By The Numbers: #LAFCvSKC | Apr. 17, 2022

"By The Numbers" is a season-long series that gives a statistical preview of every Sporting match. To visit the series archive, click here.

Sporting Kansas City will hit the road for a match with Los Angeles FC at Banc of California Stadium on Easter Sunday as the two sides meet for the first time this season. Sporting and LAFC clashed thrice last season with Sporting claiming two victories to LAFC’s one. Sunday’s match will air nationally on ESPN with kickoff set for 3 p.m. CT.

After one match at Children’s Mercy Park, Sporting is away from home for the fifth time in eight matches to open the season. LAFC have played half of their six regular season matches in front of their home fans, taking home three wins and occupying first place in the west.

Below, we provide a statistical preview of Sunday’s matinee between Sporting Kansas City and LAFC.

Head-to-Head

• In just seven meetings between these two Western Conference competitors, Sporting is 4-3 against LAFC.
• Sporting’s four wins over LAFC are tied for the second-most in MLS behind LAFC’s crosstown rivals the LA Galaxy (six wins).
• Sporting is 2-2-0 at Banc of California Stadium while no other MLS team has two regular season road wins over LAFC since they joined MLS in 2018.
• Sporting handed LAFC their first-ever loss at Banc of California Stadium on Aug. 11, 2018, off goals from Gerso Fernandes and current LAFC midfielder Ilie Sanchez to secure a 2-0 result.
• Forward Daniel Salloi has three goals and one assist in six regular season appearances against LAFC, including goals in two of three meetings last season.
• LAFC midfielder Ilie Sanchez enjoyed five standout seasons at Sporting from 2017 through 2021, amassing 11 goals and 13 assists with starts in 161 of 171 total appearances.

Sporting Kansas City

• 2022 MLS record: 2-5-0, 6 points (12th in Western Conference)
• 2022 MLS road record: 0-4-0, 0 points (2 GF, 9 GA)
• 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs: Lost to Real Salt Lake in Western Conference Semifinals
• All-time Honors: Two MLS Cups (2000, 2013), four Open Cups (2004, 2012, 2015, 2017), one Supporters' Shield (2000).
• Sporting’s six points are their fewest through seven matches since 2011 when the club started 1-5-1 before rallying to finish atop the Eastern Conference standings with a 13-9-12 record.
• Sporting KC leads MLS with 207 possessions won in the midfield third.
• Sporting rank third in MLS in successful passes in the attacking third (689).
• Sporting have outscored opponents 44-24 from the 60th minute onward in regular season matches since 2020.
• Midfielder Remi Walter leads MLS in distance covered (50.4 miles) and ranks second among field players in recoveries (67).
• Daniel Salloi ranks fourth in MLS with 15 shots from inside the box. Since the start of 2021, Salloi ranks second in the MLS regular season with 17 non-penalty goals and 15 goals from open play.
• Defender Andreu Fontas leads MLS with 503 successful passes, 100 more than any other player. He also leads the league in touches (664) and ranks eighth in clearances (30).
• Defender Nicolas Isimat-Mirin ranks second in MLS in successful passes (403) and has a completion percentage of 88.1%.
• Midfielder Roger Espinoza ranks second in MLS with nine possessions won in the attacking third.

Los Angeles FC

• 2022 MLS record: 4-1-1, 13 points (1st in Western Conference)
• 2022 MLS home record: 2-0-1, 7 points (7 GF, 2 GA)
• 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs: N/A
• All-time Honors: One Supporters’ Shield (2019)
• Since entering MLS in 2018, LAFC lead the league in goals per match (2.05) and goal differential (+82).
• LAFC are tied for the MLS lead with 14 goals scored through six matches and rank second with 35 shots on target.
• LAFC have received 21 yellow cards this season, second-most in MLS. Mamadou Fall’s four yellows are tied for most in the league.
• Forward Carlos Vela has scored four goals in three home matches this season.
• Vela is one off the league lead with four goals this season. He also leads LAFC with 12 chances created, six more than any other teammate.
• Former Sporting midfielder Ilie Sanchez ranks fifth in MLS with 34 recoveries in the midfield third. He is the only LAFC field player to play every minute this season.
• LAFC goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau has faced 16 shots on target this season, six of which have resulted in six goals (62.5% save percentage).
• Ilie, Vela, Fall, Crepeau and Brian Rodriguez have all started every match for LAFC this season.

Milestones and Miscellany

• Defender Graham Zusi is one shy of his 350th career appearance in MLS competitions (regular season, playoffs and MLS is Back).
• Midfielder Roger Espinoza is one shy of tying Matt Besler for second-most regular season appearances in club history at 294.
• Goalkeeper Tim Melia is one shy of tying Jimmy Conrad for the seventh-most regular season starts in club history at 203. He is also six shy of 600 career saves for Sporting in regular season play.