Feels Like We Just Did This

This schedule for Sporting KC is just crazy, the continue to have 2 games a week and will through about mid August, especially if they make the US Open Cup final in August.  Tomorrow they continue with a game on the 4th of July in Canada against the Montreal Impact in KC's first trip to the Canadian city. 

The Impact are coming into the game a bit desperate.  In their past two games, Montreal has been outscored by a total of 6-0 in the past week.  They lost 3-0 at home to bottom of the league Toronto on Wednesday and then lost this past weekend in DC against United.  The Impact have been in the news a lot the past day or so for their interest in bringing in Alessandro Nesta as yet another Italian on the team.  They already have a few Italians on their team, including Marco Di Vaio.  Another Italian, Bernardo Corradi is out with a torn ACL and will be out for the rest of the season.  And like KC's last game against the Impact, they're having a bit of injury issues with their center backs, as Italian Matteo Ferrari is out on the last injury report as is Colombian, Nelson Rivas.  That means that Hassoun Camara and Shavar Thomas could start at center back for the Impact.

Kansas City comes into the game desperate to get some points.  They've gotten one point out of their last 3 league games, and haven't scored a goal since the 8th minute against Seattle 3 games ago.  Not only is KC struggling to score in the game, they're really struggling to score in the second half.  KC hasn't scored in the second half since they played in Vancouver in April.  That's a span of 430 minutes since Kei Kamara scored against the Whitecaps that Sporting has gone without scoring a goal after half time.  KC's game plan has been to get a goal early, and when KC has failed to do that, they have struggled to get a goal at all.  That same strategy will likely stay in effect tomorrow night in Montreal.  With another game at home this weekend vs Houston and an Open Cup game coming up next Wednesday in Philadelphia, KC could look to rest a few key starters ahead of the semifinal of the Open Cup.  Lawrence Olum is out with a groin strain, meaning that if Matt Besler isn't ready to go, Konrad Warzycha will get the start next to Aurelien Collin at center back.  I'd expect Besler to start this game though along with Collin.

Nielsen

Myers - Collin - Besler - Sinovic

Cesar - Espinoza

Zusi

Kamara - Bunbury - Sapong

Number to Remember - 262 - The number of minutes that Sporting KC has played since Jacob Peterson scored his volley against the Sounders.  Since then, KC has had 55 shots, none going into the net.

Key Match Up - Aurelien Collin vs Marco Di Vaio - Montreal's designated player Di Vaio has only played 2 games so far this season, but he's going to be a handful for KC's Frenchman to handle as KC looks to stop Montreal's attack.

PREDICTION - KC is looking for some revenge after losing 2-0 at home to the Impact in their earlier game this season.  But to get revenge, KC needs to do a better job of finishing the opportunities that they get.  That's the key for KC, KC needs to get the offense going again by putting the ball in the net.  KC has had plenty of chances to score, but need to stop making the opposing goalkeeper look like an all star and actually finish those chances.

SKC - 1 (Sapong)
MTL - 1 (Arnaud)