Two clubs in the Eastern Conference of MLS will do battle today in a league match between Sporting Kansas City and the Philadelphia Union. The first-division clash scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET will be held at Sporting Park in Kansas City and can be live streamed here.
If not for two games in hand, the Philadelphia Union would face the real possibility of sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. The club is winless in its last nine matches and must now travel to face the reigning MLS Cup champions in Kansas City. That, however, is a challenge they welcome. Head coach John Hackworth believes a lack of pressure creates an opportunity (h/t to Dave Zeitlin). "We grinded out results last year," Union manager John Hackworth said.
"That hasn't been what we've asked these guys to do [this year], probably to a fault. We've asked them to pressure teams, we've asked them to outplay teams all over the field, move the ball, keep it on the ground, get our short passing game going," he added.
"So it's a little different team, is what I'm trying to get at. And I think we're going to have to steal a little bit of what we did last year and infuse that in this year's team in order to try to rectify the situation."
"It's a good opportunity, because you're playing the best team in the league right now at their home. The pressure comes off of us in that regard, because nobody truly expects us to get a result in Kansas City."
Will Philadelphia be able to rebound in Kansas City? Tell us @SportsWN
Tactical Preview
Player to Watch: Sporting Kansas City's Uri Rossell is rumored to be returning to Europe in the summer transfer window. The former Barcelona youth player is Sporting Lisbon bound according to CNN's John Sinnott.
Sporting Kansas City's Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kronberg ; Sinovic, Besler, Collin Myers; Nagamura, Rosell ; Zusi, Feilhaber, Peterson; Bieler
Philadelphia Union's Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1): MacMath, Gaddis, Berry, Wheeler, Williams; Edu, Okugo; Ribeiro, Nogueira, Maidana; Le Toux
MLS Supporters' Shield Standings
|
# |
Club |
P |
G |
W |
L |
T |
GF |
GA |
D |
|
1 |
Seattle Sounders FC |
22 |
11 |
7 |
3 |
1 |
22 |
19 |
3 |
|
2 |
Real Salt Lake |
20 |
10 |
5 |
0 |
5 |
21 |
12 |
9 |
|
3 |
Sporting Kansas City |
17 |
9 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
14 |
6 |
8 |
|
4 |
New England Revolution |
17 |
10 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
14 |
10 |
4 |
|
5 |
FC Dallas |
16 |
11 |
5 |
5 |
1 |
20 |
19 |
1 |
|
6 |
Vancouver Whitecaps |
16 |
10 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
16 |
12 |
4 |
|
7 |
Colorado Rapids |
15 |
10 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
11 |
12 |
-1 |
|
8 |
D.C. United |
14 |
9 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
13 |
11 |
2 |
|
9 |
Houston Dynamo |
14 |
11 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
15 |
19 |
-4 |
|
10 |
New York Red Bulls |
14 |
11 |
3 |
3 |
5 |
18 |
17 |
1 |
|
11 |
Columbus Crew |
12 |
10 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
10 |
11 |
-1 |
|
12 |
San Jose Earthquakes |
10 |
9 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
10 |
11 |
-1 |
|
13 |
Toronto FC |
9 |
7 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
7 |
9 |
-2 |
|
14 |
LA Galaxy |
9 |
7 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
8 |
6 |
2 |
|
15 |
Chivas USA |
9 |
10 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
12 |
19 |
-7 |
|
16 |
Chicago Fire |
9 |
9 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
17 |
18 |
-1 |
|
17 |
Portland Timbers |
9 |
10 |
1 |
3 |
6 |
13 |
16 |
-3 |
|
18 |
Philadelphia Union |
8 |
11 |
1 |
5 |
5 |
10 |
14 |
-4 |
|
19 |
Montreal Impact |
6 |
9 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
7 |
17 |
-10 |
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