Kansas City vs LA Galaxy

Children’s Mercy Park is the venue as Sporting Kansas City and LA Galaxy lock horns in the latest edition of their long-standing Major League Soccer rivalry.

After an underwhelming run of three low-scoring draws at the start of the new MLS season, Sporting KC got in the win column last time out, courtesy of a come-from-behind 2-1 home win against San Jose Earthquakes. With all three goals in that fixture coming inside the opening 30 minutes, there’s a potential for a quick-fire start. Nothing less will do for the Wizards if they’re to protect a five-game unbeaten H2H streak against LA Galaxy (W2, D3). Peter Vermes’ side netted 2+ goals in four of those five meetings, suggesting they could improve their paltry scoring rate of only one goal per game in the early exchanges. But it’s also worth noting they’ve conceded precisely two goals in three of their last four H2Hs.

Like their hosts, LA Galaxy’s results in the early MLS season have established them as ‘stalemate specialists,’ with three of their opening four matches ending all square. Their only victory came against San Jose on Matchday 2 as they ran riot on the road to post a commanding 3-1 triumph. Worryingly for head coach Greg Vanney, that win remains Galaxy’s only success across their last six MLS travels (D2, L3). All five remaining games in that sequence saw the Los Angeles powerhouse concede at least two goals, highlighting their fragile backline as the team’s weakest link. But their last visit to Kansas yielded a scoreless draw, suggesting they could put their defensive woes to bed.