Sunday night's marquee showdown between Western Conference leaders Sporting Kansas City (3-1-1, 10 points) and five-time MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy (2-1-1, 7 points) is one of three nationally televised matches to highlight the Week 6 slate in Major League Soccer.
The weekend's best match will see Manager Peter Vermes' men put a four-game unbeaten streak on the line against a Galaxy side that recently acquired international soccer icon Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who delivered a heroic debut last Saturday with a pair of goals in a pulsating 4-3 win over LAFC.
Before Sporting KC and LA write the newest chapter of their 23-year rivalry, two other MLS battles will be available to audiences across the country. We give a rapid-fire rundown of these mouthwatering matchups in the space below.
Atlanta United FC vs. Los Angeles Football Club | 4 p.m. CT Saturday, ESPN
LAFC's daunting road swing to begin their inaugural season continues at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the cavernous cathedral where Atlanta United FC has scored an astounding 33 goals in 10 games dating back to 2017. Propelled by Diego Rossi and Carlos Vela, LAFC (2-1-0, 6 points) has started brightly with nine goals spread across matches at Seattle, Real Salt Lake and LA, but their biggest test to date could come Saturday, as Atlanta (3-1-0, 9 points) has rattled off three straight victories to fit the bill of an Eastern Conference favorite an MLS Cup contender.
Orlando City SC vs. Portland Timbers | 3 p.m. CT Sunday, ESPN
The Lions (1-2-1, 4 points) secured a desperately needed victory last Saturday, prevailing in a 4-3 thriller over a New York Red Bulls side that fielded a reserve-heavy lineup ahead of its Concacaf Champions League fixture. Orlando will hope to replicate that result on Sunday against another team laced with hints of desperation. Like LAFC, the Portland Timbers (0-2-2, 2 points) begin 2018 on an extended road swing while Providence Park is renovated. This has provided a challenging start for first-year head coach Giovanni Savarese, who is still looking for his first win at the helm.
LA Galaxy vs. Sporting Kansas City | 8 p.m. CT Sunday, FS1
Alas, the scintillating Sunday nightcap. Sporting Kansas City has been businesslike since dropping their season-opener to New York City FC, notching three wins and a draw while scoring tons of goals in the process. The trip to StubHub won't be easy, especially given the momentum LA absorbed from last weekend's epic defeat of their noisy neighbors. Ibrahimovic's jaw-dropping cameo has stolen the headlines, and fairly so, but Sporting KC has shown plenty of mettle away from home this season — a promising characteristic that just wasn't there in 2017.
Interested in getting together with other Sporting KC fans for Sunday's game? Matchday specials at No Other Pub (1370 Grand Blvd.) will begin at 7:30 p.m., featuring $5 Corona cans as well as an all-you-can-eat buffet with endless domestic draft beers. Watch party programming will also include giveaways for Sporting KC tickets and No Other Pub gift cards.
