Sporting KC v DC United: Preview, Predictions, Injuries & Starting XI

Sporting KC v DC United (#SKCvDC)

Saturday, March 31, 2018 at 7:30 PM CT

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DC United (2pts 0-2-2) visits Sporting Kansas City (7pts 2-1-1) looking for their first win of 2018. They are in the midst of the long road trip from hell that Sporting KC experienced in 2011 while waiting for their new stadium to open.

The visitors bring just two points from a pair of draws in their first four matches. A 1-1 match against a toothless Orlando side on opening weekend and a 2-2 come from behind to snatch a point in what was nominally a home game. A pair of 3-1 losses at Atlanta and Columbus have made it a rough start for Ben Olsen’s side.

DC United may not be on the positive side of any games yet but are not without weapons having scored 5 goals and Sporting KC has not been defensively sound this season. Giving up a shocking 9 goals in 4 games.

On the offensive side, Sporting KC has put the ball in the back of the net an equally amazing 9 times. Felipe Gutierrez leads the way with 4 goals and International Homegrown forward Daniel Salloi contributing with 3 assists with both tied for the league lead.

Interesting stat: SKC are on a 0-3-3 streak versus DC United, having not defeated the visitors since 2013.

Sporting KC will try to keep up the scoring pace while upping the defensive effort but may have a little less fan support than normal. The KU Jayhawks play in the NCAA Final Four and the Kansas City Royals play their second game of the season, all at the same time.

Injuries

Sporting KC

OUT: Brad Evans (not on the injury list but will not be in the 18)

DC United

OUT: M - Russell Canouse (knee injury), D - Taylor Kemp (groin injury), M - Junior Moreno (hamstring injury)

Statistics

Sporting KC

Goals: Felipe Gutierrez (4), Graham Zusi, Ilie Sanchez, Johnny Russell, Jimmy Medranda, Diego Rubio

Assists: Daniel Salloi (3), Johnny Russell (2), Rogers Espinoza (2), Khiry Shelton, Gerso Ferenades

DC United

Goals: Yamil Asad (2), Darren Mattocks (2), Luciano Acosta

Assists: Luciano Acosta, Yamil Asad, Paul Arriola, Frederic Brillant

Starting XI Predictions

Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes is a creature of habit and tends to not mess with what is working. Yes they are giving up goals but they are also winning so without an injury or a call-up, there is a fairly good chance he will go with what has worked so far.

Or at least mostly. Last match, Jimmy Medranda came on and played his best match of the year and may replace Seth Sinovic at left back again.

Daniel Salloi missed the last match while he was playing for Hungary’s U21 team but is back and itching to put his name in the goal scoring ledger.

So this is a possible lineup:

Bench: Zendejas, Gerso, Rubio, Sinovic, Didic, Lindsey, Croizet

Prediction:

Sporting KC should be able to break the winless streak against DC and get a win at home. 2-1? 3-1? 4-3?

I hate predictions of scores. Well I hate making them so tell us what you think will happen.