Sporting KC v New England Revolution: Preview, Predictions & How to Watch

Sporting KC @ New England Revolution

When: Saturday, April 22, 2023 at 6:30 PM CT (6:39 kickoff)

Where: Gillette Stadium

How to Watch/Stream: Apple MLS Season Pass (FREE)

What can be said that hasn’t already been said. Last week, community member Jeffrey Jarchow (J.Wm in the comments) asked if Sporting Kansas City were rotten at the core. Something is most certainly wrong with the club. His list seems like a good jumping off point.

But let’s start by updating the (brutal) numbers. Eight games and zero wins. Two goals, which is the worst in MLS history through eight games.

2 – Sporting Kansas City's 2 goals through 8 matches are the fewest at this stage of a season in MLS history. No team had scored fewer than 4 times at this stage of a season before. Drought. pic.twitter.com/6GTrPZU4y4

— OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) April 16, 2023

That has left Sporting KC dead last in the Western Conference and the entire league. They sit even on points with the LA Galaxy (who have played one less game) and CF Montreal (who have a win). Montreal actually comes to KC after this week, so that’ll be interesting.

This weekend finds Kansas City on the road for the sixth time in their first nine games (that’s some rough scheduling). Teams historically do better at home (obviously not this year in KC’s case), so maybe in the remaining 26 games has room for improvement. It can’t get much worse.

The New England Revolution are flying high on the other hand. They are in first place in the Eastern Conference, ahead of FC Cincinnati on goal differential, with 17 points through eight games. The only positive for KC is the red card suspension of Dylan Borrero, who is tied for the team lead in goals (with three other guys). The team lead, two goals, has been scored by four different Revolution players, while KC’s whole team has just two goals. It’s just insane to think about.

New England’s Recent Form

• March 18th vs. Nashville SC – 1-0 Win
• March 25th @ D.C. United – 2-1 Win
• April 1st vs New York City FC – 1-1 Draw
• April 8th vs CF Montreal – 4-0 Win
• April 15th @ Columbus Crew – 1-1 Draw

If you go back a 6th game, the Revs were pounded 4-0 by defending MLS Cup Champions LAFC on the road. But outside of that, they’ve looked pretty good. This comes after a down 2022 season where they missed the playoffs.

What’s New in New England for 2023?

The Revs haven’t dramatically turned over their roster between seasons, but they made some shrewd moves to sure up depth after a tough season of injuries last year (sounds familiar…).

IN: The team traded for MLS (and Sporting KC veteran) Latif Blessing from LAFC (we still miss you Latif) as well as center back Dave Romney from Nashville. They picked up Real Salt Lake castoff and former USMNT striker Bobby Wood via the Re-Entry Draft. They also added two homegrowns (Santiago Suarez and Jack Panayotou) and drafted midfielder Joshua Bolma on a Generation adidas deal.

The team also added recently jettisoned Sporting KC left back Ben Sweat to their roster. Our friends at The Blazing Musket have more. You just know he’s going to sub in and score.

OUT: Both former backup goalkeepers are gone in Clement Diop and Brad Knighton. The team declined contract options on midfielder Wilfrid Kaptoum and forward Ismael Tajouri-Shradi and MLS veteran A.J. DeLaGarza was out of contract.

Injury Report

Injury reports updated on 4/20/23.

Sporting KC:

Sporting KC Injury Updates & Lineup Predictions v New England

New England:

Here’s the latest #NERevs availability report pic.twitter.com/PmcqiJkQmh

— Seth (@SethMan31) April 19, 2023

Stats

Sporting KC

Goals: Daniel Salloi, Willy Agada (1)

Assists: None

New England

Goals: Dylan Borrero, Gustavo Bou, Carles Gil, Bobby Wood (2), four with one (1)

Assists: Gil (3), Dejuan Jones, Wood (2), five with one (1)

Predictions

The Revolution have the fourth best home record in the league behind the San Jose Earthquakes and tied for second LAFC and Cincy. 10 points through four games with just a single draw interrupting their wins. KC actually don’t have the worst road record with two points (ugh!) through five games (with a handful of teams worse than that). They are one of just two teams who have five road games already (Colorado Rapids being the other, who have five points, three off of KC).

I’m in the same boat I’ve been in recently. I just can’t pick KC to win a game until they show me something. ANYTHING! Frankly, I can’t even pick a draw (we’ll see if I change my mind in the Wooden Spoon battle next week).

The team seemingly has talented players. It’s insane to think the team that was 2nd best in the league at the end of last year down the stretch (ironically behind the now worst CF Montreal) has forgotten how to play soccer. You see it in their passing patterns. They play out of tight situations and interchange so well. Then they get near the final third and take forever, play slow and become the most indecisive team.

Stop overthinking and just play! 26 games to go. Might as well start doing something now, before it’s too late.

PREDICTION: 2-0 SKC Loss