Five Things presented by Children’s Mercy Kansas City: Sporting KC on the road in Dallas | March 18, 2023

Sporting Kansas City hits the road for the third time in the opening four weeks of the season when the team travels to take on FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas this Saturday, March 18. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT and is available to watch for free on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app in both English and Spanish, while the match will also be broadcast on the radio locally on ESPN 94.5 FM (English) and La Grande 1340 AM (Spanish).

1. NO GOALS, BUT PLENTY OF POSITIVES

Sporting Kansas City is set to continue the club’s 2023 campaign with their third road match over the first four weeks when the team heads south to take on FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas on Saturday night.

Sporting is still awaiting the team’s first goal and first win of the season, but it hasn’t been down to a lack of trying. Sporting leads MLS in shots (58), shots on goal (26), key passes (48) and dribble success rate (67.8 percent), while the team also ranks second in shooting accuracy (70.3 percent) and third in duel percentage (53.6 percent).

Sporting have had 11 shots on goal in each of their last two matches, marking the first time the club has recorded double-digit shots on target in consecutive regular season games since 2019 and only the fifth time in club history (1996, 2009, 2007, 2019, 2023). Saturday’s 0-0 draw with the Galaxy also saw Sporting take the most shots (30) in a regular-season match in club history without scoring.

Despite all the positive stats so far in 2023, Sporting have now gone three straight regular-season matches without scoring and with one more scoreless match would reach the team record of four set in 2000 and 2009.

2. TAKING POINTS IN TEXAS

Sporting Kansas City hits the road once again for the third time in the opening four weeks of the season when the team jets off to Texas to take on FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium on Saturday night. Sporting will play seven of the club’s first 11 games of the season away from home.

Sporting and FC Dallas faced off three times in 2022, with the teams splitting the series 1-1-1. The first match was an MLS regular-season contest at Children’s Mercy Park on April 30, 2022 where the two teams split the points following a 2-2 draw. Johnny Russell gave Sporting the lead from the penalty spot before Dallas took the lead with goals from Alan Velasco and Jesus Ferreira. Daniel Salloi salvaged a point for Sporting late on.

Sporting then hosted Dallas in the U.S. Open Cup on May 10, 2022 and earned a remarkable 4-2 come-from-behind victory. In a 2-0 hole midway through the second half, Sporting scored four straight through Nikola Vujnovic, Marinos Tzionis, Khiry Shelton and a Dallas own goal to advance.

The final meeting came on MLS’ Decision Day on Oct. 9, 2022 at Toyota Stadium with Dallas claiming a 2-1 victory. Sebastian Lletget gave the hosts the lead in the first half before Graham Zusi equalized shortly after halftime. Paul Arriola tucked home the winner in the 65th minute.

Sporting trails the regular-season series 27-29-14 with a 12-17-5 mark on the road.

3. SHUTOUT STREAK REACHES 264 MINUTES

Sporting Kansas City’s backline has been stout so far in 2023, conceding just one goal through three matches - coming in the sixth minute of the season opener - and are currently riding a 264-minute shutout streak which is good for second in the league. Only Nashville (270 mins) have a longer shutout streak as they are yet to concede in 2023.

Anchored by 21-year-old goalkeeper John Pulskamp, the backline over the first three matches has seen right back Graham Zusi and center backs Andreu Fontas and Robert Voloder play every minute, while there’s been a rotation between MLS veteran Ben Sweat and newcomer Tim Leibold at left back.

Sporting’s 0.33 goals against average is tied for second best in the league, while the team ranks tied for seventh in MLS for limiting their opponents to just 9.33 shots per match.

4. ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER SHUTOUT FOR PULSKAMP

Sporting Kansas City’s 21-year-old goalkeeper John Pulskamp keeps enhancing his reputation from week to week as he posted his second consecutive shutout during Saturday night’s 0-0 draw with the LA Galaxy at Children’s Mercy Park.

Facing the club whose academy he developed in, Pulskamp made two saves on the night - including a vital stop on Efrain Alvarez from close range - to extend his shutout streak to 264 minutes. Pulskamp has only conceded once this season, coming in the sixth minute of the season opener in Portland.

With his clean sheet on Saturday, Pulskamp has become the sixth-youngest goalkeeper in MLS history to record six career shutouts in the regular season. Pulskamp also ranks fourth in MLS with a 90 percent save percentage and is currently riding the longest shutout streak of his career.

Pulskamp has made 25 starts for Sporting across all competitions, going 11-8-7 and posting a 1.34 goals against average with eight shutouts.

5. SALLOI & THOMMY FIRING ON SIGHT

While Sporting Kansas City remain scoreless in 2023, it’s not for a lack of attempts at goal - especially from forward Daniel Salloi and midfielder Erik Thommy. The duo lead all of MLS in both shots and shots on goal, while Sporting leads the league as a team in both categories as well. Thommy leads MLS with 11 chances created, while Salloi is tied for third with nine.

SHOOTING LEADERS (2023 MLS REGULAR SEASON)