Sporting KC vs. FC Dallas: MLS Matchday #6 Preview and Prediction

Is this what rock bottom feels like? Sporting Kansas City just two weeks ago gave the fans some hope after coming back from a 3-0 deficit, but then LAFC came to town and left with a 2-0 win over Sporting KC. Increasing SKC’s winless streak to 12. 

History Between the Clubs 

When it comes to soccer, or world football, it is the historic battles that create the best atmospheres and narratives for the match. That’s exactly what’s going down this Saturday at 7:30 CT, as two of Lamar Hunts original MLS clubs go toe-to-toe in a Western Conference Regular Season match-up. 

FC Dallas and Sporting KC have little to no separation in the series history with SKC winning 36 of the matchups to FC Dallas 32 win, with 14 draws between the two. But it was FC Dallas who finished off Sporting KC’s season after falling to SKC twice earlier in the season. Wait! SKC took two of the three last season, which could be a sign of hope for Sporting. 

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves on the fact that SKC beat FC Dallas twice last year, as the two victories came at Children’s Mercy Park, once in the MLS Regular Season, the other was US Open Cup Quarter Finals. The one loss came in Dallas, as goals came for Dallas in the 16th minute by Musa and in 89th minute by Willy Agada for SKC. But in a season where nothing went right, SKC lost in the most SKC fashion through an own goal by defender Joaquin Fernández. 

What Will It take for an SKC Win?

By no means has Sporting KC been overall good, but they have shown flashes of what they can do in attack when creating chances. What is it going to take for SKC to leave Dallas with at least a second point this weekend? Well first it is noteworthy to talk about FC Dallas struggling at home this season through five games they sit 0-2-0. Maybe that provides some hope for SKC. 

Looking at these teams past match ups, the team to score first in all three games last year won, so SKC will need to most likely score first and try to protect the league. The only problem there was SKC has led only once this season against D.C. United and it was for less than 10 minutes, as the SKC backline has struggled all year. 

The second problem with scoring first is SKC has just one first half goal all year being a PK scored by Dejan Joveljic against San Jose. The Quakes were already up two goals by that point of the match. Meaning SKC is going to have to find a way to get goals early and often. 

The third problem is Erik Thommy is still on the wing, meaning Daniel Salloi is on the bench. Salloi has looked dangerous when he been on the field and fits with Dejan who thrives off getting the ball inside the 18-yard box. While Salloi had a rough 2024, with a slow start to 2025, he was the one to bring life to the team in the comeback two weeks ago. He has earned the opportunity to start against Dallas. As Thommy performances have been less than good, it might be time to end this experiment and for him to return to the midfield as a no. 8 next to Manu Garcia. 

Line-up and Predictions: 

As referenced above it might be time for the Thommy experiment on the wing to be over if Sporting KC wants to walkout with a victory on Saturday.

Here are my predictions/opinion on the starting line-ups: in goal will be John Pulskamp, the backline will be Davis, Fernandez, Miller, and should be Ndenbe, but will most likely be Leibold to round out the backline. If Rosero is healthy he would not be shocked to see him starting, but Peter Vermes had high praise for Miller last time out.

The midfield will be Radoja at the 6, Bassong at the 8/6 but wouldn’t mind seeing Thommy as the 8, with Manu at the 10. The front three should be Salloi, Dejan, Shapi, but the most SKC thing will be Thommy instead of Salloi. This line-up will have its hands full with creating in the middle third, as Manu has been the only real bright spot, but the front three must apply goals. 

For FC Dallas it will be a different squad than what SKC saw last year with the exits of Paul Arriola and Jesus Ferreira who fronted their attack this time last year. Having not played since last weekend, FC Dallas will most likely run out the same 11 who saw a 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake on the road.  

Between the posts will be Collodi with the backline of Moore, Ibeagha, Urhoghide, Farfan. With the midfield of Ramiro, Lletget, and their biggest signing of the winter former MVP Luciano Acosta. Their front three will be Chu, Delgado, and Musa at the 9 who have combined for two goals all off of which have come from Musa. 

Looking at the projected line-ups SKC midfield is going to have their hands full with Acosta, but after that the front three will be an interesting match-up against SKC’s backline. With Sporting KC’s defense having no shutouts they will take a matchup against a front three who have only broken through twice this year. For SKC’s front three they will face a defense that last time out saw their first shut out. If Sporting KC can create opportunities and get Dejan touches in the 18, they might find themselves with success.  

My prediction for this match up will be SKC will break through early with a goal from Dejan Joveljic, but Lucho Acosta will equalize before half. The game will be decided by a late winner by Daniel Salloi who has eight goals in 16 appearances against FC Dallas. Making it the first time since September 18, 2024, SKC will walk away with three points and a win. 

Final Score: SKC 2 to FC Dallas 1