Sporting Kansas City vs FC Dallas Prediction, Preview and Odds - 7/31/21
Sporting Kansas City vs FC Dallas
Sporting Kansas City defeated MLS Western Conference leaders the Seattle Sounders 3-1 on Sunday in their most recent outing. Johnny Russell opened the scoring in the 31st minute for Sporting KC followed by Daniel Salloi in the 42nd minute and Cameron Duke in the 72nd minute. Sporting Kansas City is unbeaten in five consecutive matches and has not lost since a 2-1 setback on the road to the Portland Timbers on June 19. Sporting Kansas City will play without Alan Pulido, Gianluca Busio, Felipe Hernandez, Grayson Barber and Tyler Freeman
FC Dallas routed the LA Galaxy 4-0 on Saturday in their most recent MLS fixture. Ricardo Pepi scored a hat-trick for Dallas with goals in the 27th, 44th and 50th minutes. Pepi became the youngest player in MLS history to score a hat-trick at 18 years, 197 days. The Dallas back line allowed 16 shots on goal but only three were on target for LA Galaxy. Dallas will be without Beni Redzic, Matt Hedges, Kyle Zobeck, Jose Martinez and Bryan Acosta.
Sporting KC Attack is Hard to Stop
Sporting Kansas City is second in the Western Conference standings with a record of 9-3-3, 30 points and a +11 goal difference. Much of Sporting KC’s success is thanks to its attack. Sporting KC has scored 28 goals in the MLS through 15 matches for an average of 1.87 goals per match, which is first in the Western Conference and second overall to just New England. Kansas City Chiefs start quarterback Patrick Mahomes announced he has purchased an interest in Sporting Kansas City.
The leading goal scorer for Sporting Kansas City is Daniel Salloi with 9 and Alan Pulido has scored six. Johnny Russell leads all players for Sporting KC in assists with four. Sporting KC's backline and goalkeeper have given up 17 goals this season for an average of 1.13 goals per match. Tim Melia has started 10 matches in goal for Sporting KC and has allowed 10 goals.
FC Dallas attack finally wakes up
FC Dallas is 10th in the Western Conference standings with a record of 3-5-7, 14 points and a -5 goal difference. The Dallas attack, led by 18-year-old Ricardo Pepi finally showed signs of life this past weekend scoring four goals against LA Galaxy but prior to that match had scored a grand total of one goal over its previous three matches, while being shut out twice. This season FC Dallas is scoring an average of only 1.20 goals per match.
The leading goal scorer for FC Dallas is Ricardo Pepi with 8, after scoring three in the club’s last match on Saturday. Jader Rafael Obrian is the second-leading goal scorer with 3, while Ryan Hollingshead and Jesus Ferreira are the co-leaders in assists with three each. Jimmy Maurer has appeared in goal in 12 of FC Dallas’ 15 matches and has allowed 19 goals for an average of 1.58 goals per match. FC Dallas as a club is allowing an average of 1.77 goals per match.
Pick: Sporting Kansas City -196
Sporting Kansas City is playing much better than FC Dallas. Sporting KC is second in the Western Conference just two points adrift of first place Seattle and defeated the Sounders 3-1 this past Sunday while playing on the road in the Pacific Northwest. Sporting Kansas City is unbeaten in each of its last five matches and has taken 16 points out of a possible 20 over that span with 4 wins and 1 draw. FC Dallas easily defeated LA Galaxy this past Saturday but were playing on their home pitch and will now be on the road to face Sporting KC. The Dallas frontline attack has been much weaker this season than has Sporting KC, as Dallas is scoring an average of only 1.20 goals per match, while Sporting KC scoring an average of 1.87 goals per match.
Total: over
Sporting Kansas City has scored the second-most goals of any club in the MLS with 28 and the total has finished over the 2.5 goals per match threshold in four of KC’s last six matches played. Dallas scored four goals in its most recent outing and the total has finished over 2.5 goals in four of the Toros’ last six matches.