Preview: Sporting KC back home to face Columbus Crew SC on Sunday

Two teams looking to gain ground in their respective conferences go head-to-head Sunday as Sporting Kansas City (6-8-4, 22 points) hosts Columbus Crew SC (3-5-7, 16 points) in a nationally televised contest at Children’s Mercy Park. The match will kick off at 6 p.m. CT with live broadcasts on FS1, FOX Deportes, Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Grande 1340 AM. Supporters can secure tickets for the interconference tilt at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 888-4KC-GOAL.

Sporting Kansas City’s bid for a second straight Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title was halted Wednesday with a 3-1 fifth round defeat at the Houston Dynamo. The result snapped Sporting KC’s four-game unbeaten run in all competitions, but the club still enters Sunday without a loss in three straight MLS matches. Manager Peter Vermes’ men are seventh in the Western Conference table, one point out of playoff position heading into Week 17, and play four of their next six games in the friendly confines of Children’s Mercy Park.

Forward Dom Dwyer struck twice in Sporting KC’s 2-2 draw at the Montreal Impact last Saturday to become the club’s second all-time leading goal scorer. The 25-year-old Englishman finds himself in a familiar position atop the Sporting KC charts with eight MLS goals in 2016, three behind the league lead. In defense, emerging left back Jimmy Medranda has continued to impress, ranking among the top three in MLS in tackles, interceptions and duels won since May 20. Sunday’s hosts will be further bolstered by the return of Matt Besler and Graham Zusi, who missed most of June while with the U.S. Men’s National Team at Copa America Centenario. 

Crew SC entered 2016 fresh off an MLS Cup last December, but Gregg Berhalter’s side has just three wins in 15 league games this season. Like Sporting KC, Columbus exited the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday after suffering a 2-1 setback to the Chicago Fire. The loss came on the heels of last Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with the New York Red Bulls in which striker Ola Kamara’s 93rd-minute equalizer salvaged the hosts a point. The Black & Gold are currently ninth in the Eastern Conference standings, largely due to the club’s struggles away from home. Columbus is 0-6-3 in its last nine MLS road games dating back to 2015 and has mustered just four away goals in seven matches this year. 

Camara has shone brightly for Crew SC over the last month, scoring five goals in his last four league games. The Norwegian forward joined the side in February and has since filled the void of 2015 MLS MVP finalist Kei Kamara, who was traded to the New England Revolution in May. Elsewhere, midfielders Justin Meram and Ethan Finlay have chipped in five assists apiece for a team that leads MLS in possession.

Sporting Kansas City has enjoyed recent success in the head-to-head series, going 5-1-1 against Columbus in the last seven regular season meetings. The club is 4-1-0 vs. Crew SC at Children’s Mercy Park with 11 goals scored and five allowed, including shutout victories in each of the last two visits.

Both teams will be forced to cope with injury absences Sunday. Sporting KC will be without Chance Myers (hamstring), while Paulo Nagamura and Nuno Coelho are questionable with thigh strains. Columbus will take the field without its primary playmaker Federico Higuain, who ranks fourth in MLS in chances created. The Argentine veteran is sidelined with a hernia, while Gaston Sauro (PCL sprain) and Matt Pacifici (concussion) are also ruled out.

In-game updates will be available online at SportingKC.com/gameon, on Twitter via @SKCGameday and through the club’s official mobile app Sporting KC Uphoria.