Sporting KC will try to send their national team duo off with three points as the club hosts the Philadelphia Union Wednesday night at Sporting Park. Limited tickets are available and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 888-4KC-GOAL. The match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT and can be seen locally on KMCI-TV and across the Midwest on SKCTV. Tonight's match can also be heard locally on Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Gran D 1340.
Here are five things you should know ahead of tonight's match at Sporting Park:
1. Riding high
Sporting Kansas City enters Wednesday's match as one of the hottest teams in MLS. The club has won three of its last four matches and has only one loss since the season-opening loss to the Seattle Sounders on March 8.
The goals have also started to come for Sporting KC, as Peter Vermes' club has tallied nine in their past four games including three in last week's shutout win over the Montreal Impact. Dom Dwyer leads all goalscorers with six on the year.
VIDEO: USMNT presser
2. Riding low
On the flip side, the Philadelphia Union have struggled out of the gate in 2014. After a busy offseason that saw Jack Hackworth bring in U.S. Men's National Team midfielder Maurice Edu, French midfielder Vincent Nogueira and Argentine playmaker Cristian Maidana, the Union have won only one of their first 11 games. The team has lost three of their last four matches and four of their last five, with Philadelphia's only win coming against the New England Revolution on March 15.
3. Last match for USMNTers
On Monday, Sporting KC defender Matt Besler and midfielder Graham Zusi were named to the U.S. Men's National Team's 30-man preliminary roster for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Both players will be available for selection tonight before reporting to training camp in California on Thursday. If Besler and Zusi are selected to the World Cup roster - which will be announced on June 2 - they will return to Sporting KC following the conclusion of the USMNT's participation in the World Cup.
Philadelphia's Maurice Edu was also named to the 30-man roster. The veteran midfielder was listed a questionable on the Union's injury report with concussion symptoms.
VIDEO: #SKCvPHI preview
4. Stonewall defense
While the goals have started flowing for Sporting Kansas City, the defense is proving once again why it is the best in Major League Soccer. After allowing the fewest goals in the League in 2012 and 2013, Sporting KC's backline has allowed only six goals through nine goals and leads MLS with five shutouts. The Galaxy are tied for the fewest goals allowed but have played two fewer games.
To make the task more daunting for the Union, Sporting KC allowed only one goal in six home matches in 2014 across all competitions.
5. Reinforcements on the way?
Each week, we talk about the team's depth and how it will be tested. And while Wednesday's match is in the middle of a three games in nine days stretch, it looks as if Peter Vermes might have more options heading into tonight. MLSsoccer.com's Steve Brisendine reported this week that midfielder Sal Zizzo, who missed the last two matches with a groin strain, could return as early as Wednesday. Zizzo has two assists in seven appearances in his first season with Sporting KC. With Zusi set to depart for the USMNT camp on Thursday, Zizzo's return - as well as the potential return of C.J. Sapong - could provide a big boost for Sporting KC.
For full coverage of the match, visit SportingKC.com/Gameon.
