Sporting KC
Sporting KC vs Austin FC: Match Preview, Predictions, How to Watch
Does SKC have more confidence, or more injuries, heading into the match vs Austin FC?
Sporting KC vs Austin FC
When: Saturday, June 10th, 2023 at 7:30 PM CT (7:39 kickoff)
Where: Children’s Mercy Park
How to Watch/Stream: Apple MLS Season Pass
The injury report for Sporting KC this week was a gut punch. It felt like they had recovered from all the injuries and were turning the season around. Just when you started feeling optimistic, they get hit with another wave of injuries.
But you know what? Lionel Messi is coming to MLS! Nothing can bring me down today.
No centerbacks? Who cares! Bring on Austin FC.
The MLS table is looking much better as SKC look to climb the ladder from an awful start. They’re still in 12th place, but are up to 1 PPG with 17 points. This puts Sporting just four points below 6th place. This weekend’s opponents, Austin FC, sit in 8th place with 19 points. A golden opportunity to leapfrog one team.
This is the first meeting this season with Austin FC, led by former KC Wizard Josh Wolff. These two last met in August when The Trees scored two goals after the 85th minute to win 4-3.
Austin’s Recent Form
- 1-0 WIN – May 20th vs Toronto FC
- 2-0 LOSS – May 24th vs Chicago Fire (US Open Cup)
- 2-1 LOSS – May 27th @ Houston Dynamo
- 2-1 WIN – May 31st vs Minnesota United
- 2-1 LOSS – June 3rd vs Real Salt Lake
Austin has just three wins in their last 14 MLS matches. Sporting KC would be catching them at the right time, if not for the injuries.
What is new for Austin FC since our last meeting?
Josh Wolff’s side has made a lot of moves since they last met SKC. This year they brought in Gyasi Zardes, Will Bruin, and Adam Lundqvist among others. But their danger guys are still around. Sebastian Driussi, who scored the winner in last year’s thriller, is still leading the way. The Argentine Emiliano Ariel Rigoni will be one to watch, as well as the Uruguayan Diego Fagundez, who has played in MLS for 57 years although he’s only 28 years old.
Injury Reports
Sporting KC
Austin FC
Stats
Sporting KC
Goals: Daniel Salloi (4), Johnny Russell (2), Erik Thommy (2), Alan Pulido (2), Gadi Kinda (2)
Assists: Daniel Salloi (3), Erik Thommy (3), Alan Pulido (2), Remi Walter (2), Gadi Kinda (2)
Austin FC
Goals: Jon Gallagher (5), Sebastian Driussi (3), Gyasi Zardes (3)
Assists: Emiliano Rigoni (3), Owen Wolff (3)
Predictions
Like I said, nothing can bring me down this week. Sporting KC is riding a massive wave of confidence and will be eager to keep the three-match home winning streak alive.
That being said, the defense is going to be filled with holes. The two guys most known for big mistakes will be the starting centerbacks, and tasked with keeping Driussi in check. We should see the two Roberts slide in, Castellanos and Voloder. Each have made head shaking mistakes at the back and don’t exactly inspire confidence. We should almost assume there will be a couple goals conceded. I think this will be another high scoring affair.
They boys will turn around that result from last year and win in a thriller in front of The Blue Hell.
Prediction: 4-3 WIN
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Minnesota United Defeat Sporting KC 3-0 in Preseason
Wow Messi news is a hell of a drug.
How is Fagundez only 28?!?! I swear I watched him play against the Wiz at arrowhead in ‘99
That was only 24 years ago, so seems right…
For real. I would swear he’s been 26-28 for the past 10 years
28?! FINALLY he’s old enough that PV could try to sign him to SKC if he’s interested.
I have to ask, what kind of hamstring injury would sideline a kid (KP) for the whole season thus far? Also, how many hamstring injuries does a team need to have before the head coach starts looking at the warmup/training plan and PT people? Seems like nearly everyone has pulled a hammy this year.
Granted, I can pull a hammy planting a shrub…so I guess I should just shut my pie hole.
Also, maybe the coach needs to look inward and look at his rotation and subbing during when those injuries took place. Yes, he did sub and rotate more than we have seen the last few years, but based on the injuries, it probably wasn’t enough.
And ultimately, if the league would either
A) don’t congest the schedule with back to back weekend/weekday/weekend/weekday/weekend games or
B) expand senior roster spots and loosen roster building rules. Then there’s at least more opportunities for coaches to try to keep their players healthy. But more games means more money.
Grade 2 tear of a hamstring is an 8-10 week recovery with regular training needs added on. Looking at 12-16 weeks