MLS Match Preview: Sporting Kansas City vs Toronto FC

Sporting Kansas City has been on a well-deserved break after their 2-0 Open Cup win over Colorado. They will need that saved up energy as they now enter a stretch of four games in ten days. Tonight's match against Toronto will be game number 1.

Since their last match, Toronto FC has parted ways with its manager Aron Winter after a horrendous start to the 2012 season. The position was taken over by Paul Mariner, and a new coach might inspire some good play from the Canadian side.

The Basics

Who: Sporting Kansas City (8-3-1, 25 pts, 3rd in East) vs Toronto FC (1-9-0, 3 pts, 10th in East)

When: 7:30 pm central

Where: LiveSTRONG Sporting Park, Kansas City, Kansas.

TV: Channel 62 KSMO

SKC Lineup Prediction: Nielsen (GK), Myers, (RB) Collin & Olum (CBs), Harrington (LB), Espinoza, Zusi, Nagamura (CMs), Bunbury (LW), Peterson (RW), Saad (ST)

With Sapong still on the mend from his minor injury, I expect Saad to get the start as to not rush Sapong back with so many games coming up. Also, I have heard from a reliable source that Olum will probably get the start over the injured Besler. That source was Besler, so I think we can trust that Olum will get the start.

Final Prediction: Sporting Kansas City 2 Toronto FC 2

With new inspiration from a new manager, I expect Toronto to score quickly, then Sporting to use the home crowd to crawl back in for the draw late in the second half.