:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/6547605/143087903.jpg)
Sporting Kansas City will welcome Kansas City soccer legend Davy Arnaud and the Montreal Impact to LIVESTRONG Sporting Park tomorrow night in SKC's 9th game of the season. This will be the Impact's10th and while most of the results haven't gone their way thus far, they do have players that - if given the opportunity - can be pretty lethal.
After a week off MLS action Sporting KC should be well rested ahead of Saturday night's game against Montreal. Which is a good thing because following their streak ending 1-0 loss to the Portland Timbers Sporting KC were looking the worst for wear after having played 3 games in less that 10 days.
The mindset on Saturday for Sporting KC however, will be to pressure Montreal and hopefully score some first half goals to put this one away early.
The Basics
Time:7:30 pm CT, coverage on KSMO starts at 7:00 pm CT
Where: LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, Kansas City, Kansas.
Who: Sporting KC vs. Montreal Impact
What: Major League Soccer Round 9
Key Matchup: Sapong vs. Rivas and Camara
Hassoun Camara and Nelson Rivas are expected to be Montreal's two starting center backs tomorrow. Rivas has played with Italian superpowers Internazionale while Camara has spent time with former French champions Marseille. That's all very impressive until you throw in the fact that neither of them have played a lick of soccer in the MLS. Both will be getting their first minutes in an Impact uniform and former rookie of the year CJ Sapong will look to exploit their unfamiliarity with both the league and each other.
Montreal Impact player to watch: Davy Arnaud
How could I not choose Davy? The former Sporting KC midfielder who spent nearly a decade at the club will most likely see a warm reception from the KC fans at tomorrow's game for his years of service to the city. Davy was sensational for KC, especially in his younger years when he was scoring goals like a mad man and with Montreal it would seem as if Davy has maintained that attacking threat but that a new, regenerated Davy has come through. At 31 he may be a step behind the rest of the guys but he'll know how this team works and will probably have informed Jesse Marsch all about Peter Vermes' tactics.
Predicted Lineup: GK: Jimmy Nielsen RB: Chance Myers CB"s: Aurelien Collin, Matt Besler LB: Michael Harrington CM's: Julio Cesar, Graham Zusi, Roger Espinoza RW: Kei Kamara ST: CJ Sapong LW: Bobby Convey
The only change in this ever consistent lineup will be Michael Harrington replacing the injured Seth Sinovic.
Predicted Score: Sporting KC 3 - Montreal Impact 0
Like I said earlier, Sporting KC should be able to dispatch this side pretty easily especially if they put it away in the first half with early goals. I'm sorry to say it but there's just not much I see in Montreal that could defeat a league leading Sporting KC side who's had 2 weeks rest while the Impact just recently played Toronto FC on Wednesday and fielded a near full strength squad.