Sporting Kansas City will play host to D.C. United at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan., in a battle of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference.
The match will be televised on KMCI’s 38 The Spot and SKCTV. Fans can listen to the match on Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Gran D 1340 AM. A limited number of tickets are available and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or the Sporting Park box offices on game day.
Sporting KC has earned victories in six of its last eight matches against D.C. United including an undefeated record at Sporting Park (4-0-0). In those four matches, Sporting KC has secured three shutouts and conceded just one goal.
With 42 points, Sporting KC (12-6-6) is tied for first place in the Supporters’ Shield standings with the Seattle Sounders. D.C. United (12-7-4) boasts 40 points.
The match also features the two best defenses in Major League Soccer. Sporting KC leads MLS with 23 goals allowed and a 0.96 goals against average in 2014, while D.C. United ranks second with 26 goals conceded and a 1.13 goals against average.
Both teams are projected to start homegrown goalkeepers on Saturday. Twenty-one year-old Jon Kempin has appeared in Sporting KC’s last two matches earning back-to-back Save of the Week honors and Bill Hamid leads MLS with a save percentage of .758.
Fabian Espindola’s 16 combined goals and assists (eight each) are fourth-most in MLS entering the weekend behind only Robbie Keane, Bradley Wright-Phillips and Sporting KC’s Dom Dwyer. The English striker has16 goals (second most in MLS for goals scored) and one assist in 2014 including two penalty kick goals in Sporting KC’s last MLS match, a 4-1 victory over Toronto FC. D.C. United earned a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Rapids at RFK Stadium in the team’s most recent MLS outing.
Both teams are coming off midweek CCL matches. Sporting KC earned a 1-1 draw in Nicaragua against Real Esteli FC with Toni Dovale’s leveling the match in the 16th minute. D.C. United earned a 1-0 victory against Jamaican side Waterhouse FC, with Eddie Johnson scoring the lone goal in the contest.
Johnson will be unavailable for selection by head coach Ben Olsen as he serves the second of a two-game suspension for violent conduct toward defender Carlos Salcedo in the 30th minute of D.C.’s match against Real Salt Lake on Aug. 9.
Fans are encouraged to allow additional time for parking on Saturday due to Throttle Fest KC. Visit SportingKC.com/parking for an updated parking map. Additionally, the first 10,000 fans to arrive at Sporting Park will receive a roller banner. Supporters are permitted to bring one 20-ounce sealed water bottle due to heat advisory. The bottle will be uncapped at the gate.
For in-game updates, visit SportingKC.com/GameOn or follow @SKCGameday on Twitter.
– Story from Sporting KC