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.
Rested and refreshed after a weekend off, Sporting Kansas City (3-5-7, 16 points) gets the ball rolling again on Sunday with a visit to fellow MLS originals Columbus Crew SC (5-9-2, 17 points). The interconference clash at MAPFRE Stadium will kick off at 4:30 p.m. CT with live coverage on FOX Sports Kansas City Plus, FOX Sports Midwest Plus, FOX Sports GO, Sports Radio 810 WHB and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM.
Both clubs will view Sunday as an excellent opportunity to right the ship heading into the second half of the MLS campaign. Sporting and Crew SC have earned one win each since early April, making this particular battle a vital tone-setter as the calendar crawls toward July. Let's jump into five things you must know about the contest.
1. The Captain's Letter
At a time when it felt like the club needed it most, captain Matt Besler penned a candid letter to fans late last week. His message was simple: Sporting were unsatisfied with how the first half the season unfolded and will do everything in their collective power to right the ship beginning Sunday against Columbus. Besler is no stranger to writing these sorts of rally cries, and players and supporters alike will hope that his remarks prove to be a decisive turning point in 2019.
2. Reinforcements on the Way
Here's some good news for Sporting fans to absorb: reinforcements are on the way. European quartet Johnny Russell, Krisztian Nemeth, Botond Barath and Nicolas Hasler will all be available for selection after missing the last two matches on international duty. Russell and Nemeth are tied for the team lead with seven MLS goals apiece, while Barath and Hasler have looked more than capable of assuming starting roles along the backline.
To make matters even better, Sporting's injury report continues to shrink. Long-term absentees Roger Espinoza, Erik Hurtado, Jaylin Lindsey and Rodney Wallace remain out, but the squad has otherwise returned to full health.
3. Crew's Blues
Few teams enjoyed a better first month of the season than Crew SC. Led by head coach Caleb Porter, Columbus kicked off the campaign with a 4-1-1 record, notching shutouts in each of their four victories. The Ohio side has slumped since then, going 1-8-1 in the league with zero shutouts. Atlanta United FC added insult to injury by eliminated Columbus from the U.S. Open Cup with a 3-2 Round of 16 win at MAPFRE Stadium on Tuesday.
4. Out of Action
Columbus will be without a handful of regular starters due to international duty, including influential midfielder Wil Trapp, prolific forward Gyasi Zardes and colossal defender Jonathan Mensah. This trio has combined for 45 starts of a possible 48 this season, with Zardes bagging a team-best six goals. Trapp and Mensah, meanwhile, form the spine of a Crew outfit that will rely heavily on the likes of Pedro Santos (four goals, two assists) and David Accam, scored in two Open Cup matches earlier this month.
5. Sunday Funday
Fans in Kansas City have no shortage of watch party options. Among them are the Chicken N Pickle Watch Party Palooza in North Kansas City and the all-inclusive buffet and bottomless domestic draft package No Other Pub in the Kansas City Power & Light District.
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