Betting-Previews.com looks at a Major League Soccer (MLS) match between Los Angeles FC and Sporting Kansas City. They will cross swords on Friday, September 3, at Banc of California Stadium, for the first time since August, when Sporting Kansas City win 4-1.
Los Angeles FC vs Sporting Kansas City
When: Friday, September 3 – 19:00 PDT
Where: Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, California
Weather: Sunny, 24°C
Los Angeles FC and Sporting Kansas City last met at the start of August in Los Angeles, when Sporting Kansas City won with 4-1. It marked their second consecutive head-to-head win against LAFC and their third across their last five meetings.
The hosts have not shown any improvement since and enter this match with a 0-1-4 record from their last five, having managed only one point since that devastating loss. On the other side, Kansas have not dropped a single MLS game since they met with LAFC and will look to keep their run alive as they take on the struggling side.
Sporting Kansas City Hoping For Another Three Points
Sporting Kansas City crushed Los Angeles FC last time out. They won the match 4-1 with only nine goal attempts (5/9) and 45% ball possession. Much of their success on the day was thanks to Daniel Salloi, who scored the third goal and assisted with the second.
Unfortunately, KC will be without their leading goalscorer tonight, as he was called up to play for Hungary in their World Cup 2022 qualifiers against England. What’s more, KC will also be without Gadi Kinda, who is with the Israeli squad, as well as Felipe Hernandez, Jaylin Lindsey and Nicolas Isimat-Miri, who are out due to personal reasons and hamstring injuries respectively.
Regardless, Sporting Kansas City have been in great form of late. Although they have managed only one win in their last five – against FC Dallas (2-0) – they also haven’t suffered a single loss over that stretch.
Most importantly, Sporting Kansas City are unbeaten in their last five road games (4-1-0). That stretch includes wins against Seattle Sounders (3-1), LAFC (4-1), and FC Dallas (2-0), and two draws against Colorado Rapids (0-0) and Minnesota United (0-0).
Tim Melia has not conceded a single goal in his last three road games, which isn’t too surprising considering he is one of the top MLS goalkeepers, with an average of only 0.88 goals per game.
Los Angeles FC Looking to Build On the Momentum
Los Angeles FC forced a 3-3 draw against Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday when they secured their first point since July when they played a 2-2 draw against Minnesota United at home. Brian Rodriguez put up a masterful performance on the day, with two goals in 58’ and 66’, setting his side up for success; however, LAFC let their foot off the gas in the final minutes and conceded in 86’.
Unfortunately, Los Angeles FC won’t be able to count on Rodriguez tonight since he is with Uruguay, attending the World Cup 2022 qualifiers. Diego Palacios will also miss tonight’s match.
Other than that, Los Angeles FC will also be without the recently signed Julian Gaines, who is out with an injury, and their leading goalscorer Diego Rossi, who has been loaned out to Fenerbahce. Erik Duenas, Eddie Segura, Kwadwo Opoku, Carlos Vela, and Alvaro Quezada are out with an injury, while Mohamed Traore remains questionable.
In total, Los Angeles FC will miss nine players.
In regards to their home record, Los Angeles FC are one of the worst home teams in the Western Conference, having managed only 17 points from 11 home games (4-5-2). Although they’re still ahead of Austin FC (3-2-5), San Jose Earthquakes (3-3-4) and Houston Dynamo (3-5-2), they are the only team – besides Dynamo – without a single win in their last four home fixtures.
Sporting Kansas City vs Los Angeles FC Betting Pick
While Los Angeles FC are one of the worst home sides in the Western Division, Sporting Kansas City are the second-best travellers with a 6-2-3 record on the road and 20 points from 11 games. What’s more, KC are unbeaten in their last six road games (4-2-0).
That, combined with the fact that LAFC are just not good and lack the depth of Sporting Kansas City are two good reasons why we like the visitors more for tonight’s affair.
Prediction: Sporting Kansas City +0.50 Asian Handicap – 1.90 at Sportmarket
