"Five Things" is a season-long series presented by the Children's Mercy Sports Medicine Center that highlights the top storylines and players to watch ahead of each match. To visit the series archive, click here.
An unprecedented MLS regular season campaign will continue in earnest on Friday when the top two teams in the Western Conference square off at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota. First-place Sporting Kansas City (4-1-0, 12 points) and Minnesota United FC (3-0-2, 11 points) have struck up a compelling regional rivalry in recent years and will now battle for early control of what figures to be a wild and unpredictable conference race.
Kickoff on Friday is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT with FOX Sports Kansas City Plus and FOX Sports GO providing three hours of live coverage starting at 6 p.m. CT. Listeners can also catch the action locally on Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Grande 1340 AM, while the Sporting KC app will provide additional in-game updates.
With plenty to play for straight out of the gates, here are the five biggest storylines surrounding Friday's contest.
1. Back in Action
The MLS is Back Tournament is in the rearview mirror and Major League Soccer is poised for a return to home markets. Sporting and Minnesota haven't played a true home or road match since the first full weekend of March, and they have just five regular season fixtures under their belts for the entire season.
To make up for missed time, games are about to come thick and fast. All MLS clubs will play 18 more league matches between now and Decision Day on Nov. 8 to round out the 23-game regular season. Phase one of the revamped schedule will see Sporting play six times against regional opponents, including two meetings against Minnesota. The first phase will culminate Sept. 13, the day Minnesota visits Children's Mercy Park, and MLS expects to release the remaining schedule in the near term. The expanded field for the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs will feature 18 teams and conclude with the 25th MLS Cup on Dec. 12.
2. Table Toppers
Sporting sits atop the West with 12 points and a 4-1-0 record, having started the campaign with convincing wins over Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the Houston Dynamo before finishing first in Group D of the MLS is Back Tournament. Manager Peter Vermes' side boasts a plus-8 goal differential, tied for the best mark in MLS, and is a point shy of Columbus Crew SC in the Supporters' Shield race.
On the opposite sideline, head coach Adrian Heath and Minnesota are off to their best five-game start in club history. The Loons remain unbeaten at 3-0-2 and trail Sporting by a single point, an impressive feat considering the fact that they have yet to play a home game at Allianz Field in 2020.
3. Goal Gluttons
Sporting ranks second in MLS with 13 goals scored, the most through five matches of a regular season in club history. Key offseason additions Alan Pulido (three goals, four assists), Khiry Shelton (three goals, one assist) and Gadi Kinda (two goals, two assists) have played instrumental roles thus far for one of the league's most potent attacks.
Minnesota isn't far behind, having hit 12 goals through their first five fixtures. That total doesn't include a 4-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes in the MLS is Back Tournament Quarterfinals, which further showcased the Loons' potency. Midfielder Jan Gregus is tied for second in MLS with four assists, while Kevin Molino (two goals), Luis Amarilla (two goals) and Ethan Finlay (two goals) have provided a clear scoring punch.
4. Familiar Foes
The teams notably met on July 12 in the Group D opener of the MLS is Back Tournament, and although Sporting dominated the first 60 minutes and carried a 1-0 lead into second-half stoppage time behind Shelton’s goal, Minnesota struck in the 92nd and 97th minutes—an own goal and a Molino strike—to seal the unlikely 2-1 victory.
Revenge just might be on Sporting’s mind this time around, but they have yet to win in Minnesota since the Loons joined MLS in 2017. Sporting owns a 4-3-2 advantage in the regular season series, which included a split last year. Vermes' men claimed a 1-0 home win on Aug. 22, 2019, before falling 2-1 a month later at Allianz Field.
5. Blow to the Backline
Despite their healthy position in the table, Minnesota does have a few injury concerns. Former Sporting center back and reigning MLS Defender of the Year Ike Opara will miss the game with an undisclosed injury, while starting goalkeeper Tyler Miller recently underwent hip surgery and is out for the season.
In Miller's absence, Greg Ranjitsingh will likely get the nod between the posts. The 27-year-old won consecutive USL Championship titles with Louisville City FC in 2017 and 2018 prior to joining Orlando City SC in the MLS ranks last year. He has just two MLS appearances under his belt, but that total will almost certainly grow in the weeks to come.
