- Forward Willy Agada is one shy of 50 goals in his professional club career.
