Match Preview: Sporting KC v Philadelphia

Sporting KC finish the regular season with a home match against the Philadelphia Union. KC can clinch the top spot in the Eastern Conference with a draw or win while the Union are in eighth place and will not make the playoffs.

Head To Head

The all-time head to head is very even with one win for each team and three draws in five total meetings. Each team has been stronger at home with Sporting unbeaten in two matches at LSP and holding the Union to one goal. 

The teams met on June 23 at PPL Park with the Union getting a decisive 4-0 victory. It was Sporting's worst loss of the season and the only time they've conceded four goals in a match all year. 

Goals

Sporting has conceded two or more goals six times this season while Philadelphia has done that 11 times. KC's perfect record on corner kicks is still in tact (scored five, conceded none) and the Union have scored three more penalties than their opponents (5 to 2).

The strength for the Union has also been their biggest weakness. Philadelphia has scored nearly half (16 of 36) its goals in the final 30 minutes of matches but have conceded 21 during that same stretch. The team has been much stronger defensively early in matches with 14 goals conceded in the first half (26 in the second).

Sporting KC has conceded almost the same amount of goals in each half and scored more than a third of their goals in the first 30 minutes of matches.

Both teams have only one win when trailing at halftime (KC 1-4-0, PHI 1-6-1) but have been dominant when leading at halftime (KC 9-1-2, PHI 6-0-1). KC has scored the first goal 20 times in 33 matches and Philadelphia have conceded the opening goal in 16 of 32 matches.

Last 5 Matches (in MLS)

PHI (3-0-2) - 3-1 win v HOU, 3-2 loss v CLB, 3-1 win v CHI, 1-0 win v NE, 3-1 loss at HOU

SKC (2-0-3) - 2-0 win at NY, 0-0 draw at MTL, 2-0 win v CHI, 1-1 draw at CLB, 0-0 draw at NY

Individual Leaders