When: Friday, August 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Children’s Mercy Park
How to Watch: MLS Season Pass

Last Result:
SKC: 4-0 Loss at Columbus Crew (Leagues Cup)
ORL: 0-0 (4-5 PK shootout) Loss vs Cruz Azul (Leagues Cup)

Preview:

The final stretch of the regular season begins and Sporting Kansas City look to continue their push for a playoff spot hosting Eastern Conference 7-seed Orlando City.

Both clubs crashed out of the Leagues Cup in the Round of 32, but with a silver lining of an extended period of rest until Saturday’s matchup.

This will be the first time SKC matchup with Orlando since 2021, when they played to a 1-1 draw at CMP.

SKC fell in a 4-0 shutout against reigning MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew despite a decent first half that saw them give up the first goal of the match in the dying embers of the first 45 minutes.

Kansas City have 2 wins and 1 draw in their last three regular season games at Children’s Mercy Park, but Orlando enters the match with a better regular season road record than home record.

As far as injuries go:

Questionable: Memo Rodriguez
Out: Robert Castellanos, Felipe Hernandez, Nemanja Radoja

Before the transfer window closed, Sporting added Spanish center back Joaquin Fernandez, who could see the field given the depth at the position.

Rumors also continue to swirl around 21-year-old right back Kayden Pierre, who looks to be all-but-confirmed to be headed to Genk in the Belgian Pro League.

Orlando secured an extension with forward Duncan McGuire who is second on the team with 7 goals in MLS this season, behind Facundo Torres who has 8.

SKC are led in goals by Willy Agada who seems to be in top form with 8 goals in his last 9 starts across all competitions.

Mathematically, Sporting KC still have a chance at securing a playoff spot in the Western Conference if they can string together a run of gaining points in the last 8 games. However, all but 2 of those last eight games are against clubs who currently hold playoff positions.

Both teams are looking to climb their respective tables, but SKC are in a much dire need for points if they want to salvage a rough season.