Match Preview: Sporting Kansas City Faces New England Revolution

Kansas City, Kansas – There’s no place like home! This Saturday, May 24th, Children’s Mercy Park sets the stage for an engaging cross-conference battle as Sporting Kansas City welcomes the New England Revolution. The storyline heading into this game features two teams with contrasting momentum: Sporting KC is (still) aiming to jumpstart their season, while the Revolution are riding a wave of generally positive recent results. Here’s a closer look at what to expect.

Season Rundown: SKC’s Search for Consistency Meets the Revs’ Form

It’s been a season of struggles (among other things) for Sporting KC, currently positioned 12th in the Western Conference, sitting on 12 points with a 3-8-3 record. While thus far they’ve found the back of the net 19 times, they’ve also conceded 24 goals, highlighting a need for some semblance of balance across both ends of the pitch. Still, the defense has improved from “woeful” to now perhaps “middling”. A step has been made in the right direction, at least.

Recent form has been inconsistent (D-D-L-W-L), a reflection of their struggle to find a steady rhythm and a new identity, but still an improvement over the dismal, winless start to the season. The scoreless draw away against a strong San Diego FC side on May 17th was a promising result, with SKC showing defensive resilience, earning themselves a clean sheet against a team with a dangerous attack. Prior to that, the narrow 1-0 loss in Portland on May 10th, decided by a moment of brilliance from Santiago Moreno, was a tough loss to swallow.

Within all that, there have been a few things to be optimistic about: Sporting KC has shown a tendency to come on stronger in the latter stages of their matches. Despite being outscored 20-9 in the first 60 minutes, they hold a 10-4 advantage over opponents after the hour mark. Whether this points to strong fitness levels (remember Sporting Fit^®?), smarter substitutions, or maybe just taking advantage of opportunities when opponents start easing off, it suggests the capability to finish games strongly exists with this squad.

The time to start climbing the table is now; playoff aspirations are still in play. Stringing together a few positive results, starting with this one at home, will be critical for building the necessary momentum to make a run.

New England Revolution: Defensive Strength Fueling Unbeaten Streak

On the flip side, the New England Revolution in the Eastern Conference have had a different kind of season. Under Caleb Porter’s guidance, they are enjoying a six-match unbeaten streak in league play (4 wins, 2 draws). While their 11th-place standing in the East with 18 points from 12 games (1.5 PPG) might sound modest, their defensive record is impressive; the Revolution have conceded just 10 goals this season, tied for best in MLS.

Their most recent outing, a 0-0 draw at home against the San Jose Earthquakes on May 17th, further underscored their defensive prowess. They effectively contained a San Jose attack that, at the time, was the league’s highest scoring team, limiting them to just a single shot on target. The Revs have now recorded six clean sheets this season, five of which have come in their last six matches. This defensive foundation is proving to be the key element of their recent success.

For the Revolution, the playoff picture looks promising. If they can maintain this defensive solidity, they are positioning themselves as a team that will be a tough nut to crack in the postseason. Confidence amongst the Revolution players seems high, which could be a subtle but significant factor against a Sporting KC side playing at home while still seeking its best form.

Tactical Breakdown: Sporting Kansas City: Zavagnin’s Imprint and Attacking Intent

Sporting KC has long favored their 4-3-3 formation, focused on a high press and possession-based play. With interim head coach Kerry Zavagnin now leading the team, we’ve seen some tactical tweaks. Recent chatter and game day observations suggest a move towards a more defensively compact and organized shape, alongside efforts to inject a bit more dynamic flair into the attacking third.

At home, expect Sporting KC to try and dictate the rhythm of the match. Statistically, they sit in third in MLS in progressive dribbles per match and rank highly in progressive passes and touches in the attacking third as well, so we can assume that they have the drive and desire to get forward. However, there’s also been a tendency to rely heavily on crosses. Against a Revolution side that’s started to employ a three-center-back system, switching the point of attack will be key. Zavagnin’s focus on neutralizing opponents’ midfield passing lanes and maintaining defensive shape points to a pragmatic approach.

A huge piece of unlocking the Revolution defense will be Designated Player Manu García. The Spanish midfielder leads the team in assists (4) and key passes (23), and his ability to deliver precise passes will be vital. As Zavagnin has noted, getting García into “advantageous spaces” will be critical for SKC’s creative output.

New England Revolution: Porter’s Disciplined 3-4-1-2

Coach Caleb Porter has molded the Revolution into a tactically flexible and defensively disciplined unit. Their recent strong run has coincided with the effective implementation of a 3-4-1-2 formation. This provides the Revs with serious defensive stability while still allowing their key attacking players freedom to operate. Porter likes to emphasize a collective defensive effort, with attackers expected to contribute to the high pressing game.

On the field, this often features Tanner Beason, Mamadou Fofana, and Brayan Ceballos as a formidable central defensive trio. The wingbacks are then crucial, providing width in attack when bombing forward and tucking back in to form a five-man defensive line when out of possession. This structure supports their central midfield and gives their playmakers space to operate in. Their discipline and ability to maintain their shape are key factors in their league-low 10 goals conceded.

Their primary playmaker is, of course, Carles Gil. The Revolution captain (6 goals, 2 assists this season, and the club’s all-time assist leader) is foundational to their system. In the 3-4-1-2, he likes to operate in the space between the opposition’s midfield and defensive lines, dictating play and creating chances. Limiting his influence will be a huge challenge for Sporting KC.

The tactical battle will be a fun one to watch unfold. Zavagnin is still refining Sporting KC’s approach and style, which could introduce some elements of… let’s call it unpredictability. Porter, in contrast, has an established system that his players are executing with confidence. This could well mean Sporting KC will be vulnerable to moments the Revs can exploit, although, as we’ve seen once or twice before this year, the energy of a home crowd under an interim coach can sometimes provide an unexpected spark.

Recent Encounters

Looking at recent history, New England has a slight advantage. The Revolution recorded 2-1 victories over SKC in both April 2023 and June 2022. Fans with decent memories might recall a wild 4-4 draw back in April 2019. Overall, in their last 21 meetings, the Revolution have won 10, Sporting KC have won seven, with four draws. While not completely dominant, the Revs have enjoyed the better of the recent results. Whether that plays out on Saturday remains to be seen.

Key Battles to Watch

• Dejan Joveljic (SKC) vs. Revolution’s Central Defense (Beason, Fofana, Ceballos): Sporting KC’s Serbian striker, Dejan Joveljic (six goals this season), has started to find his attacking form. He will be up against the Revolution’s formidable defensive trio and their stingy defense. The big question is whether Joveljic can find space to create opportunities, or if the Revs’ backline will successfully keep him in check.
• Carles Gil (NE) vs. SKC’s Midfield: As we saw, Carles Gil is the creative fulcrum for the Revolution. Sporting KC will need to find some way to limit his impact. With Nemanja Radoja potentially still out with a quad injury, this responsibility will fall heavily on whomever replaces him (Jake Davis?) and his midfield partners. If they can disrupt Gil’s rhythm and deny him space to operate, Sporting KC’s chances significantly improve. However, over-focusing on Gil could open up opportunities for other Revolution attackers. It will need to be a balanced effort from the whole squad.

Given all that, let us consider the possibility that Sporting KC’s midfield successfully manages to mark Carles Gil out of the game. And, what if the predicted light rain becomes heavier, making the pitch at Children’s Mercy Park soggy, slick, and unpredictable? With their main creative threat stifled and playing conditions challenging, how would the Revolution’s other players adapt to a more physical and less technical contest? Could a scrappier, rain-impacted game favor Sporting Kansas City? The weather and a rowdy bunch of loud home fans could help level the playing field against a technically gifted New England side. We don’t talk about the weather all that often, but it’s an interesting possibility to consider, at least.

Some Other Things to Keep an Eye Out For

Zavagnin’s Approach at Home: How will Kerry Zavagnin set up Sporting KC in front of the home fans at Children’s Mercy Park? Will we see an aggressive, attacking mindset right out of the gate, or will we get a more cautious approach focused on defensive grit, mindful of the Revolution’s counter-attacking threat? His early tactics will be telling.

The Importance of Set-Pieces: Keep an eye on dead-ball situations. New England’s accuracy from set-piece crosses has been dangerous at times this season. If they are accurate, they could pose a significant threat. Conversely, Zavagnin has mentioned Sporting KC’s focus on improving their defense during set-piece situations. In what could be a tight contest, a goal from a corner or free kick could prove to be the difference.

The Weather Element: As noted before, our forecast calls for some light rain with moderate winds. A slick field can introduce moments of chaos, and wind can always affect the flight of crosses and long passes, turning them into goal-scoring “shrosses”. Will the weather be the 12^th man for either side?

 (Bonus!) Will Youth Get a Chance? With Sporting KC in a transitional period, could opportunities arise for a promising young talent like 16-year-old defender Ian James? A late appearance from an academy product could provide a late-match moment of excitement for the home fans.

Final Thoughts and a Score Prediction

Sporting KC, playing at home, are in desperate need of points, and under Kerry Zavagnin and with the backing of The Cauldron, they will be highly motivated. Their performance against San Diego FC demonstrated their improved defensive organization. Expect them to find a way to score, maybe through the creativity of Manu García, a golazo from Dejan Joveljic, or one of their late-game surges. The hope will be they can keep New England without a goal of their own.

Scoreline Prediction: Sporting Kansas City 1 – 1 New England Revolution

The New England Revolution are a well-coached and defensively sound team. Their defensive record speaks volumes about their organization and the solid play of goalkeeper Aljaž Ivačič. With Carles Gil orchestrating their attacks, they always pose a significant threat. The Revolution are likely to manage Sporting KC’s early intensity and can always find an equalizer when they need it. Their current unbeaten streak and ability to secure results on the road make them a tough opponent to break down.

The predicted rain might contribute to a hard-fought, attritional grind, making a breakthrough difficult for either side. This feels like a situation where Sporting KC’s home energy earns them a goal, but the Revolution’s attacking quality and defensive organization may well help them leave with a point.

So, will SKC find the consistency they have been searching for and secure a vital home win? Or will the New England Revolution extend their impressive run? Let us know what you think in the comments below!