Two clubs in the Eastern Conference of MLS will do battle today in a league match between Sporting Kansas City and Toronto FC. 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 free.
No Ike Opara. No Matt Besler. No Lawrence Olum. The depth at center-back has truly been tested for Sporting Kansas City head coach Peter Vermes, something he admits has been the most trying challenge of his career (h/t to Steve Brisendine on MLS's official website). "It's probably the most challenging thing we've ever faced, short-term," Vermes said.
"I don't know anybody in the league, I don't know any team...I've never experienced it as a player where there's been five, and every guy in that position is unavailable. I've never been in that situation," he added.
"We know that we have a challenge. It's a challenge if we have our center-backs. It's more of a challenge when we don't have our center-backs, but it's part of what we do, and you've got to learn to adapt and adjust."
"It's not always going to work perfectly for you, but I think we've got guys that are up to the challenge."
Will said players be able to live up to the challenge when Toronto FC visit Sporting Park tonight? Tell us @SportsWN
Tactical Preview
Player to Watch: With a lack of depth at the center-back position, Sporting Kansas City are projected to feature in a 3-5-2 and not the 4-3-3 their game has been synonymous with. Anchoring that three-man back line is Chance Myers, the club's featured right-back. The 25-year-old is averaging more than two interceptions and clearances per match this season.
Sporting Kansas City's Projected Lineup (3-5-2): Kronberg; Sinovic, Myers, Ellis; Juliao, Feilhaber, Toni, Nagamura, Joseph; Bieler, Dwyer
Toronto FC's Projected Lineup (4-4-2): Cesar; Morrow, Hagglund, Caldwell, Bloom; Rey, Osorio, Orr, Jackson; Gilberto, Rosario
Standings
|
Rnk |
Team |
MP |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
+/- |
Pts |
|||
|
1 |
New England Revolution |
11 |
6 |
2 |
3 |
19 |
13 |
6 |
20 |
|||
|
2 |
DC United |
11 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
16 |
12 |
4 |
18 |
|||
|
3 |
Sporting Kansas City |
11 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
16 |
10 |
6 |
17 |
|||
|
4 |
Houston Dynamo |
13 |
5 |
2 |
6 |
16 |
21 |
-5 |
17 |
|||
|
5 |
New York Red Bulls |
12 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
18 |
19 |
-1 |
14 |
|||
|
6 |
Columbus Crew |
11 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
13 |
14 |
-1 |
13 |
|||
|
7 |
Chicago Fire |
10 |
2 |
6 |
2 |
19 |
19 |
0 |
12 |
|||
|
8 |
Toronto FC |
8 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
9 |
9 |
0 |
12 |
|||
|
9 |
Philadelphia Union |
13 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
15 |
20 |
-5 |
11 |
|||
|
10 |
Impact Montreal |
10 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
8 |
18 |
-10 |
7 |
|
Rnk |
Team |
MP |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
+/- |
Pts |
|||
|
1 |
Seattle Sounders |
12 |
8 |
1 |
3 |
23 |
19 |
4 |
25 |
|||
|
2 |
Real Salt Lake |
11 |
6 |
5 |
0 |
23 |
13 |
10 |
23 |
|||
|
3 |
FC Dallas |
13 |
5 |
2 |
6 |
22 |
22 |
0 |
17 |
|||
|
4 |
Vancouver Whitecaps |
10 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
16 |
12 |
4 |
16 |
|||
|
5 |
Colorado Rapids |
11 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
12 |
14 |
-2 |
15 |
|||
|
6 |
LA Galaxy |
9 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
10 |
8 |
2 |
12 |
|||
|
7 |
Portland Timbers |
11 |
1 |
7 |
3 |
16 |
19 |
-3 |
10 |
|||
|
8 |
Chivas USA |
11 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
13 |
20 |
-7 |
10 |
|||
|
9 |
San Jose Earthquakes |
10 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
10 |
12 |
-2 |
10 |
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