Sporting KC Vs Real Salt Lake: Western rivalry explodes

This weekend, Sporting KC play host to Real Salt Lake. It is a match that could see a quiet Western rivalry explode for several reasons.

Real Salt Lake visit Children’s Mercy Park for the first time since their postseason elimination in 2018 at the hands of Sporting Kansas City, who advanced by an aggregate score of 5-3.

Salt Lake enter Saturday’s match following a 3-1 win over New York City FC, a team that was surging up the Eastern standings until that point.

Saturday’s visitors, however, will be without manager Mike Petke, who will miss through a team suspension as part of the fallout from his abuse towards the officiating crew from his side’s 1-0 loss to Liga MX side Tigres in the Leagues Cup.

Both teams have plenty to play for. Sporting KC are looking turn around the worst season since re-branding from the Wizards. They will look to close down a six-point gap to three points with a win. Real Salt Lake, meanwhile, are looking to distance themselves from Matt Besler and company as they strive for some away form in the race for a playoff spot.

It looks like Kansas City might have found their alternative to the disappointment of Krisztian Nemeth at the number nine position, a role that has been problematic for Peter Vermes’ side ever since the departure of Dom Dwyer. Nemeth’s solution is Erik Hurtado, who returned from an injury with a bang, scoring his side’s match-winner last weekend in Seattle.

The main storyline comes in the rivalry between the players. I fully expect Roger Espinoza and Kyle Beckerman to have a few kicks at each other in the midfield. The Besler clan will also be split as both Notre Dame graduates will look to steady things defensively. And it will be Nick Rimando’s final regular-season visit to the place where his side lost the 2013 MLS Cup Final after Lovel Palmer fired his penalty kick off the crossbar. These two sides have quietly created a very unique rivalry over the years, and the next instalment will take place this weekend.

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There is also a whole lot to play for as the season enters its closing stages. While Real Salt Lake have been phenomenal at home, winning eight of their 11 games at Rio Tinto Stadium, they have won just two of 12 on the road. Should their away form merely creep back towards average, RSL are a team capable of challenging some of the elite teams in MLS.

Sporting KC, meanwhile, have endured a tumultuous season ravaged by injuries. Vermes was unable to name a full bench earlier in the season and has had to deal with the absence of his defensive and midfield spine for almost all of the campaign. The fact that they are six points off a playoff place with a game-in-hand speaks partly to their tremendous competitiveness and team spirit and also to the well-balanced nature of the middle teams in the Western Conference this season.

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When all is said and done, this could be a crucial game in the 2018 MLS season. For either Sporting KC or a Petke-less Real Salt Late, they will be hoping this is a catalyst for a late-season surge.

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