"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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141 The number of alcohol-related crashes in Kansas during the St. Patrick's Day holiday from 2012-2016.
Fresh off a pulsating 4-3 win over the Chicago Fire last weekend, Sporting Kansas City (1-1-0, 3 points) looks to carry momentum into Saturday's home tilt with the San Jose Earthquakes (1-0-0, 3 points). Kickoff at Children's Mercy Park is slated for 7:30 p.m. CT with tickets available at SeatGeek.com. Live broadcasts of the Western Conference clash will air on FOX Sports Kansas City, FOX Sports Midwest Plus, ESPN 94.5 FM and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM.
Sporting KC has suffered just one home loss the Earthquakes since 2004 and owns a recent upper hand in the series, going unbeaten over the last five meetings in all competitions. We take a statistical look at the matchup in our By The Numbers preview.
Head-to-Head
- Sporting KC is 3-0-2 in its last five meetings against San Jose in all competitions, including a 2-0 home win in October 2016 and 2-1 home win in March 2017.
- The sides last met at Children's Mercy Park on Aug. 9, 2017, squaring off in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinals. Sporting KC prevailed in a thrilling penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw that produced goals from Diego Rubio and Danny Hoesen.
- Sporting KC has won 10 of its last 11 regular-season home games against San Jose dating back to 2004.
- Sporting KC defender Graham Zusi has scored or assisted in each of Sporting KC's last two regular-season home games against San Jose.
- Sporting KC goalkeeper Tim Melia has two shutouts in his last three regular season appearances against San Jose.
- San Jose forward Chris Wondolowski has scored eight goals in 15 career regular season appearances vs. Sporting KC.
San Jose Earthquakes
- 2018 MLS record: 1-0-0, 3 points (4th in West)
- 2018 MLS away record: 0-0-0 (0 GF, 0 GA)
- Last match: W 3-2 vs. Minnesota United FC on March 3
- San Jose snapped a five-year playoff drought last season when they lost to Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the Knockout Round.
- San Jose is 4-21-9 away from home since 2016, taking the most road losses among Western Conference clubs during that time.
- San Jose scored three goals against Minnesota on March 3, tied for their most in an MLS match since August 2015 when the Earthquakes scored five in a 5-0 win at Children's Mercy Park.
- Forward Danny Hoesen scored two goals in San Jose's win over Minnesota, landing MLS Player of the Week honors for Week 1.
- Midfielder Magnus Eriksson had a game-high five chances created in his MLS debut against Minnesota.
- Forward Chris Wondolowski ranks second in MLS history with 134 regular-season goals. He needs 12 more goals to break Landon Donovan's record of 145.
Sporting KC
- 2018 MLS record: 1-1-0, 3 points (7th in West)
- 2018 MLS home record: 0-1-0 (0 GF, 2 GA)
- Last match: W 4-3 at Chicago Fire on March 10
- In last weekend's victory at Chicago, Sporting KC scored four goals in a regular season match for the first time since August 2015.
- Sporting KC went a club-record 37 straight regular season matches allowing two or fewer goals before conceding three to Chicago last weekend.
- Midfielder Felipe Gutierrez, who scored a brace in last weekend's win over Chicago, leads MLS with 12 tackles won and ranks third with 22 duels won.
- Winger Johnny Russell, who scored and assisted in last weekend's win over Chicago, ranks second in MLS with 19 touches in the opponent's box and fourth with 10 shot attempts.
- Defender Graham Zusi is tied for the MLS lead with eight interceptions. He is also tied for fifth in MLS with six chances created after creating 59 chances last season, the most among league defenders.
Milestones and Miscellany
- Graham Zusi is 44 shy of 20,000 minutes played for Sporting KC in all competitions. He would become the seventh player in club history to reach that milestone.
- Sporting KC will play its 700th regular season match on Saturday, including its 350th at home.
Team stats (2018 regular season)
MLS rank in parenthesis (source: Opta)
<strong>Category (per game)</strong> |
<strong>Sporting KC</strong> |
<b>San Jose</b> |
Goals scored |
2.00 (t-7th) |
3.00 (t-2nd) |
Goals conceded |
2.50 (t-18th) |
2.00 (t-13th) |
Shots |
17.0 (t-6th) |
18.0 (t-4th) |
Shots on goal |
5.5 (9th) |
9.0 (t-1st) |
Shooting accuracy |
61.1 (4th) |
52.9 (8th) |
Passing accuracy |
77.2 (16th) |
80.8 (8th) |
Possession |
48.8 (14th) |
42.7 (20th) |
Duels won |
59.5 (t-11th) |
56.0 (13th) |
Tackles won |
15.0 (9th) |
11.0 (18th) |
Interceptions |
16.0 (t-7th) |
18.0 (3rd) |
Fouls committed |
13.0 (t-7th) |
14.0 (t-4th) |
Fouls suffered |
11.0 (13th) |
17.0 (2nd) |
Shots faced |
12.0 (t-7th) |
15.0 (16th) |
Recent #SKCvSJ meetings
- Regular season record vs. San Jose: 24-24-8 (65 GF, 67 GA)
- Regular season home record vs. San Jose: 19-8-1 (44 GF, 29 GA)
<strong>Date</strong> |
<strong>Result</strong> |
<strong>H/A</strong> |
<strong>Details</strong> |
04/24/2016 |
L 0-1 |
Away |
Chris Wondolowski converts PK in 59th minute |
09/24/2016 |
W 2-1 |
Away |
Sporting KC secures first win in San Jose since 2000 |
10/23/2016 |
W 2-0 |
Home |
Graham Zusi scores on Decision Day to seal playoff spot |
03/18/2017 |
W 2-1 |
Home |
Sporting KC builds 2-0 lead before Florian Jungwirth nets consolation goal |
06/17/2017 |
T 0-0 |
Away |
San Jose limited to five shot attempts, their fewest ever in a home game |
08/09/2017 |
T 1-1 |
Home |
Tim Melia saves two penalties in victorious shootout of Open Cup semis |
