Preview: Sporting KC heads north of the border to face Montreal Impact

Sporting Kansas City looks to remain unbeaten during the month of June with a trip to the Montreal Impact on Saturday. The interconference clash at Stade Saputo will kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT, with three hours of live television coverage on 38 The Spot and SKCTV beginning at 6 p.m. CT. Listeners can follow the action on Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Grande 1340 AM, and all supporters are invited to the game’s official watch party at No Other Pub in the Kansas City Power & Light District.

After winning just once in 11 games from April 13 to June 2, Sporting Kansas City (6-8-3, 21 points) notched consecutive wins last week to swing momentum back in its favor. A 2-1 triumph over Minnesota United FC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was followed by a pivotal 2-0 home win against FC Dallas last Sunday, vaulting Peter Vermes’ side to fifth in the Western Conference table. Midfielder Benny Feilhaber led the way, burying a penalty kick and adding an assist in both contests.

More optimism stems from Sporting Kansas City’s defensive performances since the end of May. The club has allowed just three shots on goal over its last three regular season matches — the fewest over a three-game stretch from any MLS team in 2016 — and hasn’t allowed a goal in 184 minutes of league play.

The Montreal Impact (5-4-5, 20 points) jumped out to a quick start this season, winning four of its first six games, but has just one win in its last eight with five draws. The Canadian side is led by the attacking triumvirate of Ignacio Piatti, Didier Drogba and Dominic Oduro, who have combined to score 17 of Montreal’s 22 goals. Piatti has missed the team’s last three games in all competitions with a hand injury, but is expected to return Saturday and has been one of Major League Soccer’s best players in 2016. The Argentine is third in MLS with eight goals and ranks seventh with 33 chances created.

A legend in his native Africa, the 38-year-old Drogba has 16 goals in 20 regular season appearances since joining the Impact last August, including four goals in his last five games. Oduro leads Montreal with five assists and is recognized as one of the fastest players in MLS.

Sporting Kansas City has dominated the series in recent years, winning four straight meetings by an 11-2 aggregate scoreline. Two of those victories have come at Stade Saputo, where Sporting KC is 3-1-1 all-time. Dom Dwyer has run rampant on Montreal with seven goals during the four-game winning streak.

Trips to Canada have tended to treat Sporting Kansas City nicely, as the club is 9-3-4 in regular season games north of the border since 2011. Their 10 wins on Canadian soil are tied for the most all-time among American MLS clubs.

Both sides will be without key contributors on Saturday. Montreal’s reigning MLS Defender of the Year Laurent Ciman is on international duty with Belgium at Euro 2016. Mauro Biello’s side will also miss Marco Donadel, Andres Romero and Donny Toia through injury. Sporting KC will go one final game without U.S. Men’s National Team members Matt Besler and Graham Zusi, who wrap up Copa America Centenario with Saturday’s Third Place match against Colombia in Arizona. Defender Nuno Coelho and midfielder Paulo Nagamura are ruled out with leg injuries.

In-game updates will be available online at SportingKC.com/gameon, on Twitter via @SKCGameday and through the club’s official mobile app Sporting KC Uphoria.