Sporting Kansas City vs FC Dallas Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Third plays host to first in the Western Conference on Sunday, as Sporting KC take on Dallas. The hosts Sporting KC haven’t played for ten days after being knocked out of the US Open Cup by Houston Dynamo 4-2. Coincidentally, Houston Dynamo were also the last team Dallas faced in the MLS, with the pair playing out a 1-1 draw on Sunday. Both teams have been strong in defence this season, but recently Sporting KC have leaked goals and that could prove the difference between the pair this weekend.

When the two sides met in the US Open Cup last month, hosts Sporting KC booked their place in the next round following a five-goal thriller. An eighteenth minute strike from Gruezo saw Dallas take the lead, but the hosts struck back before the break through Salloi and the sides went in level at the referee’s whistle. Sporting KC took the lead for the first time in the tie in the sixty-sixth minute when Salloi scored his second goal of the game. Eleven minutes after going behind Dallas pulled themselves level thanks to a strike from their Belgian top scorer Lamah, which set up an tense end to the game. There always felt like there was going to be a winning goal in the ninety minutes and that proved to be the case as Croizet scored in the eighty-ninth minute to send Sporting KC through to the next round of the US Open Cup.

With three wins, one draw, and two defeats from their last six matches, visitors Dallas head into Sundays game against Sporting KC as the form favourites. The hosts have lost four of their last six, picking up one win and one draw, with their last five games in league and cup failing to produce a victory. Dallas have beaten Sporting KC once and drawn twice in their last six meetings, but have form in their favour and sit top of the Western Conference heading into their latest encounter.

Both clubs leading goalscorers in the MLS so far this season have seven goals to their name, former Derby County attacker Johnny Russell for the hosts and Lamah for the visitors. Despite their lofty league position both clubs do lack a natural out and out goalscorer, which could cost them if they progress to the play-offs.

We’re confident that Dallas will take something from this game and have therefore backed the visitors with a double chance bet. In terms of a final score, we’re expecting a close game with few goals scored and have put our money on a narrow 1-0 win for the visitors.

Sporting KC’s Predicted Lineup: Melia, Zusi, Amor, Lindsey, Smith, Espinoza, Ilie, Croizet, Russell, Fernandes, Salloi.

Dallas’ Predicted Lineup: Gonzalez, Ziegler, Figueroa, Hedges, Cannon, Lamah, Gruezo, Ulloa, Barrios, Mosquera, Urruti.