Three-minute preview: Sporting Kansas City at Seattle Sounders FC
WHEN/WHERE: 9 p.m. Saturday; at CenturyLink Field, Seattle
TV/RADIO: KMCI-TV (Ch. 38); 102.9 FM, KDTD (1340 AM)
ABOUT SPORTING KC (4-2-5, 17 points): Despite featuring a short-handed lineup, Sporting KC ended New England's nine-match unbeaten streak Wednesday with a 4-2 win and moved into a fourth-place tie in the Western Conference. After playing that game without eight regulars, the club is set to welcome back winger Graham Zusi, who coach Peter Vermes classified as probable to play. On the other hand, Seth Sinovic will sit out a second straight match with the lingering effects of a concussion. Roger Espinoza (groin) and Marcel de Jong (hip) are also unlikely to return from their respective injuries.
ABOUT SEATTLE (6-3-1, 19 points): The Sounders have won four of their past five matches and sit in third place in the West. Clint Dempsey has recorded a goal or an assist in all eight appearances this season, and he is tied with Kei Kamara for the MLS scoring lead with seven goals. Seattle's Obafemi Martins is third with six goals, but coach Sigi Schmid says Martins is unlikely to appear Saturday with a leg contusion.
BOTTOM LINE: The two clubs lead the Western Conference in scoring this season, with 17 goals apiece, but Seattle has allowed the fewest in the league (nine). The Sounders have been particularly tough to break down as of late, having allowed only five goals over the past eight matches, but Sporting KC has found some recent scoring success with Dom Dwyer and Krisztian Nemeth atop the formation.
PREDICTION: Seattle 2, Sporting KC 1
To reach Sam McDowell, call 816-234-4869 or send email to smcdowell@kcstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @SamMcDowell11.
This story was originally published May 22, 2015 at 3:52 PM with the headline "Three-minute preview: Sporting Kansas City at Seattle Sounders FC."