Busy Schedule Continues

Sporting KC continue this hectic part of their season tomorrow night when they return to MLS action against the Chicago Fire on NBC Sports.  KC is playing their 5th game in 14 days when the Fire come into Livestrong Sporting Park.  The legs will continue to get heavy for KC as they're still playing twice weekly for a few more weeks for KC.

The Fire come into the game on the back of two straight wins against Eastern Conference opposition, beating the New York Red Bulls and Columbus Crew the past two weeks.  Chris Rolfe appears to be finally returning to fitness after signing with the club late in the preseason.  Him up top with leading scorer, Dominic Oduro will be a handful for Kansas City's defense.  In good news for KC, Sebastian Grazzini is set to miss the game tomorrow.

Kansas City's injury issues continue to mount for Sporting.  Matt Besler, who just returned from his appendectomy, has already been ruled out as a starter for the game tomorrow night.  Combine that with Aurelien Collin being listed as doubtful on Tuesday's injury report and KC could be looking at starting their 3rd and 4th string center backs against a potential Rolfe/Oduro front line.  KC could see Lawrence Olum paired with either Konrad Warzycha or Julio Cesar (with Michael Thomas or Peterson Joseph sliding into Cesar's midfield slot).  This could be a major problem for KC as that back line seems slow and unable to cope with the potential forward line that the Fire would throw out.  I think that Collin some how finds a way to tough through this one to avoid that back line though.

Nielsen

Myers - Collin - Olum - Sinovic

Cesar - Espinoza

Zusi

Kamara - Bunbury - Sapong

Number to Remember - 5 - The number of times that KC has played Chicago at home since their last win in KC vs the Fire.  KC is 0-1-4 during that stretch, scoring 3 goals while conceding 5 in that stretch.

Key Match Up - Sporting Center Backs vs Dominic Oduro - Oduro caused KC plenty of trouble in their meeting in Chicago, winning the PK that tied the game and scored the winner.  His speed caused KC plenty of issues and whoever ends up in the middle for KC will have their hands full.

PREDICTION - A win by Sporting KC would see them into first place in the Eastern Conference, at least temporarily.  A loss and Chicago begins to creep even closer to KC in the standings.  KC has the fire power up top to take this game to KC, but the big question could be how much of a role that Rolfe plays in the game.  Luckily for KC, Michael Kennedy isn't refereeing this game so blowing a PK call may at least be off the table.

SKC - 2 (Kamara, Bunbury)
CHI - 1 (Oduro)