Sporting KC v FC Dallas: Preview, Predictions, Stats and Roster Changes

Sporting KC @ FC Dallas

When: Saturday, August 14, 2021 at 7:30 PM CT (Kickoff 7:38)

Where: Toyota Stadium

How to Watch/Stream: Bally Sports KC Plus (regionally) | Bally Sports Midwest Plus (regionally) |

ESPN+ (out of market or over VPN locally)

How to Listen: Sports Radio 810 WHB | La Grande 1340 AM (Spanish)

What an interesting week for Sporting KC. They win on the road against LAFC about a week ago. They then travel to play the Colorado Rapids and rest several players having played so much and with poor air quality and still pull off a draw. Then they surprise many when they go full “play the kids” against Club Leon in a brutal loss.

Peter Vermes has blamed it on schedule congestion and personally, I’m good with that. However, that makes this Dallas game even more important. Johnny Russell has sat out three straight games. Alan Pulido sat out last game. Daniel Salloi played 45 of the last 180 minutes. Plus lots of other players found rest. To make it more worth it (because it’s definitely worth it looking at the long lens of an MLS season) Sporting Kansas City should be looking to capitalize. Dare I say need to capitalize?

That’s easier said than done against FC Dallas. For some reason, this team is in KC’s collective heads. Dallas is an astounding 5-0-1 in the last six regular season meetings between these teams. And when Dallas get ahead (as many teams do against SKC this year), they are brutal to play against. They waste time like no other MLS team I know.

As of this writing, the PRO Referee assignments aren’t out, but it’ll be critical for whoever is the official to control the game. Card time wasters. Don’t tolerate nonsense. Better yet, Sporting KC should just not fall behind. Even better, score early because Dallas has shown they are okay wasting time for a draw too.

Dallas’ Recent Form

Dallas are hot. It was just a few weeks ago they were last in the Western Conference. As of this writing, they sit ninth and just two points out of a playoff spot (but just five points out of last place). It just goes to show that in MLS, anyone can make a run. Remember how Sporting KC were still in the playoff hunt during that horrific 2019 season even though they were so very, very bad? Hopefully this is like that (but Dallas probably aren’t as bad). Dallas are unbeaten in their last four, including the win over SKC.

• July 21st @ Colorado Rapid - 0-2 Loss
• July 24th vs LA Galaxy - 4-0 Win
• July 31st @ Sporting KC - 2-1 Win
• August 4th @ Seattle Sounders - 1-1 Draw
• August 7th vs Austin FC - 2-0 Win

What’s changed for Dallas since these teams first met?

These team’s met so recently, there have been no roster changes. Head back to our preview from about two weeks ago for all the Dallas roster movement up to that point since it’s extensive.

IN: None

OUT: None

Injuries/Availability*

Sporting KC

OUT - Felipe Hernandez (personal reasons), Nicolas Isimat-Mirin (hamstring), Jaylin Lindsey (hamstring)

QUESTIONABLE - Khiry Shelton (abdomen)

*This has been updated by the official injury report.

Dallas

OUT - Beni Redžić (ankle sprain), Justin Che (lower leg), Johnny Nelson (back)

QUESTIONABLE - None

Stats

Sporting KC

GOALS: Daniel Salloi (10), Alan Pulido (7), Gadi Kinda (4), Johnny Russell, (3), Gianluca Busio, Jaylin Lindsey (2), Ilie Sanchez, Felipe Hernandez, Khiry Shelton, Cam Duke, Luis Martins (1)

ASSISTS: Khiry Shelton, Daniel Salloi (5), Johnny Russell, Graham Zusi (4), Gianluca Busio (3), Felipe Hernandez, Gadi Kinda (2), Alan Pulido, Andreu Fontas, Luis Martins, Jaylin Lindsey (1)

Dallas

GOALS: Ricardo Pepi (8), Franco Jara, Jader Obrien (3), Jesus Ferreira, Ryan Hollingshead (2), four with one (1)

ASSISTS: Hollingshead, Szablocs Schon (4), Ferreira (3), Bryan Acosta, Nkosi Tafari, Paxton Pomykal, Andres Ricaurte (2), five with one (1)

Starting XI Predictions

Update: Lineup predictions and injury updates get their own story.

Score Predictions

It would be just like SKC to rest a bunch of guys over two games to return, be out of a rhythm and find a way to lose. Someone that didn’t get rest (potentially Ilie Sanchez) is going to be asked to be a big contributor. Maybe Remi Walter starts at d-mid since he came off after 45 minutes?

Either way, I just have a bad feeling about playing in Dallas, in that sweltering Texas heat. I think KC are clearly the better team, and no better time to win than off that rest to make people forget about the youth playing against Leon on Tuesday and how poorly that went. However, I’ll say a draw is the outcome.

1-1 Draw

What do you think? Predictions in the comments are welcome. Let’s chat about it.

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