Sporting KC
Sporting KC v St Louis CITY SC: Preview, Predictions and How to Watch
Injury updates, analysis and other news from Sporting Kansas City’s weekend trip to St. Louis City SC
Sporting KC @ St Louis CITY SC
When: Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 8:30pm CT (8:55 kickoff)
Where: CITYPARK, St. Louis, Missouri
How to watch: Apple MLS Season Pass and FS1
Sporting Kansas City are taking a drive down I-70 to new boys St Louis CITY for the first ever matchup between the two. These two are expected to be rivals and it sure has looked that way off the field between the fans. It should be a great match either way. Sporting KC are coming off a midweek result from LAFC going to BMO Stadium and taking a point after a 1-1 draw. Sporting KC carry a three-match unbeaten streak in league play, a change in momentum after going winless for ten games to start the season.
St Louis CITY SC
St Louis has experienced an exceptional start to life in MLS, winning their first five matches and boasting a brilliant atmosphere and stadium to boot. Currently, CITY are experiencing a slump in form only winning once in their last six games – a dismantling performance against FC Cincinnati at CITYPARK. No doubt the stadium will be packed to the brim and could have the best atmosphere it has seen yet.
Animosity has brewed off the pitch with St. Louis fans angry at Sporting KC enforcing a trademark claim on the term “Soccer Capital,” meaning a beloved local podcast had to change their name. The so-called “Heartland Derby” has begun in earnest even before the first match.
Injury Report
Sporting KC:
Not much has changed since midweek except Leibold being off the injury list.
St Louis CITY SC:
The biggest news sounds like star DP forward Joao Klauss will be returning this weekend for CITY which will be a big boost for them to rekindle their attack.
Nelson (suspended via red card), Nilsson (knee), and Alm (abdominal) are all out for the match.
Bradley Carnell with some important injury updates:
“Nelson, Nilsson, and Alm, those are the three guys that are probably no goes for this weekend. Everyone else is fit and healthy.”Everyone else is fit and healthy #allforcity pic.twitter.com/wGBwsHxeI3
— Justin Horneker (@hornekerjustin) May 18, 2023
Stats
Sporting KC
Goals: Salloi and Russell (2), Agada, Pulido, Thommy, Kinda, Rosero (1)
Assists: Salloi (3), Pulido, Thommy, Walter (2), Kinda and Russell (1)
St Louis CITY SC
Goals: Klauss (5), Gioacchini, Stroud (3), Alm, Hiebert, Löwen (2), Ostrák, Pomeu, and Parker (1)
Assists: Löwen (5), Klauss (4), Alm (3), Stroud, Vassilev (2), Gioacchini, Stroud, and Ostrák (1)
Predictions
With Sporting moving slightly up in the table and featuring positive play in their last three games going up against a vengeful St Louis side that are starving for some points this match will most likely be a cagey affair between the Midwestern clubs. St Louis’ energy drink soccer style of play will definitely give Sporting possession play a run for their own money, but Sporting are finally showing their teeth right now. It should be a great first game between the two teams to start the rivalry, but I think the way Sporting are playing at the moment I can’t see them give up much of anything.
St Louis City 1-2 Sporting Kansas City
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