Sporting KC (11-6-4, 37 pts) vs Columbus Crew (7-7-4, 25 pts)
Saturday, July 28, 2012 - 7:30 p.m. CT
LIVESTRONG Sporting Park | Kansas City, KS
English TV: KSMO-TV
Spanish Radio: La Gran D 1340 AM
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Sporting Kansas City and the Columbus Crew will meet for the second time in two weeks when they take the field at 7:30 p.m. CT on Saturday at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park.
Tickets for the game, featuring Buck-A-Brat night courtesy of match sponsors Roma Bakery and Johnsonville, are available at Ticketmaster.com or at the LSP Box Offices. Ticket holders are permitted to bring one sealed bottle of water (20-ounce or smaller), which will be uncapped at the stadium gates upon entry.
Sporting KC prevailed 2-0 in the previous meeting this season at Columbus Crew Stadium on July 14, courtesy of goals from Jacob Peterson and Teal Bunbury. One point back of New York for first place in the East, Sporting Kansas City has lost only once in the team’s past five MLS matches.
The club has allowed just five goals at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park in 10 regular season games in 2012, the fewest conceded by any MLS club at home this season, and Sporting Kansas City’s 19 goals allowed are tied with the Crew for the fewest allowed in MLS.
Manager Peter Vermes will be without two of his most reliable defenders due to injury. Aurelien Collin (facial fractures) and Chance Myers (groin strain) lead all Sporting KC field players in regular season minutes played in 2012, but will be forced to sit out on Saturday. Additionally, Roger Espinoza will be missing from the midfield while away on international duty as one of three over-age players for Honduras at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
With a win, Sporting KC would draw level in the all-time series with Columbus. The two clubs, both charter members of MLS, have met 44 times during the regular season in MLS history with the Crew holding a 20-19-5 record entering tomorrow’s tilt.
Columbus, currently in sixth place in the East, enter Saturday’s contest coming off a 1-0 win over D.C. United last Saturday and a 2-1 victory against Stoke City FC in an international friendly on Tuesday.
Costa Rican international Jairo Arrieta, who made his MLS debut against Sporting KC two weeks ago, will look to aid a Columbus attack that has scored 19 goals this season, the fewest in the East and second lowest total in MLS. Conversely, led by team captain and two-time Defender of the Year Chad Marshall, Columbus has given up the fewest goals on the road in 2012 with eight goals conceded in nine away fixtures.
Saturday’s match will be broadcast live on KSMO-TV, beginning with the First Kick pre-game show at 7 p.m. CT, and La Gran D 1340 AM. Sports Radio 810 WHB will air the Final Whistle: Sporting KC Postgame show immediately following the match.
Sporting Kansas City supporters can also follow Saturday's game online via @SKCGameday on Twitter and the MLSSoccer.com MatchCenter, or on mobile devices with Sporting Explore and MLS MatchDay apps.
