- Vancouver is 0-6 on the road this season, outscored 16-4
- Sporting KC has just one win in their last nine MLS games
- Sporting KC is 6-2-2- in the last 10 games against Vancouver
The bottom two teams in the Western Conference face off this weekend in MLS action as Sporting KC hosts Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Both teams are coming off cup wins during the week and look to take that momentum into the weekend.
A win on Saturday could lift either team to as high as 11th place out of 14 in the West, and SKC can get within two points of a playoff spot depending on other results around the league.
Both squads have been decimated by injuries this season, and the Whitecaps have also battled through COVID issues in May. While neither team has played well in MLS games over the last month, they have both picked up two wins in their cup competitions in recent weeks.
Vancouver advanced to the Canadian Championship semifinals with their win this week, while SKC is now in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals. The trick is replicating that success in MLS action, which neither team has done over their first three months of action.
Sporting KC vs Whitecaps Odds
Looking at the MLS odds, for our MLS predictions, Sporting KC is a solid favorite at home with -135 odds to take all three points. The Whitecaps are +370 to win, and a draw is +285.
Over 2.5 goals is -115 with under 2.5 goals at +100. SKC’s Daniel Salloi is the favorite to score at +160, with Johnny Russell at +170. Lucas Cavallini is the top Whitecaps option at +280. Both teams to score are listed at -125.
Sporting KC vs Whitecaps Information
- MLS Week 14
- Location; Children’s Mercy Park – Kansas City
- Time: Saturday, May 28 – 9:00 p.m. ET
- Watch: ESPN+
Sporting KC vs Whitecaps Betting Picks
Vancouver Whitecaps On the Skids
The Whitecaps are 0-6 on the road this season, outscored 16-4 in those games. They did pick up a road win on penalties in the Canadian Championship quarterfinals on Wednesday. A loss on Saturday would make the Whitecaps the seventh team in MLS history to lose their first seven road games.
The Whitecaps roster is decimated right now by both injuries and health protocols. They were down to 17-year-old goalkeeper Max Anchor last week at Charlotte, a 1-1 loss. Vancouver has scored 13 goals on the season in MLS games, led by striker Lucas Cavallini with three.
The Whitecaps have used five different formations this season, trying to find the right mix. They played a 3-4-3 at Charlotte and used a 3-4-1-2 in the Canadian Championships midweek. The goal at Charlotte was scored in the second minute by 34-year-old Tosaint Ricketts in his first start of the season.
- Vancouver Whitecaps Projected Lineup: Goalkeeper Cody Cropper. Defense: Javian Brown, Ranko Veselinovic, Cristian Gutierrez. Midfield: Cristian Dalome, Sebastian Berhalter, Russell Teibert, Ryan Raposo. Forwards: Ryan Gauld, Deiber Caicedo, Lucas Cavallini
- Vancouver Whitecap Injuries: Starting keeper Thomas Hasal (finger) is out, while defenders Jake Nerwinksi and Tristan Blackmon, and Ben White have missed the last two games
Sporting KC Looking for Momentum
Sporting KC has played great in the U.S. Open Cup but has been unable to find that magic in MLS games lately.
They have one win in the last nine MLS games and a -12 goal differential, thanks to a 7-2 loss at Portland Timbers on May 14. SKC beat FC Dallas 4-2 in the U.S. Open Cup fourth round and knocked off Houston Dynamo 2-1 on Tuesday to reach the quarterfinals.
Sporting KC is 3-2-1 at home in MLS action this season, including a 2-1 win over Colorado Rapids on May 18. The usual formation for Peter Vermes has been a 4-3-3, but he used a 4-2-3-1 in the win over Houston in the U.S. Open Cup.
No matter the formation, the key players in attack are captain Johnny Russell and Daniel Salloi. Both have four goals in MLS games this season, and Russell scored both goals in the U.S Open Cup win over Houston.
Midfielder Felipe Hernandez leads the way with three assists. MLS stats show that Tim Melia has started all 14 games in goal, allowing 25 goals and making 29 saves with four clean sheets
- Sporting KC Projected Lineup: Goalkeeper: Tim Melia. Defenders: Ben Sweat, Kortne Ford, Logan Ndembe, Robert Volorer. Midfield: Remi Walter, Felipe Hernandez, Oriol Rosell. Forwards: Johnny Russell, Daniel Salloi, Cameron Duke.
- Sporting KC injuries: Designated Players Alan Pulido and Gadi Kinda are out for the season with injuries, while Nicolas Isimat-Mirin is still out with a head injury. Graham Zusi (thigh) has missed the last four MLS games.
Sporting KC vs Whitecaps Betting Prediction
In the first matchup this season, Vancouver picked up a 1-0 home win over SKC on April 2. Sporting knocked Vancouver from the 2021 MLS Cup playoffs with a 3-1 home win, and Vancouver hasn’t left KC with a win since 2017.
Both teams struggle to score, and the draw value is too good to pass up.
This one could easily finish 1-1, so that’s the pick.
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