In-Depth: Sporting KC vs. Montreal

Sporting KC makes its second trip to Canada in 2012 for a showdown with the expansion Montreal Impact tonight.

Peter Vermes’ side is just 2-5-2 in its last nine League matches and is in the midst of an offensive slump. Sporting has gone 264 minutes without an MLS goal, dating back to Jacob Peterson’s 8th minute strike at Seattle on June 20. It’s the fourth-longest goalless stretch in the League this season and the longest active stretch of any team. Furthermore, Sporting hasn’t scored in the second half of an MLS match since April 18th, a span of nine straight games and more than 430 consecutive minutes.

On the bright side, Sporting will have plenty of opportunities to break out of their offensive funk in the coming weeks. They are in the middle of a 15-match in 50-day stretch that ranges from June 16 to August 4. Sporting’s four days off between their June 29 loss to Chicago and tonight's Montreal match is the longest rest they'll get in that congested period.

Montreal handed Sporting its first home loss of the season with a 2-0 victory on May 5. Felipe Martins and Patrice Bernier were on target for the Impact, who won their first MLS road game in franchise history at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park.

Montreal is currently eighth in the Eastern Conference standings with a 5-10-3 record, but is 4-2-2 at home. Last month they won their first two matches at the newly renovated Saputo Stadium in impressive fashion—a 4-1 rout of Seattle on June 16 and a 4-2 win over Houston a week later.

Midfielders Martins and Bernier spearhead the Montreal attack. The Brazilian Martins has three goals and four assists on the season, while the Canadian Bernier has three goals and five assists. Midfielder Davy Arnaud, who starred for Kansas City from 2002-2011, has scored three times and added three assists for his new club.

Coincidentally, Sporting’s Fourth of July fixture is on Canadian soil, where they are 2-2-3 all-time in league play (1-2-3 at Toronto and 1-0-1 at Vancouver). Wednesday marks the club’s first ever match in Montreal. Sporting KC is just 2-7-2 on the Fourth of July, and haven’t won on the date since 2002, a 2-1 victory over D.C. United at Arrowhead Stadium.

Tune in on KSMO-TV at 6pm CT!