D.C. United versus Sporting Kansas City
8:30 PM EST/7:30 PM CST MLS Live, CW Richmond, NewsChannel 8
Another road match, another difficult test for D.C. United (0-2-2, 2 points). On Saturday night at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City United will take on Major League Soccer’s Western Conference leaders Sporting Kansas City (2-1-1, 7 points). As has been the case in recent weeks with United’s wild road trip it is another chance for the side to show they stack up against the best in MLS. The question is this time: will they actually show up.
It has been a difficult run thus far for United. They are one six sides still looking for their first win of 2018. Unfortunately whereas other sides get a cushy home match here or there to end their ignominious streak, United get another road match. This time they face a Sporting KC side coming off of a come-from-behind 2-2 draw on the road with the Colorado Rapids.
This isn’t the first time that D.C. United have come to Children’s Mercy Park the underdogs and in serious need of some goals. In 2016 United squeaked away with a 1-0 win over SKC thanks to a stoppage time goal from Alhaji Kamara. Their record as of late against their fellow MLS original side is actually quite good, boasting a 3-0-2 record on 11 points in their last five matches.
But this is a very different Sporting Kansas City than the one they previously faced over the years. Dom Dwyer is long gone, having been traded Orlando City SC last summer. With him went Vermes’ 4-5-1 with the English-American’s penchant for taking on multiple defenders at a time. In his place Vermes has built a more balanced 4-3-3 with newcomers Yoahn Croizet, Khiry Shelton, and Johnny Russell up top. Thus far they have been quite successful with the club scoring nine goals in their first four matches, most in MLS. D.C. United’s defense has been a work in progress thus far with Steve Birnbaum and Frederic Brilliant yet to really form any sort of bond.
The good news for United is that they will be back to full strength in this match. With defender Oniel Fisher (Martinique), midfielders Zoltan Stieber (Hungary) and Ulises Segura (Costa Rica) all back from international duty D.C. will have be able to build plays out of the back with Segura and Stieber and have Fisher’s speed to cut down on counter-attacking runs from Sporting midfielders Felipe Gutierrez and Illie Sanchez.
But United’s biggest question is in the attack. Darren Mattocks and Yamil Asad have brought the goals thus far, each scoring two for their new side. But the missed opportunities are starting to pile up for both. They really haven’t formed a connection yet with midfielder Luciano Acosta, who still seems to be getting his legs under him after missing significant portions of the preseason due to injury. Sporting’s defense has been their Achilles heel this season, allowing nine goals which is tied with D.C. for most in 2018. If D.C. can nab a goal early it might give them the confidence to continue to press and break through this scoring slump.
This will be a very difficult match for United. With Sporting come off of a 2-2 draw in which the side came back from two goals down late they may be playing with a little extra resolve. If they can develop a rhythm like they have in the past against Sporting in the first 15 minutes they may sneak a result out. But it is going to require a consistent effort from all parties. United have to show something in this match or it might be another long night on the road for Ben Olsen’s side.
Sporting Kansas City
DC United
