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Following an electric, comeback win in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32, Sporting Kansas City re-enters the MLS regular season with a road match against the Portland Timbers. Kickoff for the contest in the Pacific Northwest will be at 9 p.m. CT and will be broadcast locally on 38 The Spot.
Over 10 years of competition, Sporting KC and Portland have faced off on 18 occasions with Sporting holding a slight advantage in the series. Recently, Sporting has struggled with the Timbers, failing to win in their last four attempts.
Below, we provide a statistical preview of the Saturday matchup at Providence Park between Sporting Kansas City and the Portland Timbers.
Head-to-Head
- Sporting leads the all-time regular season series with a 7-5-6 record, including a 4-4-2 mark and five shutouts in 10 games at Providence Park.
- Among visiting teams that have played at least six regular season matches at Providence Park, Sporting is one of two teams with a non-losing road record against the Timbers.
- The home team in the series has won just five of the last 19 meetings in all competitions.
- Sporting forward Daniel Salloi has four goals in nine MLS appearances against Portland (including playoffs).
- Sporting goalkeeper Tim Melia has five shutouts and a 3-3-5 record in 11 regular season appearances against Portland.
Sporting Kansas City
- 2022 MLS record: 2-6-3, 9 points (12th in Western Conference)
- 2022 MLS road record: 0-5-1, 1 point (3 GF, 12 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 are unbeaten in four straight matches across all competitions, recording three consecutive draws in MLS play before defeating FC Dallas in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 on Tuesday.
- Tuesday’s 4-2 extra-time win over FC Dallas marked the fifth time in club history that Sporting overcame a two-goal deficit in the 60th minute to win a competitive match (first since 2010). It was just the third time ever that Sporting went from two goals down to two goals up and the first such occasion since 2008.
- Sporting’s 0-0 draw at New York City FC last Saturday snapped a club-record seven-game road losing streak in the regular season (non-shootout era since 2000).
- Sporting have earned four clean sheets this season, tied for the second-most in the Western Conference and trailing only Chicago (5), LA Galaxy (5) and Orlando (5) for the most in MLS.
- Forward Marinos Tzionis sent Tuesday’s Open Cup match into extra time with an equalizer in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time. His 98th-minute header was the latest regulation goal in club history.
- Forward Khiry Shelton sealed Tuesday’s victory with a goal in the 113th minute, tied for the third-latest extra-time goal in club history.
- Forward Daniel Salloi is tied for the team lead with two goals this season. He ranks fifth in MLS in shots (29) and fourth in shots inside the box (21).
- Forward Johnny Russell is tied for the team lead with two goals this season, ranks fifth in MLS in duels won (73), seventh in dribbles completed (23) and eighth in touches inside the opponent’s box (47).
- Midfielder Remi Walter is tied for the team lead with two goals this season, leads MLS in distance covered (79.5 miles) and ranks third among field players in recoveries (102).
- Midfielder Roger Espinoza ranks third in MLS with 12 possessions won in the attacking third.
Portland Timbers
- 2022 MLS record: 2-3-6, 12 points (10th in Western Conference)
- 2022 MLS home record: 1-1-3, 6 points (5 GF, 6 GA)
- 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs: Lost to New York City FC in MLS Cup
- All-time Honors: One MLS Cup (2015), one MLS is Back Tournament (2020)
- Portland was crowned the Western Conference champion as a No. 4 seed last year and has reached MLS Cup as the conference champion three times in the last seven seasons (2015, 2018, 2021).
- Portland leads MLS with six draws this season. No other team has more than four.
- Portland are winless in their last five matches across all competitions, including a 2-0 loss at LAFC in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 on Tuesday.
- Portland have scored one goal in their last five matches across all competitions.
- Portland leads MLS in interceptions per game (12.8) and clearances per game (23.7) while ranking second with 32 yellow cards.
- Portland has faced 14.4 shots per game, fourth-most in MLS.
- Defender Claudio Bravo leads MLS with 29 tackles won and ninth with 19 interceptions.
- Forwards Yimmi Chara and Jaroslaw Niezgoda are tied for the team lead with three goals apiece. Chara also leads the team with three assists.
Milestones and Miscellany
- Forward Johnny Russell is one shy of moving into a tie for third on Sporting’s all-time regular season goals chart at 43. He is also one shy of jumping into a tie for fourth in club history for goals in all competitions at 46.
- Forward Daniel Salloi is one shy of his 150th appearance for Sporting in all competitions.
