Five Things, presented by Keith + Associates Dentistry, 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.
This week's Keith + Associates dental fact: More than 300 types of bacteria make up dental plaque.
Two teams fighting for their playoff lives will lock horns Saturday night as Sporting Kansas City (9-11-7, 34 points) and the Houston Dynamo (9-14-4, 31 points) write the next chapter of their rivalry at Children’s Mercy Park. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT and tickets for the all-important encounter remain available at SeatGeek.com. Fans can also catch the action live on FOX Sports Kansas City Plus, FOX Sports Midwest Plus, FOX Sports GO, ESPN 94.5 FM and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM.
With postseason implications—and potentially fateful consequences—surrounding this pivotal, let’s jump straight into five things you absolutely must know about Saturday night.
1. The Playoff Picture
It’s safe to say this topic will be a staple of our Five Things series moving forward. Sporting occupy ninth place in the West, six points shy of the seventh and final playoff spot. The Dynamo are three points below Sporting in 10th. The popular FiveThirtyEight prediction matrix gives Houston a one-percent chance of reaching the playoffs, meaning a loss on Saturday would all but end their postseason aspirations.
Manager Peter Vermes’ men have faced an uphill hike in their bid for a ninth straight playoff berth all summer. Spirits have been lifted thanks to two straight wins, but anything less than three points on Saturday will feel like an opportunity lost against a Houston outfit that has struggled mightily away from home.
2. Catching Fire
In order to climb above the playoff line, Vermes’ side will have to catch fire over the final seven fixtures of the regular season. Sporting has shown signs of doing exactly that, exhibiting poise and toughness to defeat the San Jose Earthquakes and Minnesota United FC over the last two matches. On Saturday, Sporting will have the opportunity to notch their first three-game winning streak of 2019.
3. Davy at the Helm
In a twist of irony, a former Kansas City great will set out to dash his former club’s playoff hopes. Houston interim head coach Davy Arnaud took the helm earlier this month after Wilmer Cabrera was relieved of his duties. Arnaud has served as a Dynamo assistant since 2017 and has been tasked with keeping the team afloat amidst a brutal run of form. The former Kansas City midfielder plied his trade for the Wizards and Sporting from 2002-2011, amassing 52 goals and 40 assists in 273 competitive appearances as one of the club’s most accomplished players.
4. Dire Dynamo
Pardon the overused cliché, but Houston, you have a problem. After starting the season 7-2-2, the Dynamo have gone just 2-12-2 in their last 16 MLS matches since May 25. Their two wins over the last three months are tied with FC Cincinnati for the fewest in the league, and their two shutouts over the course of 2019 are also a league-worst. Houston are on a six-game winless skid, having suffered a 5-1 loss to FC Dallas in the Texas Derby last Sunday, and the club has taken just six of a possible 39 road points this year.
5. Notable Milestones
For our stat gurus out there, a trio of Sporting players are likely to hit notable milestones Saturday night. Veteran midfielder Roger Espinoza is one shy of his 250th career start for Sporting in all competitions, winger Gerso Fernandes is one shy of his 100th competitive appearance for the club, and goalkeeper Tim Melia is one shy of his 45th regular season shutout—a total that would tie Jimmy Nielsen for the most in team history.
