Sporting Kansas City will host the Montreal Impact on Saturday night for the only meeting between these two clubs during the 2015 MLS Regular Season. The home side is looking to vault into second place of the Western Conference standings and improve their league leading points per game. The Impact needs a win to move into the playoff picture. Both Sporting and Montreal have games in hand on those ahead of them in the standings and need to make the most over every opportunity.
Series History
Sporting has won the last three meetings between these two sides by a total of eight goals to one with two shutouts. In the nine regular season matches these two clubs have played, Sporting has won 5, Montreal 3, and there has been one draw. Only four of those nine games have been played in Sporting Park and Montreal has managed to snag two victories on the road despite being outscored 7-4.
Sporting Kansas City Absences
Graham Zusi is with Jurgen Klinsmann and the USMNT team for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Montreal Impact Absences
Bakaray Soumare, a former starting center back, is no longer with the club after being traded to FC Dallas earlier in the week.
Montreal is without Kenny Cooper, Justin Mapp, and Adrian Lopez due to injury.
Predicted Kansas City Lineup
The only likely change after a 1-0 win in Vancouver last week is the inclusion of Chance Myers. Saad Abdul-Salaam was excellent filling in for the recently returned Myers and it is speculated that Myers was rested for the intense game on turf to avoid complications in his return.
Melia
Myers - Ellis - Besler - Dia
Feilhaber - Mustivar Espinoza
Nemeth - Dwyer - Peterson
Predicted Montreal Lineup
The Impact is fresh off a 3-0 romp of the Columbus Crew, a team that tends to play aggressive like Kansas City. Don't look for any changes in the lineup.
Bush
Oyongo - Cabrera - Ciman - Toia
Donadel - Mallace
Oduro - Piatti - Duka
McInerney
Keys to Victory
Kansas City: Watch the counter. Montreal has shown they are deadly on the counter. Keeping Dominic Oduro, Ignacio Piatti, and Dilly Duka from running wild on the defense and picking the team apart with passing is critical
Montreal: Attack Sporting. This team cannot afford to sit back and wait. They need to take the game to Kansas City and keep the ball away from Benny Feilhaber, the key playmaker.
Both: Set Piece Defense. This match could easily be decided by who makes the most of set piece opportunities. Both Benny Feilhaber and Marco Donadel have the ability to the ball wherever they want it and the back lines are capable of putting in goals.
Match Outlook
Expect a tense match with a lot of back and forth. Sporting Kansas City is known for their high pressure style and Montreal can be deadly on the counter. Tim Melia and Evan Bush are both accomplished keepers that can keep their team in a game when the defense breaks down.
Predictions 1-0 Kansas City
Match Facts
Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas is the venue for the 8:30 PM EST matchup. Ricardo Salazar will call the game from the field with Mike Kampmeinert and Peter Balciunas on the touchlines. Younes Marrakchi will be between the benches as the fourth official.