Sporting Kansas City vs. LA Galaxy
2021 MLS Regular Season | Match 31
Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 | 7:30 p.m. CT (kickoff at 7:55 p.m. CT)
Children’s Mercy Park | Kansas City, Kansas
Broadcast Schedule:
English TV | FS1
Spanish TV | FOX Deportes
Streaming | FOX Sports app, FOXSports.com
English Radio | Sports Radio 810 WHB
Spanish Radio | La Grande 1340 AM
Major playoff implications are on the line Wednesday as second-place Sporting Kansas City (16-7-7, 55 points) hosts fifth-place LA Galaxy (13-11-7, 46 points) in a 7:55 p.m. CT kickoff at Children’s Mercy Park. Tickets are available at SeatGeek.com.
This Western Conference clash will air nationally on FS1 and FOX Deportes with coverage starting at 7:30 p.m. CT. Fans can also stream the action live on the FOX Sports app or on FOXSports.com. There will be live updates throughout the contest from @SKCMatchday on Twitter. Supporters are invited to access the Sporting KC mobile app for additional in-game updates and exclusive offers.
Looking to finish atop the West for the third time in four seasons, Sporting Kansas City picked up three major points from first place Seattle Sounders on Saturday. The attention now turns to the LA Galaxy in a midweek matchup between MLS originals.
Having clinched a playoff berth, Sporting KC is one of seven teams in the West who following Decision Day on Nov. 7 will advance to the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs. The top-seeded club receives a bye to the conference semifinals. Sporting can clinch a home playoff match with a result against the Galaxy or a Portland draw or loss to San Jose on Wednesday evening. Sporting's 10 postseason appearances over the 11 years are second-most among Western Conference teams behind only the Sounders, who have reached the playoffs every year since joining MLS in 2009.
Saturday will mark the second meeting between Sporting and the Galaxy this year. SKC took all three points in the previous meeting on July 4 by way of a 2-0 score line. Forwards Johnny Russell and Khiry Shelton netted late goals while Tim Melia saved seven shots for the clean sheet. At home, Sporting has lost just one of 12 regular season games against the Galaxy dating back to 2008.
Manager Peter Vermes has had the squad playing high-caliber soccer all season long. With three wins in their last four matches, Sporting will look to knock Seattle out of the top spot in the West. Just three points back and with a game in hand, Sporting has a chance to make a run at the Western Conference No. 1 seed.
With goals in his last seven appearances, Russell now holds the longest scoring streak in MLS this season. He is one of six MLS players with 12 goals and seven assists this year alongside Daniel Salloi, whose 24 combined goals (16) and assists (eight) tie the league lead with Gustavo Bou of New England. Russell and Salloi have paced a dangerous Sporting attack that leads the West with 54 goals scored and 1.8 goals per match.
Holding down the midfield on Saturday, Sporting’s Remi Walter received an MLS Team of the Week selection as a starter. His first career MLS goal helped lift Sporting past the Sounders, as he provided excellent support in the midfield.
First-year head coach Greg Vanney has the Galaxy in form. After a poor September in which the Galaxy only collected two points, they have earned results in four straight games. The Galaxy rank in the top 10 in MLS in goals scored with 46.
Led by Mexican international Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez (14 goals, three assists), midfielder Sacha Kljestan (five goals, four assists), U.S. MNT player Sebastian Lletget (two goals, four assists), defender Julian Araujo (five assists) and goalkeeper Jonathan Bond, the Galaxy find themselves in the thick of a playoff battle. Fifth place is above the playoff line but would force the Galaxy into a first-round road game. LA is tied on points with fourth-place Portland and will look to improve their place in the standings at midweek.
Both teams come into the match with injury concerns. On the Galaxy side, Jorge Villafana is listed as questionable while Nick DePuy will miss this match due to caution accumulation. Sporting, meanwhile, will not have striker Alan Pulido (knee) and defender Jaylin Lindsey (hamstring). Salloi and midfielder Jose Mauri are questionable both with ankle ailments.
SKC have been excellent at home, coming into their penultimate regular season home match with an 8-2-5 record. With just two weeks left in the regular season and both teams jockeying for higher seeds in the playoffs, everything is to play for Wednesday night.
