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A pair of MLS originals look to bounce back from narrow defeats suffered last weekend when Sporting Kansas City (5-2-2, 17 points) hosts the Colorado Rapids (2-3-2, 8 points) on Saturday at Children's Mercy Park. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT and tickets remain available on SeatGeek.com as the familiar foes square off for the second time this season.
Manager Peter Vermes' men sit atop the Western Conference table and will face a Colorado side that has claimed just one road win since the start of 2017. Live coverage will begin at 7 p.m. CT on FOX Sports Kansas City, FOX Sports Midwest Plus and FOX Sports GO, while local radio broadcasts will air on Sports Radio 810 WHB (English) and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM (Spanish). We take a statistical look at the matchup below.
Head-to-Head
- The sides last met on March 24, drawing 2-2 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park after Felipe Gutierrez and Diego Rubio canceled out early goals from Dominique Badji and Joe Mason.
- Sporting KC went 6-0-5 against Colorado from 2009-2015 (including playoffs), but has gone just 1-6-1 in the series since October 2015.
- The home team in the regular season series is 37-10-14 all-time. Sporting KC holds a 19-5-5 regular-season record against Colorado at home.
- Sporting KC will meet Colorado for the 76th time in all competitions on Saturday, making the Rapids the most frequent opponent in Kansas City history. Sporting KC leads the all-time series 30-28-17.
Colorado Rapids
- 2018 MLS record: 2-3-2, 8 points (9th in West)
- 2018 MLS away record: 0-2-1 (2 GF, 6 GA)
- Last MLS match: L 1-2 vs. Colorado Rapids on April 29
- Last five MLS matches: 2-2-1, 7 points (W-T-W-L-L)
- Colorado is 1-16-3 in its last 20 road games since the start of 2017, scoring just nine goals during that stretch.
- Colorado has yet to allow a first-half goal this season. Seven of their 10 goals conceded have come after the 75th minute.
- Colorado leads MLS with 15.1 fouls committed per game.
- Colorado's 17.4 shots faced per game are the most in MLS.
- Forward Dominique Badji has scored five of Colorado’s 10 goals this season, one behind the MLS lead.
- Midfielder Jack Price leads Colorado with 13 chances created.
- Goalkeeper Tim Howard is second in MLS with a 0.96 goals against average, while his 79.2 save percentage ranks third.
Sporting KC
- 2018 MLS record: 5-2-2, 17 points (1st in West)
- 2018 MLS home record: 3-1-1 (12 GF, 6 GA)
- Last MLS match: L 0-1 at New England Revolution on April 28
- Last five MLS matches: 3-1-1, 10 points (W-W-T-W-L)
- Sporting KC has scored 12 goals over its last four home games, earning three wins and a draw since dropping its home opener to New York City FC on March 4.
- Sporting KC is 3-0-2 against Western Conference clubs this season.
- Forward Johnny Russell is one shy of the MLS lead with five goals. He also leads the league in penalties won (three) and touches in the opponent’s box (73) while ranking third in shots (31).
- Midfielder Roger Espinoza is tied for the MLS lead with five assists, tying his career-high in the regular season. He also ranks fifth in the league with 70 duels won.
- Forward Daniel Salloi is one behind Espinoza with four assists. Sporting KC is 5-1-1 this season when he starts.
- Defender Graham Zusi is second in MLS with five big chances created and ranks fourth with 25 interceptions.
- Defender Matt Besler is fourth in MLS in both clearances (46) and successful passes (546).
- Midfielder Ilie is second in MLS with 555 successful passes and ranks fourth among field players with 78 recoveries.
Milestones and Miscellany
- Midfielder Roger Espinoza is one shy of his 200th career regular season appearance for Sporting KC.
Team stats (2018 regular season)
MLS rank in parenthesis (source: Opta)
<strong>Category (per game)</strong> |
<strong>Sporting KC</strong> |
<b>Colorado</b> |
Goals scored |
2.22 (4th) |
1.43 (t-13th) |
Goals conceded |
1.33 (6th) |
1.43 (t-7th) |
Shots |
17.9 (1st) |
12.1 (17th) |
Shots on goal |
6.4 (3rd) |
4.0 (t-18th) |
Shooting accuracy |
51.8 (6th) |
45.2 (14th) |
Passing accuracy |
84.2 (1st) |
73.8 (22nd) |
Possession |
59.2 (2nd) |
40.4 (22nd) |
Duels won |
58.2 (7th) |
51.6 (20th) |
Tackles won |
12.9 (10th) |
11.6 (19th) |
Interceptions |
14.4 (13th) |
14.9 (11th) |
Clearances |
16.2 (19th) |
23.4 (5th) |
Fouls committed |
10.0 (20th) |
15.1 (1st) |
Fouls suffered |
8.3 (23rd) |
10.4 (14th) |
Shots faced |
12.0 (7th) |
17.4 (23rd) |
Recent #SKCvCOL regular season meetings
- Regular season record vs. Colorado: 24-23-14
- Regular season away record at Colorado: 19-5-5
<strong>Date</strong> |
<strong>Result</strong> |
<strong>H/A</strong> |
<strong>Competition</strong> |
04/13/2016 |
L 1-2 |
Home |
Luis Solignac and Shkelzen Gashi cancel out Dom Dwyer goal |
05/11/2016 |
L 0-1 |
Away |
Dillon Serna scores winner in 78th minute |
07/16/2016 |
L 0-1 |
Away |
Marlon Hairston scores winner in 78th minute |
04/09/2017 |
W 3-1 |
Home |
Seth Sinovic and Gerso pace dominant victory |
05/27/2017 |
L 0-1 |
Away |
Hosts prevail on Kortne Ford goal despite being outshot 24-6 |
03/24/2018 |
T 2-2 |
Away |
Felipe Gutierrez and Diego Rubio strike in second half after Dominique Badji and Joe Mason give hosts early two-goal lead |
