St. Louis City vs. Sporting KC: Preview, Predictions, News

As the MLS playoffs ramp up, an intriguing matchup is set for Thursday night between St Louis City and Sporting Kansas City. Both teams find themselves fighting for a better position in the Western Conference, and a win in this fixture could play a pivotal role in shaping their playoff aspirations.

Current Standings and Context

Heading into this clash, St Louis City sits precariously in 13th place, while Sporting Kansas City occupies 12th. Both teams experienced disappointing results in their last outings, contributing to their respective positions in the standings. St Louis City, in particular, has struggled lately, failing to secure a win in their previous eight matches, a stark contrast to their promising start to the season.

Recent Form

St Louis City began the season with a glimmer of hope, showcasing an unbeaten streak of four games. However, their form has dipped, and since March 22, they’ve managed just two draws and six losses. Their recent matches included narrow defeats against Seattle Sounders and San Diego, leaving them six points adrift of the playoff spots. An encouraging statistic for St Louis is their defensive solidity at Energizer Park, where they have only conceded five goals in six home games.

On the other hand, Sporting Kansas City has seen a remarkable resurgence, shaking off a rough start where they went five games without a victory. With three wins in their last six encounters, including an exhilarating 5-3 triumph over San Jose Earthquakes, they have reestablished themselves in playoff contention. The interim head coach Kerry Zavagnin has catalyzed this turnaround, earning vital points as he looks to secure the permanent role.

Team News

For St Louis City, coach Olof Mellberg may opt to keep a consistent lineup following their last game where they held off conceding until the late stages. Simon Becher is a potential inclusion in the attack, bringing some fresh legs alongside Joao Klauss, both of whom have struggled for goals this season.

Conversely, Sporting Kansas City could see Jake Davis serving a suspension due to accumulating yellow cards. This may pave the way for Zorhan Bassong to step in, ensuring their midfield has the necessary energy to control the game.

Here’s how both teams might line up:

St Louis City possible starting lineup:
Lundt; Hiebert, Yaro, Baumgartl; Watts, Ostrak, Wallem, Horn; Teuchert, Becher, Hartel

Sporting Kansas City possible starting lineup:
Pulskamp; Brody, Miller, Voloder, Leibold; Garcia, Bassong, Radoja; Suleymanov, Joveljic, Salloi

Match Predictions

Given the recent resurgence of Sporting Kansas City, many might lean towards an away victory in this tightly contested fixture. However, the home advantage for St Louis could catalyze a more spirited performance, leading to a potential stalemate. A predicted scoreline of 1-1 seems plausible, reflecting both teams’ current form and their quest for crucial points in the playoff race.

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