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.
Playoff implications loom large as Sporting Kansas City and the LA Galaxy lock horns Saturday at Children’s Mercy Park in a marquee Western Conference matchup. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. CT with live coverage on FOX Sports Kansas City, FOX Sports Midwest Plus, FOX Sports GO, Sports Radio 810 WHB and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM.
Manager Peter Vermes’ side is within touching distance of a club-record eighth straight playoff berth, but the upstart Galaxy come to Kansas City on the heels of consecutive 3-0 home wins. Their star-studded roster also includes a man named Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has taken MLS by storm in his debut season.
Without further ado, here are five things you absolutely must know about Saturday’s showdown.
1. The Playoff Picture
In a departure from recent years, where Sporting KC clinched a playoff berth at the tail end of the season, Vermes’ men can punch their ticket to the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs with three weeks to spare. A win or a draw against the Galaxy would do the trick, and it’s safe to say that second-place Sporting KC—who trail leaders FC Dallas by two points—will approach the fixture with every intention of gaining maximum points before a sellout crowd.
Another way Sporting KC can secure a berth is if Toronto beats or ties Vancouver on Saturday afternoon and Real Salt Lake ties Portland on Saturday night. There is also a chance that Sporting KC can clinch a top-four finish and a home playoff game. That would require a win over LA and a draw between RSL and Portland, which kicks off an hour later at 8:30 p.m. CT.
2. Ruling the Galaxy
Recent history paints the picture quite clearly: Sporting KC has ruled LA with an iron fist. The Galaxy are 0-4-3 in their last seven meetings against Sporting KC, including a 2-0 home loss in April that saw Daniel Salloi and Johnny Russell score second-half goals at StubHub Center.
LA has fared even worse on their travels to Kansas City. The Galaxy are 0-4-3 all-time at Children’s Mercy Park and 0-5-5 in Kansas City since 2008, with their last away win in the series coming at Arrowhead Stadium in September 2007.
3. Here Comes Zlatan
The international soccer icon has run rampant since joining the Galaxy in late March, amassing 20 goals and nine assists in 24 appearances. Ibrahimovic has a good chance at becoming the third player in MLS history to record 20 goals and 10 assists in a single regular season, and given his undeniable quality on the pitch, he makes any Galaxy match a must-watch spectacle.
Perhaps more emphatic than his on-field performance is the Swede’s overall demeanor. Brash, confident, combative and audacious, Ibrahimovic makes for one of the most charismatic figures in world soccer. The 37-year-old leads a high-octane LA offense that also includes prolific Frenchman Romain Alessandrini (10 goals, 7 assists) and forward Ola Kamara (11 goals), the lethal Norwegian who has three goals in as many games against Sporting KC.
4. Goals Galore?
One of LA’s biggest strengths in 2018? Scoring goals.
One of LA’s biggest weaknesses in 2018? Preventing goals.
The Galaxy rank second in MLS with 1.94 goals per game, bagging 60 over the course of the season. The aforementioned Ibrahimovic, Alessandrini and Kamara have combined for 41, and LA is the only MLS club to have three players with at least 10 league goals in 2018.
On the flipside, the Galaxy have often been disastrous in defense. The team hemorrhaged 23 goals during a seven-game winless skid from Aug. 4 to Sept. 15, and their 59 goals conceded are tied for the third-most in MLS. Signs of encouragement have sprouted since interim head coach Dominic Kinnear replaced the departed Sigi Schmid last month, however, as the Galaxy have posted two straight shutout wins going into this weekend.
5. All Tickets Sold
All tickets for Saturday’s match have been sold. Literally all of them.
Saturday’s highly anticipated clash is sold out, with all standing-room tickets snapped up by fans eager to see two MLS originals square off with plenty on the line.
With an over-capacity crowd expected for the game, ticket holders are encouraged to arrive early to Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday. The first 7,500 fans through the stadium gates will receive a free license plate cover courtesy of match sponsor US Bank.
Matchday Info: Sporting KC vs. LA Galaxy (Saturday, Oct. 6)
- 4:30 pm: Parking lots open
- 5:30 pm: Toyota Plaza opens
- 6:00 pm: Stadium bowl opens
- 7:30 pm: Kickoff
