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.
A spot in MLS Cup 2018 will be awarded Thursday night when Sporting Kansas City hosts the Portland Timbers in the decisive second leg of the Western Conference Championship at Children’s Mercy Park. Both sides have navigated their way through the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs to reach this juncture and will now take the field in Kansas City with hopes of capturing the coveted conference crown.
A limited number of tickets for Thursday’s showdown remain available at SeatGeek.com, with ESPN and ESPN Deportes set to televise the game nationally at 8:30 p.m. CT. Local radio broadcasts will air live on Sports Radio 810 WHB (English) and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM, while the Sporting KC Uphoria app will provide in-game updates.
The stakes for a match at Children’s Mercy Park haven’t been this high since Sporting KC won MLS Cup five years ago. Manager Peter Vermes’ men are on the cusp of more silverware, but a dangerous and talented Timbers team stands in their way. Without further ado, here are five things you absolutely must know heading into Thursday.
1. Play to Win
With Sunday’s first-leg stalemate in the books, both teams know exactly what they must do to advance to MLS Cup. A win for either side would result in an aggregate victory, a conference title and a date with either Atlanta United FC or the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, Dec. 8.
A score-draw of any kind after 90 minutes (1-1, 2-2, 3-3, etc.) would see the Timbers advance on the away goals tiebreaker. If the clubs are scoreless after 90 minutes, two 15-minute periods of extra time will be played in which the away goals tiebreaker no longer counts. If still tied after 120 minutes, a penalty shootout will decide the winner.
For example, if Sporting KC and Portland are level at 0-0 through regulation, then finish extra time tied at 1-1, the game will be decided by a penalty shootout. Keep in mind that the away-goals rule does not apply if the match goes to extra time.
2. Captain Fantastic
The 2018 campaign will likely be remembered for Sporting KC’s attacking feats, and fairly so. The club has set single-season records for goals, assists, shots and a slew of other offensive metrics. What shouldn’t be lost in translation, however, is the fact that Vermes’ backline has remained among the best in MLS. And arguably no one has been more responsible for that than center back and captain Matt Besler.
The 10th-year veteran and longtime U.S. international is currently enjoying one of his best spells as a professional, anchoring the Sporting KC defense with several lockdown performances over the last few months. If you’re looking for numbers to support this notion, Sporting KC are 10-2-4 in their last 16 matches with just 13 goals allowed and a 0.81 goals against average. Individually, Besler leads all players during the 2018 playoffs with a combined 9.3 clearances and interceptions per match.
3. Two Diegos
Both sides have a Diego who is likely to play an influential attacking role in leg two. For the Timbers—and no disrespect to defensive midfielder Diego Chara—that man is Diego Valeri. The Argentine has two goals and a whopping 17 chances created during the 2018 playoffs, nine more than any other player. Valeri was a constant threat in Sunday’s first leg, creating a game-high seven scoring chances, and figures to be Portland’s go-to guy on Thursday. Containing the Timbers starts with containing Valeri.
On the opposite sideline, Sporting KC forward Diego Rubio served a one-game suspension on Sunday and will be eligible for selection. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, it’s safe to bet on the Chilean making an impact. His five goals as a sub are the most in MLS this season, but he has also excelled in starting roles throughout the year. Look no further than his devastating first-half brace in Sporting KC’s 3-0 home win over Portland on Aug. 18.
4. Playoff Fortress
There’s something about the MLS Cup Playoffs in Kansas City.
Sporting KC are an impressive 15-2-4 at home in the postseason, with their only losses coming in 1997 and 2011, and Thursday night will undoubtedly be a riveting showcase for the Children’s Mercy Park faithful to show why they reign among the greatest fan bases in MLS. Expect an electric atmosphere from wire to wire, which just might help sway the series in favor of the hosts.
We saw a prime example of the home crowd’s influence in the second leg of the conference semifinals on Nov. 11. In the first playoff match at Children’s Mercy Park since 2013, Sporting KC roared out to an early lead and put the game away late, thanks in part to the tremendous energy the fans brought from start to finish.
5. Taming the Timbers
In the last 12 MLS meetings since 2014, Sporting KC and Portland have combined for just 16 goals. That's a paltry 1.33 goals per match. Sporting KC owns a 5-1-6 record during that stretch with a remarkable nine—yes, nine—shutouts. And while Besler, Ike Opara, Seth Sinovic and Graham Zusi all delivered solid performances on Sunday en route to the clean sheet, goalkeeper Tim Melia has been the unquestioned ringleader of Sporting KC's defensive dominance against Portland over the last four years.
Since joining Sporting KC in 2015, Melia has faced the Timbers eight times. In those games, he has totaled six shutouts, a 0.25 goals against average, a save percentage of 93.9 and a 3-0-4 record. He was not given the result when Sporting KC and Portland drew 2-2 in the 2015 Knockout Round, as he exited injured in the 84th minute with the game tied at 1-1.
