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A massive Western Conference battle looms Wednesday night as second-place Sporting Kansas City (16-7-7, 55 points) welcomes fifth place LA Galaxy (13-11-7, 46 points) to Children’s Mercy Park. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:55 p.m. CT with coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. CT on FS1 as well as FOX Deportes and the FOX Sports app.
After not facing each other in 2020, these two familiar foes face off in Kansas City for the first time since May 29, 2019. With only two weeks left in MLS regular season play and Sporting KC in striking distance for the top spot in the Western Conference, the stakes have been raised.
Here are five things you need to know for Wednesday’s duel between MLS originals.
1. Home Sweet Home
After clinching a spot in the playoffs on Saturday, Sporting now has a chance to clinch a home playoff match. If Sporting wins or draws Wednesday, there will be playoff soccer at Children’s Mercy Park in 2021. If the Portland Timbers lose or draw at San Jose Wednesday evening, Sporting also clinches a home playoff match.
Sporting has enjoyed success in front of their home supporters, boasting a record of 8-2-5 at Children’s Mercy Park and winning three of their last four home contests. The Galaxy have been up and down away from home with a 5-7-3 road record. The Galaxy have historically struggled in Kansas City as well, winning just once in their last 12 attempts in the heartland.
2. A Photo Finish
With Saturday’s win at Seattle, Sporting pulled to within three points of the top spot with a game in hand on the current occupants. Sporting can overtake the Sounders for first place if Seattle loses Tuesday night to LAFC, Sporting KC beats the Galaxy Wednesday and Sporting ends up with a goal differential greater than or equal to Seattle’s.
Even if Sporting does not overtake Seattle Wednesday, there are still opportunities in the final two weeks. SKC has four games left to play to Seattle’s three. Sporting also holds multiple tiebreakers over Seattle including goals scored and the head-to-head advantage. With so few games left, there will be a lot of jockeying atop the Western Conference standings.
3. New Record Holder
With his game-winning goal Saturday, Johnny Russell emphatically stamped his name into the SKC record books after extending his scoring streak to seven games. Russell has the fifth-longest scoring streak in MLS history and the solo lead for the longest scoring streak in 2021. Now with 37 career MLS regular season goals, Russell has tied former Colorado Rapids striker John Spencer for most MLS goals by a Scottish player.
LONGEST REGULAR SEASON GOAL SCORING STREAKS
(2021 MLS REGULAR SEASON)
- 7 matches | Johnny Russell | Sporting Kansas City | Sept. 11 to Oct. 23
- 6 matches | Ola Kamara | D.C. United | July 3 to Aug. 15
- 5 matches | Damir Kreilach | Real Salt Lake | Sept. 18 to Oct. 16
- 5 matches | Gustavo Bou | New England Revolution | May 22 to July 3
- 5 matches | Cristian Arango | LAFC | Aug. 28 to Sept. 19
4. The French Connection
Remi Walter received MLS Team of the Week honors for his goal-scoring performance against Seattle last Saturday. The French midfielder scored his first career MLS goal in the fourth minute of the match and provided excellent midfield support all game. Fellow Frenchman Nicolas Isimat-Mirin started his first match since Aug. 7. He played his first full 90 since Aug. 4 and completed 90% of his passes in Saturday’s win.
5. Galaxy in Form
The LA Galaxy enter Wednesday’s match on a hot streak. They have earned four straight results and find themselves in fifth place in the Western Conference. This streak comes after the Galaxy lost three consecutive games to finish out a poor September in which they only collected two points.
The last time these two teams met on July 4, Sporting KC left Los Angeles with all three points in a 2-0 win as Russell and forward Khiry Shelton scored late.
