The playoff math is simple enough for Sporting Kansas City.
A draw against the Houston Dynamo on Sunday would clinch a club-record seventh straight postseason appearance, while a win would guarantee a top-four finish and a home playoff game at Children’s Mercy Park for the first time since 2013.
What isn’t simple, however, is the task at hand.
Sporting KC’s regular-season home finale against Houston (6:30 p.m. CT, FOX Sports KC) comes just four days after Manager Peter Vermes’ men suffered a 2-1 road loss to the Dynamo. The result pulled Houston within two points of second-place Sporting KC in the wildly crowded Western Conference standings, setting the stage for an enticing return fixture in Kansas City.
And although Vermes admits it isn’t easy to face any team — playoff contender or otherwise — in back-to-back matches, he knows the scheduling scenario will ultimately help his side prepare for what may come in November.
“We went away, we’re basically down a goal, and we’ve got to find a way to win the game here and get ourselves back up again,” Vermes said, explaining how the Houston double-dip mirrors the two-legged format of the MLS Cup Playoffs. “We have to win the two-game series somehow, based on goals.”
To be sure, Sunday’s contest has a far different complexion to it. First and foremost, both clubs will welcome back a slew of international players. For Sporting KC, that means the likes of captain Matt Besler, prolific chance creator Benny Feilhaber and dynamic right back Graham Zusi. Houston will be bolstered by Honduran forwards Alberth Elis and Romell Quioto as well as defensive stalwart Adolfo Machado.
Secondly, Houston has managed just one away win this season, while Sporting KC has lost just once at home.
“I know all the guys in the locker room are hungry to get back out there and to respond in the right way,” Besler told reporters on Friday, conveying Sporting KC’s excitement for what could be a playoff-clinching matchup. “We’ve had a couple of opportunities already that didn’t go our way, but we’re ready to lock things up.”
In order for Sporting KC to lock up that playoff berth, the team will have to deliver a strong performance a Dynamo outfit that boasts a seven-game unbeaten run in the regular-season series. Since winning 2-0 at Houston in June 2014, Sporting KC has four losses and three draws versus Houston in MLS.
“There’s definitely a sense of urgency within the group,” Besler said. “The guys that have been with us know what the history has been like and how important it is to finish as high as you can in the table for playoff seeding.
“That’s still in our main line of focus. It starts on Sunday; hopefully we take care of business and we’ll see where that puts us. And then we’ll have to go and do it one more time in Salt Lake next weekend.”
