The MLS returns with a fresh set of fixtures as Sporting Kansas City and San Jose Earthquakes go head to head at the Children's Mercy Park in a Western Conference bottom-of-the-table clash on Saturday.
With just one point and two places separating the sides at the wrong end of the standings, we expect them to go all out against each other in search of a morale-boosting victory.
Match preview
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Sporting Kansas City did not look like a side languishing at the bottom of the conference standings last weekend as they neatly dispatched Portland Timbers in front of their home fans.
Newly-signed forward William Agada led the charge once again, scoring twice and setting up one as the Wizards eased to a comfortable 4-1 victory over the visitors.
Sporting Kansas City have now won two of their last three league outings, with a slender 4-3 defeat at the hands of Austin FC a fortnight ago sandwiched between both victories.
This turnaround in form has been owing to their new-found life at the attacking end of the pitch, where they have scored an impressive 11 goals in their last three games, having previously netted 11 in their 14 outings.
Peter Vermes's side have now picked up seven wins, five draws and lost 15 of their 27 games so far to collect 26 points and sit rooted to the bottom of the Western Conference table, one point and one place off San Jose Earthquakes.
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The Earthquakes finally gave their fans something to cheer about as they secured a hard-earned 2-1 victory over highly-flying Los Angeles FC when the sides squared off last Sunday.
In a game where Ilie Sanchez received his marching orders, Benjamin Kikanovic and Cade Cowell scored either side of Kwadwo Opoku's 54th-minute equaliser to end the Black and Gold's seven-game winning streak at the PayPal Park.
Prior to that, Luchi Gonzalez's men were on a run of seven games without a win across all competitions, picking up two draws and losing five while scoring nine goals and shipping 15 in that time.
While San Jose Earthquakes head into the weekend eyeing a first consecutive league victory for the first time since September 2021, standing in their way is an opposing side against whom they have failed to win any of their last five encounters, losing three and picking up two draws.
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Team News
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Goalkeeper Tim Melina (hamstring), Kortne Thompson-Ford (head), and forward Alan Pulido (ACL) are all recuperating from injuries and are out of contention for this weekend's matchup.
The Sporting Kansas City midfield duo of 18-year-old Ozzie Cisneros and Israeli international Gadi Kinda continue their spells on the sidelines as they are currently nursing calf and knee injuries respectively.
Nigerian forward Agada has hit the ground running at the Children's Mercy Park and the 22-year-old forward, who now has five goals and one assist in his first five games, will certainly be one to keep an eye out for.
As far as San Jose Earthquakes are concerned, Gonzalez will have to cope without the midfield duo of George Asomani and Gilbert Fuentes due to hip and knee injuries respectively.
They are joined on the club's injury table by 22-year-old midfielder Siad Haji, who is set to sit out his seventh game on the bounce after coming off injured in pre-season.
With his opener against Los Angeles FC last time out, Kikanovic now has eight goal involvements in his last 10 games and we expect the 22-year-old forward to lead the attack once again, alongside Cristian Espinoza and 25-year-old Jeremy Ebobisse.
Sporting Kansas City possible starting lineup:
Pulskamp; Zusi, Fontas, Isimat-Mirin, Sweat; Espinoza, Walter, Thommy; Russell, Agada, Salloi
San Jose Earthquakes possible starting lineup:
Marcinkowski; Thompson, Cardoso, Beason, Marie; Yueill, Gregus; Espinoza, Monteiro, Kikanovic; Ebobisse
We say: Sporting Kansas City 3-1 San Jose Earthquakes
Both sides, who picked up impressive victories last time out, will head into the weekend looking to build on that result and continue their surge from the bottom of the table. However, Sporting Kansas City have found their rhythm at the attacking end of the pitch, and we are backing them to outscore the Earthquakes, with the home fans cheering them on.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
