Sporting Kansas City vs. LA Galaxy | MLS Match Preview

SPORTING KANSAS CITY vs. LA GALAXY
CHILDREN'S MERCY PARK, Kansas City, Kansas
MAY 1, 2016 (WEEK 9, MLS GAME #85)
8 pm ET (FS1, MLS LIVE)

It’s a meeting of the clubs which have won four of the last five MLS Cups when Sporting Kansas City entertain the LA Galaxy on Sunday evening at Children’s Mercy Park. Sporting return home after putting an end to a three-game losing slide at midweek, in their 1-1 draw with Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The Galaxy will be looking to transport some of their scintillating home form, having scored nine goals in their last two games, both at StubHub Center, coming off a 5-2 win over previously undefeated Real Salt Lake to extend their unbeaten run to five games.

• Sporting were shut out at the attacking end for the first time this season in their 1-0 loss at the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday afternoon. Four teams have still scored in every game this season through Week 8 – Orlando City, San Jose, Portland and Real Salt Lake.
• Giovani dos Santos scored his third goal in the last two matches as the Galaxy exploded for a 5-2 win against previously undefeated Real Salt Lake on Saturday evening at StubHub Center. The Galaxy have scored nine goals in their last two games; dos Santos has three goals and two assists. It was the third time this season the Galaxy have hit for four or more goals in a game.
• The teams met twice a year ago, each winning by a 2-1 scoreline on their home ground, the Galaxy victorious April 18 at StubHub Center, and Sporting winning Oct. 25 in KC.
• The Galaxy have not won in Kansas City since 2007; Sporting have won four of their seven home games since, with three draws. Sporting’s last win against the Galaxy in Carson came in 2010 – the last victory by the visiting in the series; the Galaxy have won their last three home meetings with KC.

REFEREE: Chris Penso. AR1 (bench): Corey Parker; AR2 (opposite): Brian Dunn; 4th: Caleb Mendez
MLS Career: 82 games; FC/gm: 23.9; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 27; pens: 30

SUSPENDED: LA: Nigel de Jong (through May 1)
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: LA: Jelle Van Damme
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: LA: Daniel Steres
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none

HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (55 meetings): Sporting 20 wins (2 shootout), 66 goals … Galaxy 24 wins (0 shootout), 84 goals … Ties 11
AT KANSAS CITY (28 meetings): Sporting 15 wins (1 shootout), 40 goals … Galaxy 8 wins (0 shootout), 36 goals … Ties 5
FUTURE MATCHES: 6/2: LA Galaxy vs. Sporting Kansas City, 7:30 p.m. PT; 9/18: Sporting Kansas City vs. LA Galaxy, 12 noon (ESPN1)

LAST YEAR
4/18: LA 2, KC 1 (Husidic 9; Gonzalez 94+ -- Nemeth 22)
10/25: KC 2, LA 1 (Ellis 38; Dwyer 65 – Keane 46+)

• The teams met twice a year ago, each winning by a 2-1 scoreline on their home ground, the Galaxy victorious April 18 at StubHub Center, and Sporting winning Oct. 25 in KC.
• The Galaxy have not won in Kansas City since 2007; Sporting have won four of their seven home games since, with three draws. Sporting’s last win against the Galaxy in Carson came in 2010 – the last victory by the visiting in the series; the Galaxy have won their last three home meetings with KC.
• Coaches record: Peter Vermes vs. LA: P9 W4 L3 D2… Bruce Arena vs. KC: P25 W8 L11 D6