Sporting KC will try to stay atop the Eastern Conference Saturday afternoon when they take on the Montreal Impact at Stade Saputo. The match will kick off at 3 p.m. CT and can be seen locally on KMCI-TV and across the Midwest on SKCTV and nationally on Univision Deportes Network. Saturday's match can also be heard locally on ESPN 1510 and La Gran D 1340. Sporting KC's official watch parties for the match will be at Johnny's Tavern: Power & Light (1310 Grand Blvd.) and Overland Park (6765 W. 119th St.).
Here are five things you should know ahead of Saturday's match at Saputo Stadium:
1. Out for revenge
The last time these two teams met was not pretty ... at least not for Montreal. Sporting KC scored early and often en route to a decisive 4-0 win at Sporting Park.
Last month's match, however, was not indicative of how the series has gone for the two sides. Sporting KC has a 3-3-1 record all-time against Montreal, including a 1-1-1 record away from Kansas City. And while Montreal might be looking for revenge for the last time these two team's met, Sporting KC will look to get even for the last time these two teams met in Montreal. After 95 scoreless minutes, Blake Smith scored in the sixth minute of stoppage time to give the Impact a 1-0 win at Saputo Stadium.
VIDEO: Vermes Presser
2. Another busy stretch?
It seems that each week we are talking about a busy stretch and Sporting KC's depth. Saturday's game kicks off a stretch of six games in 21 days. Take into account the fact that any players named to the U.S. Men's National Team pre-World Cup roster will leave Kansas City next Wednesday and Peter Vermes will be calling upon a slew of players over the coming weeks.
Jacob Peterson earned the start last week and rewarded Vermes' faith with a game-winning goal vs. the Crew. Will the veteran striker get the nod again on Saturday or will Vermes pull another club out of his bag at Stade Saputo?
3. Montreal looking for momentum
It's fair to say that the Montreal Impact imploded toward the end of 2013. Montreal won only two games over the final two months in the season, which included a 3-0 loss to the Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Playoff Knockout Game.
Under head coach Frank Klopas, the Impact got off to a slow start to 2014, After going winless in seven games, Montreal broke the streak with a 1-0 win over the Philadelphia Union on April 26. Can Klopas' side carry the momentum from their last win into Saturday's match?
VIDEO: Sinovic Presser
4. Tired Montreal legs
Similar to Sporting KC, the Montreal Impact are in the middle of a busy stretch. Aside from MLS play, the Impact are in the semifinals of the Amway Canadian Championship. Montreal lost to FC Edmonton 2-1 in the first leg and hosts the second leg next Wednesday at Stade Saputo. Montreal are the defending champions of Canada and would love nothing more than to win the tournament again and book their ticket to the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League.
In the first leg against Edmonton, Klopas rested Jeb Brovsky, Matteo Ferrari, Justin Mapp, Felipe Martins and Marco Di Vaio. Will those five players play Saturday against Sporting KC? And, if so, who will be rested for the second match against Edmonton?
5. Second half goal = free wings
We won't complain if Sporting KC scores a goal in the first half. We DEFINITELY won't complain if they score two. But what happens if Sporting KC scores a goal in the second half? Glad you asked.
If Sporting KC scores a goal in the second half of an away match in 2014, Sporting KC fans receive a FREE snack size wing order with a purchase of a snack size wing order by texting “BWWSKC” to 72727. Visit SportingKC.com/BWW/Rules for full details.
For full coverage of the match, visit SportingKC.com/Gameon.
