By The Numbers presented by KDOT: #MINvSKC

"By The Numbers" is a season-long series sponsored by The Kansas Department of Transportation, giving a statistical preview of every Sporting KC match.
Traffic Safety... By The Numbers - Visit the Drive to Zero Coalition for more information

37   The number of people that die each day in traffic crashes involving a driver with a Blood Alcohol Content of 0.08 or higher.

Be safe and designated sober driver - Download the zTrip App

First-place Sporting Kansas City (5-1-3, 18 points) will bring a two-game winning streak into Sunday's inaugural MLS meeting with expansion side Minnesota United FC (2-5-2, 8 points) at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The Western Conference clash will kick off at 12:30 p.m. CT before a national television audience on FS1 and FOX Deportes, while local broadcasts will be available on ESPN 99.3 FM (English) and La Grande 1340 AM (Spanish).

Arguably no team is in better form than Sporting Kansas City, whose impregnable backline has conceded just three goals through nine games. Minnesota, meanwhile, has shown significant signs of improvement over the last month after beginning their first MLS season in catastrophic fashion. We offer a statistical breakdown of the matchup in our By The Numbers preview...

Head-to-head

• Sunday presents the first MLS meeting between the clubs, who have previously battled twice in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Sporting KC defeated the Loons 2-0 in the 2014 Round of 32 at Children's Mercy Park and most recently prevailed in the same round of the 2016 edition, earning a 2-1 extra time win at National Sports Center in Blaine, Minnesota.
• Forward Soony Saad scored the game-winner in Sporting KC's 2-0 Open Cup win over Minnesota in June 2014.
• Midfielder Benny Feilhaber tallied a goal and an assist in Sporting KC's 2-1 extra time victory over Minnesota last June. Forward Christian Ramirez scored for the hosts, burying a penalty kick to level the match in the 82nd minute.
• Sporting KC is 8-2-3 all-time in their inaugural meetings with MLS expansion teams since 2005.

Minnesota United FC

• 2017 MLS record: 2-5-2, 8 points (9th in West)
• 2017 MLS home record: 2-2-0 (6 GF, 9 GA)
• Last five games: 2-2-1, 7 points (W-L-D-W-L)
• Last MLS match: L 1-0 vs. San Jose Earthquakes on April 29
• Minnesota has allowed 2.78 goals per game, the most in MLS.
• Minnesota conceded 18 goals over their first four games, going 0-3-1, but have allowed just seven in their last five to go 2-2-1.
• Minnesota goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth posted a 191-minute shutout streak from April 15-29, the 10th longest in MLS this season.
• Minnesota has won two of its last three home games, defeating Real Salt Lake 4-2 on April 1 and ousting the Colorado Rapids 1-0 on April 23.
• Minnesota ranks last in MLS in duels won (42.1), second-to-last in fouls suffered (9.3), and third-to-last in tackles won (11.8) per game.
• Forward Christian Ramirez is tied for fifth in MLS with five goals and ranks eighth in the league with 25 shot attempts.
• Minnesota has scored six goals between the 46th and 60th minutes, two more than any other team in MLS.
• Midfielder Kevin Molino is one of six players in MLS with at least three goals and three assists. He has three of each.

 Sporting KC

• 2017 MLS record: 5-1-3, 18 points (1st in West)
• 2017 MLS away record: 1-1-2 (1 GF, 1 GA)
• Last five games: 4-1-1, 13 points (W-W-L-W-W)
• Last MLS match: W 2-0 vs. New York Red Bulls on Wednesday
• No team has allowed fewer goals (0.33) or faced fewer shots (9.1) per game than Sporting KC.
• Goalkeeper Tim Melia leads MLS in shutouts (six), goals against average (0.33) and save percentage (84.4).
• Sporting KC has scored and allowed just one goal across four road games this season.
• Sporting KC has gone 12 straight MLS matches (including playoffs) without allowing a first-half goal.
• Sporting KC has scored eight of its 11 goals this season in the second half.
• Forward Dom Dwyer has scored five goals in his last five games. He ranks second in MLS in shots on goal (15) and fouls suffered (28).
• Midfielder Ilie ranks fourth in MLS with 538 successful passes per game, while midfielder Roger Espinoza ranks sixth with 249 successful passes in the attacking half per game.
• Among MLS defenders, Graham Zusi ranks first in chances created (14) and recoveries (65).
• All four starting defenders for Sporting KC — Zusi, Ike Opara, Matt Besler and Seth Sinovic — have played in every minute of the 2017 regular season to date.

Milestones and Miscellany

• Forward Dom Dwyer is one shy of his 14th career game-winning goal in the MLS regular season, which would pass Preki for sole possession of first place in club history.
• Midfielder Benny Feilhaber is one shy of his 50th career assist in the MLS regular season.
• Goalkeeper Tim Melia has 22 regular season shutouts for Sporting KC, one shy of passing Kevin Hartman and Bo Oshoniyi for sole possession of third place in club history.

Team stats (2017 regular season)

MLS rank in parenthesis (source: Opta)