Sporting Kansas City vs. Minnesota United Prediction, Preview and Odds - 8/21/21
Sporting Kansas City plays host to Minnesota United on Saturday afternoon from Allianz Field in Minnesota, in a crucial Western Conference tilt between two teams that are likely to find themselves in the MLS Cup Playoffs. These two teams are yet to face each other this season but did see each other four times during the 2020 season. Across those four games, the teams split the series with two wins each. Sporting Kansas City sits in second place in the Western Conference, a single point behind the Seattle Sounders. They are eleven points ahead of Minnesota, who sit in sixth place and are fighting for their safety come playoff time. This series has become one of the league’s brightest rivalries and promises to be that way over the course of 90 minutes on Saturday with so much to play for on both sides. Sporting knows that three points can help them jump into the top spot in the conference standings, while Minnesota knows that three points can help them separate themselves from the fray in the close standings. Fans are sure to see an exciting game when these two rivals take the field.
Minnesota Looks To Separate Themselves
Minnesota United has slowly built itself over the years from one of the worst teams in Major League Soccer to a team with high expectations for themselves. During the week they went on the road to snag a draw against San Jose after Will Trapp’s 22nd-minute goal. A San Jose red card and Minnesota playing nearly 70 minutes a man up still wasn’t enough for Minnesota to take anything more than a point. The game prior they dropped a home matchup against the Galaxy and it’s been over two weeks since Minnesota last grabbed a win, at home against Houston. Minnesota sits in sixth place, three points ahead of Portland and four points ahead of LAFC and San Jose, who sit in eighth and ninth place and outside the current playoff rankings. With 27 points in 19 games and a minus-one goal differential, Minnesota is well aware of the opportunity at hand to take down someone ahead of them in the standings and widen the gap between those teams behind them in the playoff race.
Minnesota continues to struggle to get over the injury bug, and according to the league’s availability report, will be without four players for Saturday afternoon’s matchup. Franco Fragapane (thigh), Nike Hansen (hamstring), Robin Lod (leg), and Jacori Hayes (hamstring), are all expected to be out for the Sporting Kansas City matchup. Lod is a critical absence, as the team’s attacking leader. He leads the team with six goals and is tied for the team-lead with three assists and without his creativity, it’s a concern to see where United turns to. Hansen has added a goal and an assist on the season, while Fragapane has two goals and three assists himself. That means that United will be without nine goals and seven assists, which will be difficult to replicate on such short notice after their midweek matchup and travel back to the midwest.
The pressure is going to be on Hassani Dotson, Emanuel Reynoso, Brent Kallman, and Adrien Hunou to create chances on the offensive side of things. With multiple attacking threats missing Saturday’s game, it might be the defensive effort that helps Minnesota get the most out of the matchup. Tyler Miller remains an elite goalkeeper, and while the backline is somewhat inexperienced, they at least have been able to play together consistently of late. Fans should keep an eye on Chase Gaspar, as the defender is a leader on both sides of the thing due to his ability to also get forward into the attack.
SKC Looks To Extend Unbeaten Streak
Sporting Kansas City continues to flirt with the top spot in the Western Conference standings and bring an unbeaten streak in from their last four MLS games. They did drop their Leagues Cup quarterfinal to Leon 6-1 and, but it hasn’t seemed to impact their MLS form, especially of late. A 1-1 home draw the last time out wasn’t ideal but Sporting will take it given that it took a Daniel Salloi 91st minute goal to pull off the draw. Prior to that, Sporting went on the road to take down Dallas 2-0 and LAFC 4-1, with a 0-0 road draw against Colorado sandwiched in between. Sporting Kansas City sits on 38 points in 20 games, second place, and three points ahead of LA Galaxy. Their plus-fifteen goal differential is impressive as well and they’ll have confidence and momentum on their side. On issue is the travel but only having to head north a couple of hours won’t be the most difficult trip the team has one the season, but not an ideal one nonetheless.
Sporting will be without three players for sure on Saturday afternoon with another key player questionable. Felipe Hernandez (personal reasons), Jaylin Lindsey (hamstring), and Nicolas Isimal-Minn (hamstring), all will be out for the weekend, while Khiry Shelton (abdomen), might be able to give it a go. Shelton and Lindsey have combined for three goals and two assists, while Hernandez has added two assists just on his own. Isimal-Minn has only appeared in eight games but even his inability to see the field will impact Sporting’s depth.
Daniel Salloi has been one of the league’s most dynamic scorers on the season and his health is paramount to the team’s success. He has 12 goals and five assists to lead the team in both categories and will be a pest to Minnesota all afternoon long. Alan Pulido has added eight goals, helping create one of the league’s best one-two punches. Going under the radar is Johnny Russell, who scored three goals and added four assists, and his ability to come off the bench has been crucial to Kansas City’s success. The defense is still a work in progress but with an attack as deadly as Kansas City’s is, it might not matter how many goals they allow.
Pick: Sporting KC (+220)
Sporting Kansas City will have their work cut out for them heading on the road to Minnesota but at least have the upper hand in terms of availability. Minnesota will struggle to find offense with Lod out in addition to two of their top attacking midfielders. Even at home, that can be a recipe for disaster for a team looking to take down one of the league’s elites. Sporting Kansas City on the other hand has some injuries to deal with as well but still brings in their top two forwards, who have combined for 20 goals and will make life difficult for Minnesota on Saturday afternoon. As one of the weekend’s most exciting games, fans will be in for a back and forth affair that allows them to see two playoff teams face off against each other, though Kansas City has too many weapons to not come out on top on the road.
Pick: Under
Minnesota’s injuries will catch up to them on Saturday afternoon and with most of their key attacking threats out with injuries, it’s going to be difficult for them to get much offense going against their conference rival. Sporting Kansas City brings in plenty of offensive prowess but going on the road in the league will always diminish what they’re capable of somewhat. Minnesota hasn’t seen more than three goals combined scored in their last three games overall and in their last four home games. For Sporting Kansas City, they haven’t seen more than three goals scored in their last three games and that won’t change on Saturday afternoon.
