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.
Occupying second place in the Western Conference heading into Week 30, Sporting Kansas City (15-8-6, 51 points) returns to Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday to host fifth-place Real Salt Lake (13-11-6, 45 points) at 4 p.m. CT. A victory would propel Manager Peter Vermes’ men into the MLS Cup Playoffs for a club-record eighth straight year, while anything less could put Sporting KC’s postseason plans on hold for at least another week.
A limited number of tickets for Sunday’s match, including Coca-Cola Sunday Family 4-Packs, remain available and can be purchased by calling 888-4KC-GOAL or visiting SeatGeek.com. FS1, FOX Deportes, ESPN 94.5 FM and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM will broadcast the game live as Sporting KC and RSL renew their longstanding rivalry.
With that in mind, let’s jump into five things you absolutely need to know about #SKCvRSL.
1. Playoff Math
The message is simple, folks: Sporting KC is in with a win. Three points would guarantee a trip to the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs with the entire month of October to spare and keep Vermes’ side squarely in the hunt for top spot in the West. The table is crowded at the top with leaders FC Dallas on 53 points, two ahead of Sporting KC and three ahead of LAFC. Portland (47), RSL (45) and Seattle (44) hold the other three playoff spots, while the LA Galaxy (41) and Vancouver (40) are on the outside looking in.
Sporting KC can also clinch a playoff berth with a draw on Sunday, but only if FC Dallas beats or ties Portland and LA ties Vancouver on Saturday night. Needless to say, the hosts will be desperate to secure maximum points this weekend at Children’s Mercy Park.
2. Kalen Joins the Club
Sporting KC announced the addition of its newest player on Wednesday, welcoming 18-year-old Kalen Ricketson to the club ahead of Sunday’s match. Ricketson, who lives in Stillwater, Oklahoma, has battled osteosarcoma since being diagnosed in December 2015. He has undergone 13 surgeries and numerous rounds of chemotherapy over the last three years.
In July 2017, Ricketson was a special guest at Children’s Mercy Park as the first Victory Project honoree to sit in the Victory Suite’s orange chair, a tribute to the late Neal Patterson, as part of Sporting KC’s tradition of honoring a child with cancer at every home game. Over a year later, he has now been granted a Sporting Wish to become a Sporting KC player for a day. For fans in attendance and watching from home, make sure to keep an eye out for Ricketson on Sunday.
3. Kick Childhood Cancer
Ricketson’s arrival at Sporting KC falls in conjunction with the fourth annual Childhood Cancer Awareness Match at Children’s Mercy Park. As Sporting KC’s philanthropic arm, The Victory Project will welcome more than 70 families for a special halftime ceremony, all of which the foundation has assisted since its founding in 2013. The game will also be part of MLS WORKS’ league-wide Kick Childhood Cancer campaign, which will feature the following matchday elements:
- Gold adidas Nativo 2018 match ball
- Gold-themed corner flags, goal nets, captain’s armbands, commemorative jersey patches and custom-designed jersey numbers featuring the childhood cancer awareness ribbon
- Limited-edition Kick Childhood Cancer scarves and t-shirts worn by players, coaches and referees during pre-game
- Limited-edition apparel, including lapel pins and plush toys, available to purchase at MLSstore.com
4. Familiar Foes
Sunday marks the third meeting between Sporting KC and Real Salt Lake this season, with both previous affairs taking place at Rio Tinto Stadium. Sporting KC ran out 2-0 victors in the U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round on June 6, propelled by Johnny Russell’s goal and assist in the second half. Four weeks later, RSL celebrated the Fourth of July by smashing four goals past Sporting KC in a 4-2 victory. Daniel Salloi and Ike Opara scored for the visitors, while RSL struck through Jefferson Savarino, Corey Baird, Sebastian Saucedo and Luis Silva.
Sporting KC are just 1-6-3 in their last 10 regular season meetings with RSL, but they retain head-to-head bragging rights as winners of the 2013 MLS Cup—an epic affair the elevated the rivalry to new levels. In a strange scheduling quirk, five of the last six meetings have taken place in Utah. The sides last met at Children’s Mercy Park on April 29, 2017, when Sporting KC cruised to a 3-0 triumph.
5. Balanced Attacks
Where will the goals come from on Sunday? It’s not an easy question to answer, as Sporting KC and RSL boast two of the most balanced offenses in MLS. On one hand, Sporting KC are the only team to have four players with at least seven MLS goals: Diego Rubio (8), Johnny Russell (8), Felipe Gutierrez (7) and Daniel Salloi (7). On the flipside, RSL are the only side to have five players with at least six MLS goals: Damir Kreilach (11), Albert Rusnak (10), Joao Plata (8), Jefferson Savarino (6) and Corey Baird (6).
With multiple attacking options adorning both teams, Sunday’s contest be swayed by a raucous home crowd. RSL boast an excellent 10-1-4 record at Rio Tinto Stadium, but have gone just 3-10-2 on their road travels this season.
