In an all-Western Conference clash on Saturday afternoon at the Children's Mercy Park, hosts, high-flying Sporting Kansas, take on lowly Austin FC knowing that all three points for the hosts would see them replace Seattle Sounders at the top of the Conference.
Sporting Kansas currently sit in 2nd spot and just two points behind the Conference leaders, Seattle, but Sporting Kansas have a great opportunity to not only grab another three points here but also move top, and having won their last three matches on the trot, the hosts will be in buoyant mood.
The 🐐 vs. RonaldoGo on, Gadi! 💪 #SportingKC pic.twitter.com/oOMAFjm1Cd— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) June 9, 2021
The 🐐 vs. RonaldoGo on, Gadi! 💪 #SportingKC pic.twitter.com/oOMAFjm1Cd
Recent victories against Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0, San Jose Earthquakes 3-1 and Houston Dynamo 3-2 have handed Sporting Kansas a valuable nine-point haul and has also seen the hosts score 3 goals in each of these last three matches as well.
Sporting Kansas have also made a solid start at home in this new season’s MLS campaign, being unbeaten in their opening four matches on home turf and winning three of these four games which includes a 2-1 win over Saturday’s visitors, Austin FC, back in mid-May.
Saturday’s visitors, Austin FC, are the newest addition to the MLS as the Texas expansion franchise club play their first ever season at this level and they find themselves sitting third from bottom in the Western Conference in what will be a steep learning curve.
Austin made a reasonable start by winning two of their first three games of the season with victories gained over Colorado Rapids 3-1 and Minnesota United 1-0 but the visitors have since slumped to three defeats from their subsequent four matches.
Recent defeats incurred against Sporting Kansas, LA Galaxy and Nashville resulted in Austin FC dropping down the Western Conference table but they did at least halt this losing streak by picking up a point in a creditable 0-0 draw at Conference leaders, Seattle Sounders.
To make matters worse, Austin FC have also failed to score in four of their seven matches to date in this new season and this certainly doesn’t bode well for this upcoming trip to face a free-scoring Sporting Kansas outfit on Saturday afternoon.
Sporting Kansas should therefore be too strong for their visitors again this weekend as the hosts seek to move top of the Conference with a win here.