Sporting Kansas City hits the street this weekend to take on longtime rivals Real Salt Lake at America First Field on Saturday night time. Kickoff is ready for 8:30 p.m. CT and shall be accessible to stream on MLS Season Pass, whereas the sport can even be broadcast domestically on the radio through Sports Radio 810 WHB.
Sporting Kansas City will look to bounce again rapidly from the group’s irritating 2-1 defeat to Austin FC at Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday when the group heads West to take on Real Salt Lake at America First Field on Saturday night time.
Following the loss to Austin final weekend, Sporting lastly closed out a stretch of schedule that noticed the group play 9 straight video games towards groups presently above the playoff line. Sporting’s match this weekend on the street versus Eleventh-place Real Salt Lake is the membership’s first match towards a group under the playoff line since internet hosting RSL at Children’s Mercy Park on June 28, 2025.
Last Sunday’s loss to Austin put one other dent in Sporting’s playoff hopes because the group sits eight factors out of the ninth and ultimate postseason spot with simply 5 video games remaining within the membership’s regular-season schedule – two towards high Western Conference sides (Vancouver, Minnesota) and three towards groups presently under the playoff line (Salt Lake, LA Galaxy, Houston).
Sporting can’t be eradicated from postseason rivalry this weekend, although the 2 groups under the membership within the standings – LA Galaxy and St. Louis – are each susceptible to seeing their playoff hopes completely curtailed ought to outcomes not go their method this weekend.
2. LOOKING TO RALLY AT REAL SALT LAKE
Sporting Kansas City hits the street this weekend to take on longtime rivals Real Salt Lake at America First Field in Sandy, Utah on Saturday night time.
Sporting and RSL have already renewed acquaintances this season, with the 2 groups taking part in out a good 1-1 draw at Children’s Mercy Park on June 28, 2025. After Sporting nice Johnny Russell opened the scoring for his new membership with a thunderous header within the first half, Sporting responded halfway by way of the second interval when Erik Thommy’s effort from the sting of the world took a slight deflection earlier than nestling into the nook of the web to restore parity.
Sporting final visited America First Field properly over a 12 months in the past on May 4, 2024. In a comparatively uneventful night time, the hosts claimed all three factors late on when Chicho Arango headed residence a free kick within the 81st minute for the one purpose of the sport.
Sporting has gained simply 5 of their final 25 matches towards Real Salt Lake and presently trails the all-time regular-season collection 13-18-10, together with a 5-12-3 mark on the street – though Sporting did famously win a late-season encounter in Utah by a 3-2 scoreline two years in the past on Oct. 7, 2023 that helped lead the group to a postseason berth.
3. JOVELJIC CONTINUES EXCELLENT SEASON
Sporting Kansas City ahead Dejan Joveljic continued his advantageous type in entrance of purpose this previous weekend, scoring his fourth purpose in his final 4 video games within the membership’s 2-1 defeat to Austin FC at Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday night time.
Joveljic now has a team-leading 17 objectives this season, the third most in MLS and third most in a single common season in membership historical past – solely trailing Dom Dwyer’s 22 in 2014 and Preki’s 18 in 1996.
Joveljic, whose 38 MLS objectives for the reason that begin of 2024 are second most within the league behind Lionel Messi (39), has 5 penalty kick objectives this season – sixth most in membership historical past and third most by an Sporting participant in a single common season.
The Serbian has eight mixed purpose contributions (5 objectives, three assists) in his final six appearances towards Austin FC, together with purpose contributions in 4 straight seasons towards Austin FC. His 17 objectives are probably the most by a Kansas City newcomer since Preki scored 18 within the membership’s inaugural 1996 marketing campaign.
Sporting Kansas City midfielder Erik Thommy made his long-anticipated return this previous weekend, taking part in the ultimate 14 minutes of the membership’s 2-1 loss to Austin FC at Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday night time.
After lacking six matches with a hip harm from July 12 by way of Aug. 24, Thommy initially returned to the bench however didn’t seem within the group’s 4-2 victory over the Colorado Rapids on Aug. 30. His return to the fold comes at a welcome time with simply 5 matches remaining within the common season.
Prior to his harm, the German playmaker was hitting high type – having tallied in back-to-back video games earlier this summer time. After scoring a significant equalizer within the 1-1 draw towards Real Salt Lake at Children’s Mercy Park on June 28, Thommy produced a game-winning efficiency within the 2-1 street win over the Colorado Rapids on July 4, tallying an help on Dejan Joveljic’s opener earlier than scoring a shocking solo purpose to seal the factors within the second half earlier than being sidelined for nearly two months.
5. BASSONG & JAMES REPRESENT NATIONAL TEAMS
Sporting Kansas City midfielder Zorhan Bassong and defender Ian James each missed Sunday’s 2-1 defeat towards Austin FC whereas on worldwide responsibility with their respective nations.
Bassong joined the Canada National Team for 2 pleasant matches through the FIFA worldwide window in September. Bassong earned his sixth cap instead within the 3-0 win over Romania on Sept. 5 at Arena Națională earlier than serving as an unused sub within the 1-0 victory over Wales on Sept. 9 at Swansea.com Stadium.
James was chosen to the U.S. U-17 National Team for a coaching camp from Sept. 1-8 in Noordwijk, Netherlands. Led by head coach Gonzalo Segares, the U.S. U-17s confronted the Netherlands U-17s in a pair of friendlies on Sept. 5 and Sept. 8 at Gemeentelijk Sportpark SJC, with James showing in each matches.