Preview: Sporting KC at Toronto FC

Sporting Kansas City at Toronto FC
2024 MLS Regular Season | SKC Match 6
Saturday, March 30 | 6:30 p.m. CT (6:40 kickoff)
BMO Field | Toronto, Canada
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Sporting Kansas City (1-1-3, 6 pts) heads north for their sixth match of the season to face Toronto FC (3-1-1, 10 pts). It is the first time the two teams have competed since 2019 when they fought to a 2-2 draw. With five seasons since the last match, there is little common ground to compare the teams.

Toronto’s head coach John Herdman is in his first year in MLS but was a successful Canadian national team coach for both the Men’s and Women’s teams. Herdman has the club out to a good start with a 3-1-1 record. TFC has almost equaled their four wins in the 2023 regular season. Toronto has been stingy on defense, only surrendering 2 goals while scoring 5 themselves.

One challenge for Herdman’s squad is they will be missing Lorenzo Insigne with a thigh injury. The Italian star accounted for two of their five goals. The talented winger is not the only player out for Toronto. Defenders Nicksoen Gomis (wrist), Richie Laryea (Thigh), Raoul Petretta (Thigh), and midfielder Brandon Servania (Knee) are out.

Keeper Sean Johnson is listed as Questionable with a thigh injury. He started the first two matches for Toronto but backup Luka Gavran started the last three. Toronto gave up two goals at NYFC with Gavran in goal but maintained two shutouts at home against Atlanta and Charlotte.

Sporting KC has a few injuries of their own with three players listed as out. Logan Ndenbe (knee), and Khiry Shelton (ankle) have been out since before the season. Team Captain Johnny Russell (hamstring) missed the last match at home against the LA Galaxy.

Andreu Fontas (hamstring) and Alan Pulido (hamstring) are both listed as questionable and were in practice during the week. Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes indicated that Fontas may not be at full fitness to start after a couple of weeks out of the lineup.

Pulido is among the six SKC players that have scored a single goal this season. If he is not ready the team will miss his effort all around the field. Wily Agada would be the likely choice to replace him if he is not ready to start.

Regular Referees Return!

The regular referees will be back for MLS matches this weekend. The Professional Soccer Referees Association agreed to and finalized a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Professional Referee Organization.

Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.

Assistant ref: Lyes Arfa

Assistant ref: Walt Heatherly

4th official: Pierre-Luc Lauziere

VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.

The assignment of Guido Gonzales Jr. to a Sporting KC match is interesting. Sporting KC last saw him when he was the center ref for Sporting Kansas City’s controversial 1-0 loss at Houston in last year’s Western Conference Semifinals. At least one penalty kick should have been awarded for Kansas City in the match they were knocked out of the playoffs.