Sporting Kansas City Vs Los Angeles FC
Sporting Kansas City Vs Los Angeles FC Sunday, 24 July 2022 – 01:30 (BST)
US Major League Soccer
Pick: Los Angeles FC to WIN
Odds: 6/5
Bookmaker: Betfair
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 22 July 2022)
Preview: Supporters Shield frontrunners Los Angeles FC will look to keep their noses in front by taking all three points back to LA from Sunday’s visit to Children’s Mercy Park, the home of Sporting Kansas City desperately striving to avoid a fourth consecutive loss in front of their supporters.
US Major League Soccer Betting at Betfair
Table of Contents
Sporting Kansas City – Wizards all out of Magic?
SKC has played more matches than anyone in MLS but have the lowest points total in the Western Conference. A 3-0 road loss to Real Salt Lake last time out left the Peter Vermes-managed side with a W2 D1 L6 record across the last nine MLS fixtures, on 20 points from their 22 games played thus far. Only Toronto FC hold a (marginally) worse points-per-game return (0.90) than the men from Kansas (0.91).
It isn’t about to get any easier either. The Wizards will need to find some magic from somewhere because three of the next four games are against teams vying for the Supporters Shield. They welcome league leaders LAFC to Children’s Mercy Park – where SKC are W1 D2 L4 in their last seven having lost each of the last three – before home and away clashes versus second-place Austin FC in the space of a fortnight.
Key Stat: All four of Sporting Kansas City’s home defeats in MLS 2022 were by one goal margins (0-1 x2, 1-2 x2). As were all three of their victories (1-0 x2, 2-1 x1).
Los Angeles FC – Black & Gold only going to get better?
We got our answer to the question “would this LAFC side, which was already on pace to clinch its second Supporters Shield, be better for the additions of two global superstars?” in last week’s visit to Nashville SC. Giorgio Chiellini and Gareth Bale would both log their first minutes for the Black and Gold at GEODIS Park as the Black and Gold ran out 2-1 winners over the then third best placed team in the West.
In terms of xG, LAFC were a touch fortunate to come away with three points last time. Head coach Steve Cherundolo will care not, though, instead thrilled about a sixth win across an eight-game stretch (D1 L1) which has them back atop the MLS, a point clear of Austin FC. And speaking of Los Verdes, they are now one of only two teams – the other being NYRB – holding a superior PPG on the road than LAFC (W5 D1 L3).
Key Stat: There were no more than two goals in six of nine MLS away games for Los Angeles FC this season, with the recent 2-1 scoreline at Nashville SC halting a run of four straight away games seeing Under 2.5 Goals.
Don’t miss out on other Betting Tips & Predictions
Click here for more Betting Tips
Sporting Kansas City Vs Los Angeles FC Betting Advice
The more this season ebbs away, the more a write-off it is for Sporting Kansas City. Avoiding the Wooden Spoon (dubiously awarded to the team that finishes bottom of this 28-team league) is now realistically their only meaningful objective, with a seven point gap to Western Conference playoff line surely asking too much of a side with the second-worst points per game average in MLS (0.91, compared to LAFC’s 2.38).
Sporting Kansas City Vs Los Angeles FC – Key Facts:
- The previous two head-to-heads were won by Los Angeles FC, including a 3-1 success in Los Angeles earlier in the season. However, LAFC would only win one of three visits to Children’s Mercy Park – a 5-1 trouncing of SKC in July 2019 sandwiching 2-1 losses.
- Sporting Kansas City sit rock bottom of the Western Conference on 20 points from 22 games. That is 22 points fewer than an LAFC side that sits atop the West and has completed two games fewer than Peter Vermes’ beleaguered outfit.
- Gareth Bale came off the bench for the final 18 minutes of LAFC’s 2-1 road win over Nashville SC last time out. The Welshman failed to make a contribution on that occasion but should relish more minutes in Kansas, though is likely to feature as a sub once more.
Earlier in the season, arguably the one legit criticism of this formidable LAFC outfit was they didn’t win enough road games. While they are by no means infallible outside of LA, a record of W5 D1 L3 on their travels is up there with the very best in the league. So I am pleasantly surprised we can get better than even money about the Black and Gold, with six wins coming in their last eight MLS matches, this weekend.
Best Betting Odds – Sporting Kansas City Vs Los Angeles FC
Sporting Kansas City – 2/1 (PaddyPower)
Draw – 13/5 (Boylesports)
Los Angeles FC – 6/5 (Betfair)
