All We Are Saying

KC is back home again when they'll take on the Crew at Livestrong Sporting Park.  Kansas City continues to struggle to find the back of the net.  They've gone 325 minutes without find the back of the net in a league game at home, the second longest streak in team history.  A streak only topped by a streak at the end of the 1998 through the beginning of the 1999 season.  Against a defensive minded Crew side breaking that record wouldn't be shocking.

Since Kansas City went into Columbus Crew Stadium and beat the Crew 2-0 a few weeks ago, the Crew have won both of their games.  They defeated DC United 1-0 at Crew Stadium and won their friendly against Stoke City 2-1 on Wednesday.  Their injury list continues to grow, they lost Bernardo Anor the last time Kansas City played them on a tackle from Kei Kamara.  They have signed a designated player today, signing Federico Higuain from the Argentine first division.  He though won't be available for the game having just signed today.

Sporting's injury issues are fairly low, but they do have two that will affect the starting lineup.  Chance Myers is still listed as being out with a groin strain, meaning that Michael Harrington is likely to replace him in the starting lineup.  The other is Aurelien Collin, who people already expected to miss this game due to his facial fracture suffered in the all star game on Wednesday.  Lawrence Olum would seem the likely replacement for him in defense, although Neven Markovic could be a surprise starter in the game.  Bobby Convey got a short run out against Montpellier and be in the starting lineup again for the second game in a row.

Nielsen

Harrington - Olum - Besler - Sinovic

Nagamura - Zusi

Peterson

Kamara - Sapong - Convey

Number to Remember - 42 - If Kansas City reach the 42nd minute tomorrow without scoring a goal, they will tie the record from the 1998 and 1999 season for the longest stretch in KC history without scoring a goal in their home stadium.

Key Match Up - CJ Sapong vs Chad Marshall - Still one of the league's best center backs in the league, even with his injury issues, he's going to make things hard for Sapong.  But Sapong is going to be just as much a handful for him.  He'll provide a big body to go against Marshall on free kicks.

PREDICTION - KC really needs to get a win from this game, or at least a goal.  They need to end this winless streak at home.  KC's home form lately has been quite poor and turning that around is going to be a need confidence wise, especially ahead of the upcoming US Open Cup final, getting some confidence is a big thing.  Against a very stout Columbus defense, really breaking out of this slump is going to be a struggle, but at this point, just get the win, let's start there, and move from there.

SKC - 1 (Sapong)
CLB - 0