By The Numbers presented by KDOT: #SKCvFCD | July 28, 2018

"By The Numbers" is a season-long series sponsored by The Kansas Department of Transportation, giving a statistical preview of every Sporting KC match.
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9.5%   The percentage of fatal crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver during the month of July in the U.S.

A pivotal test awaits third-place Sporting Kansas City (9-5-6, 33 points) as they return to the field Saturday to host Western Conference leaders FC Dallas (11-3-6, 39 points) at Children's Mercy Park. The marquee matchup will kick off at 8 p.m. CT, airing live nationally on ESPN, and a limited number of tickets are available via SeatGeek.com.

After missing the playoffs in 2017, FC Dallas has returned to the Western Conference summit this summer and will look to extend their six-point lead on a Sporting KC side looking to snap a five-game winless skid in all competitions. Manager Peter Vermes' men have enjoyed tremendous success against FC Dallas at home, however, and will aim to reignite the race for first place with a victory on Saturday. We take a statistical look at the fixture in our newest installment of By The Numbers.

Head-to-Head

• Sporting KC and FC Dallas most recently met on June 16 at Children’s Mercy Park, with SKC prevailing 3-2 in a thrilling U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 clash. Daniel Salloi scored twice before Yohan Croizet buried a stunning volley in the 89th minute to seal the win.
• FC Dallas sits atop the Western Conference with 39 points, six ahead of third-place Sporting KC.
• Sporting KC is 8-0-2 in its last 10 home meetings with FC Dallas across all competitions, scoring 26 goals and conceding just seven.
• FC Dallas won on its first visit to Children's Mercy Park in August 2011, but has gone winless in 10 trips since then.
• The home side in the series is 11-0-4 in the last 15 meetings across all competitions dating back to 2011.
• Sporting KC holds a narrow 24-22-12 edge in the all-time regular season series.
• Sporting KC and FC Dallas met three times during the 2017 regular season, scrapping to a 0-0 draw on March 11 in KC before FC Dallas earned a 1-0 home win on April 22 behind Maynor Figueroa's late header. Sporting KC exacted revenge with a 2-0 home win on Aug. 19 as Diego Rubio and Gerso Fernandes provided goals.

FC Dallas

• 2018 MLS record: 11-3-6, 39 points (1st in West)
• 2018 MLS away record: 4-3-2 (9 GF, 12 GA)
• Last MLS match: L 3-4 at Minnesota United FC on July 4
• Last five MLS matches: 1-3-1, 4 points (W-T-L-L-L)
• FC Dallas is one of three MLS teams (Atlanta, LA Galaxy) with a winning road record this season (4-3-2).
• FC Dallas has three regular-season losses this season, the fewest in MLS.
• FC Dallas is one of three MLS teams (Atlanta, NYCFC) yet to go winless in at least three straight MLS matches this season.
• FC Dallas is a perfect 7-0-0 in MLS matches decided by one goal this season.
• FC Dallas is 11-0-3 when scoring the first goal this season, but 0-3-3 when conceding the first goal.
• Forwards Roland Lamah (7) and Maxi Urruti (6) have combined for 13 of the team's 32 MLS goals. Lamah is tied for third in MLS with four game-winning goals, while Urruti is tied for third with 70 shot attempts.
• Midfielder Michael Barrios leads FC Dallas with 35 chances created, but has just one assist and zero goals this season.
• Defender Reto Ziegler is one of four MLS players to be sent off twice this season.
• Defender Reggie Cannon ranks third in MLS with 44 tackles won.
• Goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez has a 7-2-1 record as a starter this season.

 Sporting KC

• 2018 MLS record: 9-5-6, 33 points (3rd in West)
• 2018 MLS home record: 6-1-3 (22 GF, 11 GA)
• Last MLS match: L 2-3 at New York Red Bulls on July 14
• Last five MLS matches: 1-3-1, 4 points (W-L-L-T-L)
• Sporting KC is unbeaten in 10 straight home games across all competitions (7-0-3).
• Sporting KC's plus-10 goal differential (37 GF, 27 GA) is the best in the Western Conference.
• With 14 matches still to play this season, Sporting KC is three goals shy of equaling its goal total from 2017.
• Sporting KC has scored multiple goals in seven of its last nine games since the start of June, but has gone just 3-2-4 during that stretch.
• Sporting KC is winless in five straight games across all competitions since defeating the Houston Dynamo on June 23.
• Sporting KC has conceded multiple goals in five straight MLS matches for the first time since 2001.
• Sporting KC has zero shutouts in its last seven games after keeping eight clean sheets over the first 16 games of the season (all competitions).
• Sporting KC leads MLS in passing accuracy (84.3%) while ranking second in average possession (58.3%).
• Forward Johnny Russell leads Sporting KC with 17 combined goals (nine) and assists (eight) in all competitions. He also ranks fourth in MLS with 126 touches in the opponent's box.
• Midfielders Roger Espinoza and Ilie are tied for eighth in MLS with 36 chances created from open play. Espinoza has recorded an MLS career-high eight assists, while Ilie ranks third in MLS with 366 successful passes in the attacking third.
• Midfielder Felipe Gutierrez has scored five goals in five MLS starts this season.
• Graham Zusi leads MLS defenders with 39 chances created and also leads the league in touches (1,750).
• Goalkeeper Tim Melia is tied for second in MLS with seven shutouts.

Milestones and Miscellany

• Sporting KC is one shy of its 1,000th goal all-time in the MLS regular season. Six other MLS teams have already reached that milestone.
• Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes is one shy of coaching his 301st regular season match for Sporting KC. This would tie the all-time MLS record for most regular season games coached at a single club, equalling Steve Nicol's total at the New England Revolution (1999, 2002-2011).

Recent #SKCvFCD meetings (all competitions)

• Regular season record vs. FC Dallas: 24-22-12 (86 GF, 89 GA)
• Regular season home record vs. FC Dallas: 15-8-7 (55 GF, 35 GA)

Team stats (2018 regular season)

MLS rank in parenthesis (source: Opta)