Sporting KC vs LA Galaxy: Match Preview, Predictions, How to Watch

Sporting KC vs LA Galaxy

When: Wednesday, June 21st, 2023 at 9:30 PM CT (9:39 kickoff)

Where: Dignity Health Sports Park — Carson, California

How to Watch/Stream: Apple MLS Season Pass

After getting a short taste of how much more comfortable it is to occupy a playoff position, Sporting Kansas City is eager to get back above the playoff line when they visit the struggling LA Galaxy on Wednesday evening.

The Galaxy, in their 79th-ever meeting with Sporting, will be motivated to win at home against SKC for the first time since 2019 while head coach Greg Vanney is looking for his first-ever win against Peter Vermes. The Sporting KC manager has five wins and five draws against his Galaxy counterpart, which includes Vanney’s time with Toronto FC.

Sporting KC had their four-game unbeaten run come to an end when they suffered a 2-1 defeat against LAFC. Saturday’s defeat forced Sporting into 10th place in the West, falling below the playoff line. In his third season leading the Galaxy, Greg Vanney is eager to get his ship sailing back in the right direction after a poor start to the season despite taking the Galaxy to the Western Conference Semifinals last season.

LA Galaxy’s Recent Form

• DRAW – June 11 @ St. Louis City SC 1-1
• *LOSS – June 7 @ Real Salt Lake 3-2 (Open Cup)
• WIN – May 31 @ Real Salt Lake 3-2
• LOSS – May 27 vs. Charlotte FC 1-0
• *WIN – May 23 @ LAFC 2-0 (Open Cup)
• LOSS – May 20 @ DC United 3-0
• LOSS – May 17 @ Columbus Crew 2-0

The Galaxy’s only recent win in MLS came on the road against Real Salt Lake in come-from-behind fashion as they overturned a 2-1 scoreline in the second half to win 3-2. Their only other win in the last month has been a 2-0 win over an LAFC side without many regulars in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

The Galaxy are unbeaten in their last two MLS games, with their May 31st win at RSL and a draw away to St. Louis City allowing them to climb the table. The Colorado Rapids’ poor run of form has allowed the Galaxy to go from dead last in the West to second to last.

Injury Reports

Sporting KC

OUT: Kortne Ford (Achilles surgery); Willy Agada (stress fracture tibia); Tim Melia (quad); Logan Ndenbe (hamstring); Graham Zusi (hamstring); Cam Duke (concussion); Marinos Tzionis (International Duty – Cyprus)

QUESTIONABLE: Andreu Fontas (hamstring), Kayden Pierre (hamstring)

LA Galaxy

OUT: Séga Coulibaly (knee), Javier “Chicharito” Hernández (Torn ACL), Memo
Rodríguez (thigh); Jalen Neal (International Duty – USA); Kelvin Leerdam (International Duty – Suriname); Eriq Zavaleta (International Duty – El Salvador); Dejan Joveljić (International Duty – Serbia)

What is new for LA Galaxy since our last meeting?

Sporting and the Galaxy played out to a scoreless draw at Children’s Mercy Park on March 11th. Since then, Sporting continued on a downward trajectory until finally starting to piece things together in May. The Galaxy have been more consistent in their downward trajectory, but have managed to give a glimpse of hope to their supporters in recent weeks with the firing of former club president Chris Klein amid fan-led protests.

More recently captain and star forward Chicharito announced that he tore his ACL. The Galaxy still have players to watch such as ex-Barcelona midfielder Riqui Puig as well as former Bayern Munich and Juventus winger Douglas Costa.

Stats

Sporting KC

Goals: Alan Pulido (5); Daniel Salloi (4); Johnny Russell (2); Erik Thommy (2); Gadi Kinda (2)

Assists: Daniel Salloi (2); Erik Thommy (2); Gadi Kinda (2); Remi Walter (2)

LA Galaxy

Goals: Tyler Boyd (2); Dejan Joveljić (2)

Assists: nine players have 1 assist

Predictions

This is all about a response for Sporting. What is their response to ending their four-match unbeaten run and suffering their first home defeat since April? I think Sporting will show their resilience and have a response. Johnny Russell particularly enjoys playing against the LA Galaxy, a team he has scored on six times in eight games. Returning from injury last week, Russell may see more of the field on Wednesday and have the opportunity to torture one of the worst defenses in MLS. Alan Pulido has continued to raise his game as the rumors of a potential return to Liga MX continue to swirl, scoring four goals in his last three games. The attacking trio of Salloi, Pulido and Russell may get a rare start together on Wednesday.

I like Sporting’s chances, but beating LA won’t be an easy task. Anything can happen when SKC is on short rest and traveling across the country to face a well-rested Galaxy. On the defensive side, Sporting shouldn’t be too worried as the Galaxy have scored just 14 goals in 16 games. Only the New York Red Bulls have scored fewer times in all of MLS. A win would be great, a draw could be okay or disappointing, but a loss would be very disappointing.

Prediction: 2-0 WIN