Sporting Kansas City will conclude pool play in the 2012 Disney Pro Soccer Classic at 5:00 p.m. CT tonight against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Following draws against the Houston Dynamo and Montreal Impact in their opening two matches, Sporting KC will now look for a full three points to secure the team's spot in the tournament's consolation match on Saturday. The challege comes against a revamped Vancouver side that has already advanced to the championship match with victories in each of their first two fixtures.
What To Watch For:
- Battle of unbeatens: Sporting Kansas City and Vancouver Whitecaps FC both enter Wednesday's meeting with 3-0-2 records through five games this pre-season. While the clubs finished in polar opposite positions in 2011 - Sporting atop the East, Vancouver anchoring the West -- they each enter the 2012 season with a wave of momentum following strong showings throughout their pre-season schedules. With First Kick 10 days away for both clubs, Wenesday will offer one of the final opportunities for the technical staffs to evaluate their sides in a 11v11 setting against MLS opposition.
- Focus on fitness: Results aside, the attention is just as much on team fitness at this point in the pre-season. Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes will want to push his lineup -- expected to be a largely first choice side versus Vancouver -- for as many minutes as possible to prepare for the demands of a 90-minute MLS match. Be on the lookout to see how strategic Sporting chooses to be with their substitutions and game management in the second half.
- Defensive test: To say that Vancouver has stocked up on offensive weapons this off-season is an understatement. Even with Omar Salgado gone with the United States Under-20 National Team and newly-signed Etienne Barbara sidelined with injury, the Whitecaps attacking options include three players who scored 10 or more goals in MLS last season with Camilo Sanvezzo (12g, 3a), Eric Hassli (10g, 2a) and Sebastien Le Toux (11g, 9a). Add in second round pick Darren Mattocks, who scored 21 goals in 22 matches for Akron last year, alongside the likes of Long Tan (he's drawn three pks in the tournament thus far) and Atiba Harris (coming back from a season-ending knee injury in 2011), and you have a formula for firepower that rivals Sporting's own attacking arsenal. Vancouver hasn't been shutout this pre-season, can Sporting be the first to shut down the Whitecaps?
Post your predictions for tonight's match in the comments section below and follow @SKCGameday on Twitter for live updates from Orlando.
