Sporting Kansas City vs LAFC Prediction, Preview and Odds - 6/26/21
Sporting Kansas City has the second-most points in MLS and in a Western Conference matchup play host to an LAFC club that is unbeaten in their last two matches.
LAFC is unbeaten in their last two matches coming off a win and playing to a draw in the match before that. They are pretty balanced to say the least, as they have a goal differential of +1 and after nine matches have three wins, three draws, and three losses. LAFC is in the eighth spot in the West.
Sporting Kansas City has only one loss in their last five matches and they are in second place in the Western Conference four points back of the Seattle Sounders. They have scored the most goals in the MLS (20) but they have also given up 14 goals, which is tied for the third-most in the West.
Defense Kills It
LAFC was at home in their last match where they beat FC Dallas 2-0 and it was the first time they kept a clean sheet since their season opener. The club got off to a great start with Carlos Vela scoring in only the fourth minute and Latif Blessing scored in the second half. While the time of possession was even in the match LAFC outshot FC Dallas 19-13 and had eight shots on goal, as opposed to one from the club from the Lone Star State.
Corey Baird and Diego Rossi are tied for the team lead with three goals each and Carlos Vela leads them with three assists. LA has only allowed 10 goals in nine matches but they have only scored 11 and the attack has been the main issue. LAFC has gotten off to good starts in matches but have not been able to finish. Out of the 10 goals they have given up on the season nine have come in the second half. DF Erik Duenas and FW Kwadwo Opoku are out for this match due to injury, MF Mark-Anthony Kaye is doubtful, and DF Diego Palacios is out due to international duty with the national team from Ecuador.
Great W
Sporting Kansas City was home in their last match where they won 3-1 facing a Colorado Rapids team that came into the contest hot winners of five of six matches. The team had a 3-0 lead giving up the last goal late and, in the win, Daniel Salloi tickled the twine twice in the first half and Felipe Hernandez scored in the second half. In the solid win KC won the time of possession battle (56% to 44%), outshot the Rapids 14-9, and doubled them up on shots on target (6-3).
Salloi ranks tied for second in the MLS with six goals and he has been in top form as of late with three goals to go with an assist in the last three matches. Alan Pulido and Gadi Kinda have combined for eight goals and Salloi and Johnny Russell are tied for the Sporting lead with three assists apiece. DF Graham Zusi and NF Gadi Kinda are both listed as doubtful for this match due to injury.
Side: Sporting KC +125
Sporting Kansas City is unbeaten and home this season and LAFC is winless in their three road matches. Do not look for those trends to end in this match. KC is a great attacking squad but that leaves them vulnerable to the counterattack, but LAFC is not very good on the counter. They seem to let down in the second half giving up nine of their 10 goals on the season in the closing 45 minutes. Look for Sporting to keep up their solid play at home and take it to LAFC getting the win behind a solid all-around effort.
Total:Over 2.5 goals
I am leaning towards the Over in this match, as KC is the highest-scoring team in the league but they have given up 14 goals. LAFC scored two goals in their last match and kept a clean sheet, which they will not be able to do in this match. Three of the last four matches for KC have gone Over 2.5 goals and that will happen again in this Western Conference matchup. Sporting will score multiple goals but they will not keep a clean sheet and because of that the Under .25 goals is the solid pick for this Saturday match.
Over 2.5 goals