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.
Winners in six of their last seven matches, Western Conference leaders Sporting Kansas City (15-7-6, 51 points) will return to the field Sunday at noon CT to face the Philadelphia Union (13-12-4, 43 points) at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pennsylvania. The cross-conference clash will air live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, Sports Radio 810 WHB and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM.
With the home stretch of the 2018 MLS campaign well and truly upon us, let’s dive into five things you need to know about Sunday’s battle.
1. Playoff Implications Abound
Sporting KC is within touching distance of a club-record eighth straight playoff berth. Manager Peter Vermes’ men need just six points from their final six games to guarantee a return to the MLS Cup Playoffs, but could punch their postseason tickets as early as Sunday night if a handful of results go their way.
Sporting KC can clinch a playoff berth this weekend if…
- Sporting KC beats Philadelphia on Sunday (12pm), AND
- Atlanta United FC beats or ties Real Salt Lake on Saturday (6pm), AND
- Minnesota United FC beats or ties the Portland Timbers on Saturday (7pm), AND
- FC Dallas beats or ties Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Sunday (6pm)
2. Open Cup Looming for Philly
With Philadelphia set to visit Houston for the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final next Wednesday, it’s conceivable—if not likely—that Union head coach Jim Curtin rests the majority of his starters on Sunday. The Union secured a massive 1-0 road win in Seattle on Wednesday night, boosting their playoff hopes in the Eastern Conference to take a bit more pressure of this weekend’s fixture against Sporting KC.
Regardless of how Philadelphia’s lineup looks on Sunday, Sporting KC will have to be ready for a fight. The Union have won nine of their last 13 games in all competitions and wield a fair amount of attacking depth: Cory Burke (eight goals) and C.J. Sapong (four goals) are all capable of leading the front line, while the dynamic Fafa Picault (eight goals) and Ilsinho (five goals) are legitimate scoring threats. That’s not to mention the midfield talent of Haris Medunjanin (two goals, six assists), Alejandro Bedoya (two goals, four assists) and Borek Dokal, whose 15 assists lead MLS.
3. Chasing Offensive History
Sporting KC are currently enjoying one of their best attacking seasons ever. With 54 goals through 28 games, the club is averaging 1.93 goals per game and remains on pace to break the team record for most goals in a regular season. That record stands at 61 goals, set in the inaugural 1996 MLS campaign, meaning Sporting KC need seven goals over their final six games to tie the mark.
Perhaps no team in MLS boasts a more balanced attack, as Sporting KC are the only side to have four players with at least seven MLS goals in 2018. That quartet would be Johnny Russell (eight), Diego Rubio (eight), Daniel Salloi (seven) and Felipe Gutierrez (seven). Sporting KC’s golden boot race is wide open, with Gerso Fernandes’ five goals also putting him within striking distance of the honor.
4. Milestones Within Reach
Two Sporting KC leaders are on the brink of major milestones. Vermes has amassed 130 regular season wins at the helm, one shy of passing Frank Yallop for sole possession of fifth place in the all-time MLS charts. On the player side, midfielder Roger Espinoza could make his 250th competitive appearance for the club. The Honduran would be the seventh player in Kansas City history to reach that landmark, joining teammates Matt Besler (295) and Graham Zusi (285) as well as current assistant coach Kerry Zavagnin (291), Davy Arnaud (273), Nick Garcia (273) and Preki (254).
5. No Other Party
This won’t be your average watch party at No Other Pub in the Kansas City Power & Light District. Sporting KC, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals will all take the field at noon CT, and there is no better place to catch all three local teams than at Kansas City’s premier bar and entertainment space. No Other Pub will open at 11 a.m. CT and specials will begin at 11:30, including $4 Bud Light drafts and an all-you-can-eat buffet with either bottomless domestic draft beers ($30 per person) or bottomless soda ($20 per person).
