Five Things is a weekly series on SportingKC.com that highlights the top storylines, players to watch and matchday programming ahead of each game throughout the season.
Two teams trending in opposite directions will lock horns Sunday when Western Conference leaders Sporting Kansas City host Vancouver Whitecaps FC. We visit five narratives surrounding the match in the space below.
1. A Clash of Styles
The stylistic similarities between Sporting KC and Vancouver are few and far between. Manager Peter Vermes' men predicate themselves on dominance in possession and high pressing without the ball. The Whitecaps, meanwhile, are comfortable defending deep, creating turnovers and striking on the counter attack. And while this approach may draw the ire of home fans, it's been an effective recipe for head coach Carl Robinson's side for the better part of three years. No team has more regular season road wins since the start of 2015 than Vancouver's 19.
This tactical contrast makes the first goal particularly crucial on Friday. If Sporting KC strike first, the Whitecaps will be forced to take more attacking initiative. If Sporting KC falls behind, they'll probably face a parked bus in the form of 11 Vancouver players behind the ball.
2. Vengeance vs. Vancouver?
Heading into the final day of September 2017, Sporting KC were flying high. The team had just won its third Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title in six seasons, boasted a club-record 24-game home unbeaten run in the MLS regular season and was in position to host a playoff match for the first time since 2013.
The course of the 2017 campaign turned sharply, however, with a 1-0 loss to Vancouver on Sept. 30 at Children's Mercy Park. An opportunistic strike from Erik Hurtado in the 53rd minute snapped the home unbeaten streak and ultimately kickstarted a late-season swoon, as Sporting KC went 0-2-2 over its last four games before falling at Houston in the Knockout Round.
Friday, then, gives Sporting KC its shot at vengeance against a Vancouver outfit that has won four straight meetings in the series across all competitions, including a pair of Concacaf Champions League tilts in 2016.
3. A Save So Good They Made It Bobble
First we were graced with the Ike Opara bobblehead. Now it's goalkeeper Tim Melia's turn.
Supporters will have the opportunity to secure their Melia bobblehead this Friday, but they'll have to arrive early. The limited-edition bobblehead — courtesy of of match sponsor Mark One Electric and crafted in memory of Melia's jaw-dropping save in last April's 1-0 win over the Portland Timbers — will be available to the first 10,000 fans who enter the stadium gates.
4. Kei Kept Out
Vancouver forward Kei Kamara began the season doing Kei Kamara things — as in scoring and creating goals while giving opposing defenses a headache. Through the first six games of 2018, Kamara recorded three goals, two assists and ranked among the MLS leaders in duels won. The former Sporting KC frontman suffered a setback last Thursday, however, as a groin injury ruled him out of Vancouver's 2-0 home loss the following night to LAFC.
In the buildup to Friday, the Whitecaps are preparing for their second straight game without Kamara. His groin ailment will sideline him until next month, meaning Vancouver will have to figure out how to operate offensively with other personnel. That' something they failed to do against LAFC, mustering just eight shot attempts in a lackluster showing at BC Place. Newly acquired striker Anthony Blondell was also forced to miss that match due to a concussion he suffered the week before, but he could make his return versus Sporting KC.
The math is simple. A victory on Friday would see Sporting KC go seven points clear atop the Western Conference table. Granted, nothing is ever decided during the month of April, especially in a parity-stricken league such as MLS, but beating Vancouver would deliver a statement from Vermes' side that its strong start to 2018 is no aberration.
With the Whitecaps likely to sit back and absorb pressure, the patience and precision of Sporting KC's front line will also be put to the test. The club has scored at a steady clip through seven games, averaging two goals per match, and another multi-goal performance against Vancouver could go a long way in answering any lingering questions about a misfiring attack.
