There are a number of crucial games that will have their impact on the MLS playoff race in the coming weeks, and that is most certainly the case for the match at Livestrong Sporting Park tonight.
Sporting Kansas City and the Philadelphia Union do battle (8:30 p.m., Fox Soccer Channel) knowing that the winner will move into first place in the Eastern Conference and secure a strong foothold for one of the conference's three automatic playoff berths.
The two teams played to a listless 0-0 draw in their earlier meeting back on June 22 at PPL Park, and both are about even in the standings, as well. Sporting KC (10-9-10) has 40 points through 29 matches, while Philadelphia (9-7-12) has 39 points through 28 games. Both have a +6 goal differential, though, meaning that a winner would not only take the lead in the table, but it would also have an edge going forward for any potential tiebreaker scenario.
If you will be watching tonight's game, please feel free to share any thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below. Enjoy the action.
Yeah, plus young Cody Cropper.
If you came to that conclusion, you have watched him enough.
We did a cheer for him tonight, “Soccer Jesus” clap clap clap “Soccer Jesus”
I haven’t watched much of him thus far in his career, but Bunbury looks a little heavy footed for international consideration. I guess thats what you get when the cupboard is this bare.
Yes you do.
Also, anyone else excited by how full the US keeper pool suddenly looks again for the future? Just think about the Olympic goalkeeping roster: Bill Hamid, Zac Macmath, and Sean Johnson. You don’t even need to bring an overage keeper in for that team. Anyone agree?
Myers is starting to finally look like he was worth that high draft pick. Hope he keeps improving and becomes good enough to be worth a national team look at some point. MacMath also looks like the real deal as a young keeper, not to mention a little like Jake Gyllenhaal in a keeper uniform in my opinion.
Also, I have to say that I can’t stand how quickly Nowak seems to go into a defensive shell. It’s 1-1 with twenty-five minutes left and he subs out Torres and inserts another defensive mid so that he’s got three holding mids in at once (Okugo, Carrol, and Miglioranzi). I’d include young Pheffer in that as well but I couldn’t really tell enough about his playing style.
MacMath, just 20 y.o., could be competing with Hamid for the US No. 1 jersey for 2 decades to come, if he lasts as long as Keller/Faryd/Dino Zoff.
Dropped points for the Wiz on this one.
I’VE SEEN THAT GUY. HE’S AWESOME! JESUS SAVES! PENALTY KICKS!
No Adu so I decided to watch FX.. well, I decided to go back to the Union game around the 62 minute, and I have to say, this game is very entertaining. Bunbury went out and Sapong in, good USMNT prospects there to watch.
Good game so far. Quality goals from Bravo and Le Toux. I wonder if Chance Myers can finally turn the corner and fulfill his potential.
you’re missing a fun one man
yeah not much interest from me without Adu. Goodnight all
Aye, this makes sense.
The field has just been overused from so many consecutive home games. They shouldn’t have the same problems again in the future with it. It was great earlier in their homestand.
Adu rolled an ankle they said at the top of the gamecast. what do you think of his decision to bring him on board?
I thought they were both injured.
Forget firledturf: that field for the KC game is going to hurt someone. Plus, the ball has been misdirected more than a few times from field clumps.
Nowak has made a string of questionable line up decisions that leave you wondering if he is capable of managing personnel.
I simply don’t understand the reason for leaving both Adu and Mwanga out.
Random Jesus dude in the stands behind MacMath is awesome. Who wears flowing white sleeves to a soccer match?
Maybe it’s just me but this is a fairly open and fun game to watch right now. Both teams trying to keep it on the ground for the most part.
No adu, no mwanga, no reason to watch.
How in the world are the Union going to compete on the road with the line-up they are putting out there tonight? Huge task ahead.
stream available?
That’s the reason I was going to watch. Injury?
Damn…
Adu scratched. That sucks.