Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Major League Soccer match between Sporting Kansas City and Austin FC, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
The two sides who have fought for form MLS in the last weeks they come together on Sunday when Sporting Kansas City HOST Austin FC at Children’s Mercy Park.
The hosts have lost 10 of their last 11 league games, while the visitors make the trip this weekend with just one win in their last six games.
Match preview
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After starting the campaign with just one defeat in their first seven MLS games, Sporting Kansas looked like they would continue to repeat the same form that resulted in a return to the MLS Cup playoffs the previous season.
However, it apparently caused a narrow 3-2 loss to Inter Miami in mid-April Peter VermesHis side would collapse, going on to lose 10 of their next 12 league games.
Last weekend’s humiliating 4-0 loss to the Columbus Crew not only extended their terrible MLS win streak to 14 games, but also saw Sporting Kansas concede four goals for the third straight game after losing 4 -2 to LA Galaxy and Lose 4-3 to Real Salt Lake.
Vermes, who has been in charge of the club since November 2009, will surely feel the pressure mounting and his job will surely be in danger if they don’t start picking up points in the coming weeks.
Austin have had their own problems in recent games as they went five games without a win before finally getting all three points against Minnesota United last time out.
Josh Wolff will be hoping his side can build on some positive form from that win as they look to cement their place in the MLS Cup playoff places.
The triumph against Minnesota was just Austin’s second win on the road this season and their tally of nine points away from home leaves them 21st in the away table in all of MLS.
Wolff’s side will be confident of securing a result in this game having lost just twice in the eight meetings between these two sides, picking up five wins in that time, although both defeats have come on trips to Children’s Mercy Park.
Sporting Kansas City’s Major League Soccer form:
Austin FC Major League Soccer Form:
Team news
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The hosts have been hampered by several injuries in recent weeks and are expected to be without up to eight players for this one.
Logan Ndenbe is yet to make an appearance this season as he continues his recovery from a cruciate ligament injury and the Belgian will be joined on the treatment table by Remy Walter, Daniel Salloi, Danny Flores, Tim Leibold AND Alan Pulidowith Kayden Pierre also a doubt after an injury in the previous match.
Felipe Hernandez is also unavailable after being placed on administrative leave by MLS following a report that the midfielder violated the league’s gambling policies.
Austin will be without the services of both Daniel Pereira AND Julio Cascante as they continue their involvement in the ongoing Copa America.
Jojan Valencia could return to the lineup after serving his one-game suspension in last weekend’s win over Minnesota.
Star player Sebastian Driussi is also expected to return to the team after missing the last game due to illness, but his replacement Probably Zardes likely to retain his place in the starting team after a man-of-the-match performance in that win.
Sporting Kansas City Probable Starting Lineup:
Pulskamp; Castellanos, Valencia, Voloder; Shelton, Rodriguez, Radoja, Bassong; Thommy, Agada, Afrifa
Austin FC Probable Starting Lineup:
Stever; Gallagher, Hines-Ike, Vaisanen, Biro; Finlay, Ring, Valencia, Obrian; Zardes, Rubio
We say: Sporting Kansas City 0-2 Austin FC
While Austin got back to winning ways with their win over Minnesota last weekend, Sporting Kansas’ awful run continued as they shipped another four goals in a 4-0 rout, leading us to believe that the visitors will take all points here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, results and more for this match please click here.
