By The Numbers presented by KDOT: #DALvSKC | Oct. 6, 2019

"By The Numbers" is a season-long series sponsored by The Kansas Department of Transportation that gives a statistical preview of every Sporting match.
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Eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since 2010, Sporting Kansas City (10-15-8, 38 points) will embrace the spoiler role on Sunday when they visit playoff hopefuls FC Dallas (12-12-9, 45 points) as the MLS regular season comes to a dramatic close on Decision Day. Kickoff at Toyota Stadium is slated for 3 p.m. CT with live coverage on FOX Sports Kansas City, FOX Sports Midwest, FOX Sports GO, ESPN 94.5 FM (English) and La Grande 1340 AM (Spanish). We take a statistical look at the fixture in our final 2019 edition of By The Numbers.

Head-to-Head

• Sporting hold a narrow 25-24-12 edge in the all-time regular season series.
• Dallas won the most recent meeting on July 20 at Children's Mercy Park, receiving goals in either half from Dominique Badji and Jesus Ferreira.
• The last time these teams met at Toyota Stadium in October 2018, Sporting strolled to a 3-0 win with goals from Roger Espinoza, Johnny Russell and Daniel Salloi.
• Sporting are 2-5-3 in their last 10 games at Toyota Stadium dating back to 2011.
• The home side in the series has lost each of the last three regular season meetings.

FC Dallas

• 2019 MLS record: 12-12-9 (45 points, 7th in Western Conference)
• 2019 MLS home record: 9-1-6 (32 GF, 16 GA)
• Last MLS match: L 0-3 at Colorado Rapids on Sept. 29
• Last 5 MLS matches: 1-2-2, 5 points (W-L-T-T-L)
• Currently occupying the seventh and final playoff spot, Dallas can clinch a playoff berth with:
  • A win, OR
  • A draw if San Jose loses or ties at Portland, OR
  • A loss if San Jose loses at Portland and Colorado loses or ties at LAFC.
• Dallas has just one home loss this season, tied for the fewest in MLS (9-1-6). Their lone home defeat came on May 11 against the Red Bulls.
• Dallas hasn't lost more than two home games in a season since 2014. The club has a 52-8-24 regular season record at Toyota Stadium since the start of 2015.
• Dallas is winless in its last four matches, going 0-2-2 since beating FC Cincinnati on Aug. 31.
• Eight of Dallas' 12 wins have come by two or more goals. Their four one-goal wins are tied for the fewest in MLS.
• Dallas is 11-1-4 when scoring first this season but just 1-11-2 when conceding the first goal.
• Dallas has led at halftime in 11 of its 12 league wins this season.
• Forward Jesus Ferreira, aged 18, leads FC Dallas with seven goals.
• Midfielder Michael Barrios ranks fifth in MLS with 13 assists and sixth with 82 chances created.
• Midfielder Bryan Acosta leads MLS with 12 yellow cards and ranks fourth with 61 fouls committed.
• Defender Ryan Hollingshead ranks fourth in MLS in duels won (234) and sixth in interceptions (54). He is also second on the team with six goals.

Sporting Kansas City

• 2019 MLS record: 10-15-8, 38 points (10th in Western Conference)
• 2019 MLS away record: 3-9-4 (19 GF, 31 GA)
• Last MLS match: T 2-2 vs. Portland Timbers on Sept. 29
• Last 5 MLS matches: 0-4-1, 1 point (L-L-L-L-T)
• Sporting have been eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since 2010. Their eight-year playoff streak was the fourth-longest in MLS history.
• Sporting have conceded 61 goals this season, the second-most in MLS and the second-most in club history (63 in 1996).
• Sporting have conceded 20 goals in the final 15 minutes of matches this season, the most in MLS.
• Sporting have suffered six losses when scoring first, the most in MLS this season.
• Goalkeeper Tim Melia has saved three of the four penalty kicks he has faced this season and has an MLS career-high 111 saves.
• Felipe Gutierrez is tied for the lead among MLS midfielders with 12 goals. He has become the fourth midfielder in club history to hit double-digit goals in a single regular season (Preki, Mark Chung, Benny Feilhaber).
• Forward Johnny Russell has become the second player in club history (Preki) to record at least nine goals and nine assists in consecutive regular seasons.
• Midfielders Roger Espinoza and Ilie Sanchez will miss Sunday's match with red card suspensions.

Milestones and Miscellany

• Goalkeeper Tim Melia is one shy of his 46th regular season shutout for Sporting, which would pass Jimmy Nielsen for the most in club history.

Recent #DALvSKC meetings

• Regular season record vs. FC Dallas: 25-24-12 (91 GF, 94 GA)
• Regular season away record at FC Dallas: 10-14-5 (34 GF, 54 GA)

Team Stats (2019 regular season)

MLS rank in parenthesis (source: Opta)