Five Things is a weekly series on SportingKC.com that highlights the top storylines, players to watch and matchday programming ahead of each game throughout the season.
A two-game road swing is in the rearview mirror as Sporting Kansas City returns to Children's Mercy Park for the first time in three weeks on Sunday to host Columbus Crew SC in a nationally televised clash on FS1. The match pits two early contenders for MLS Supporters' Shield honors, kicking off at 5 p.m. CT with a limited number of tickets still available at SeatGeek.com.
Without further ado, here are five prevailing storylines that surround the high-profile fixture.
1. Turning the Clock
In case you somehow missed the memo, Sporting KC is turning back the clocks on Sunday with a comprehensive throwback experience on Retro Night. Paying homage to the club's rainbow color scheme of the late 1990s, Sporting KC players will warm up in commemorative retro-style training tops and the first 10,000 fans through the stadium gates will receive a retro koozie courtesy of match sponsor Vision Source.
But the celebration doesn't stop there. Vintage 90s music will play during pregame, videoboard graphics will feature a vibrant rainbow look, the annual Sporting KC Media Game will take place at halftime in an old-school MLS shootout format, and a phenomenal collection of limited-edition Retro merchandise will be available at all SportingStyle locations — including the adult and youth tops, hats, socks, shorts and scarves.
2. Best in Class
Retro Night adds a level of festivity to an already mouthwatering between two of Major League Soccer's best teams. Western Conference leaders Sporting KC (7-2-3, 24 points) and Columbus Crew SC (7-3-3, 24 points) enter Week 13 tied for second place in the Supporters' Shield standings, one point behind Atlanta United FC.
Manager Peter Vermes' men lead the West in wins (seven), goals (24), goal differential (+11) and shutouts (five), and another victory on Sunday would deliver a strong statement that Sporting KC means business in the race for the Supporters' Shield. The same can certainly be said of Crew SC, who are perhaps the league's hottest team with a 4-0-2 record dating back to April 21.
3. Can't Crack the Crew
Columbus comes into the game with four straight clean sheets and a 405-minute shutout streak that stretches back to April 28. That's the longest such streak of any MLS team in 2018, and a clear indication that Crew SC head coach Gregg Berhalter has his team clicking. Anchoring the stout defensive effort is 23-year-old goalkeeper Zack Steffen, who boasts a league-best six shutouts and a 0.75 goals against average.
Having recorded four straight regular season shutouts for the first time since April 2011, Columbus has allowed just two goals in six away games this season. It would be foolish, therefore, to expect the goals to come easily for Sporting KC on Sunday.
4. Dynamic Duo
With Steffen patrolling a red-hot backline, striker Gyasi Zardes and premier playmaker Federico Higuain have been equally dangerous going forward. Zardes is tied for the MLS lead with eight goals at his new club, having scored eight times in the previous two seasons combined as a member of the LA Galaxy. Higuain, meanwhile, leads MLS with 41 chances created, including a league-best 16 chances created from set pieces. The Argentine veteran has chipped in three goals and five assists as the spark that ignites the Crew SC attack.
5. Shelton Shining
In last weekend's 1-1 draw at Minnesota United FC, Khiry Shelton played arguably his best game in a Sporting KC uniform. The forward opened his 2018 scoring account in the eighth minute, created four chances — one shy of his MLS career-high — and put a season-high three shots on target. Shelton looked dangerous throughout the match, and if the 24-year-old can catch the scoring fever that has recently swept his fellow teammates Johnny Russell and Daniel Salloi, Sporting KC will like their chances of maintaining a goals per game clip that ranks among the best in the West.
