Austin FC Aims for Home Victory Against Struggling Sporting Kansas City

Austin FC looks to lean on their recent success at home to rebound from a definitive midweek loss when they host cellar-dwelling Sporting Kansas City on Saturday in a Western Conference match between teams well below the playoff line.

The teams each have two matches remaining before MLS’s two-month break for the World Cup and hope to finish the first half of the season with some momentum.

The Verde (3-5-5, 14 points) return home after a 5-0 walloping at San Diego on Wednesday, marking the team’s most lopsided defeat in club history and snapping Austin’s three-match unbeaten streak (2-0-1). The Verde have produced shutout wins in their two most recent home games, against Houston and St. Louis, respectively, and look to channel that solid play, alongside a 2-2 road draw against Minnesota on Sunday, to respond from their subpar showing on the West Coast.

“We know exactly what we didn’t do well (with Wednesday’s match) and what didn’t work, and we move forward, for what is coming,” Austin coach Nico Estevez said Friday. “Sadly, what you did in the past you cannot change. Right now, Kansas City is the most important thing that we have in front of us.”

“Is it easier said than done to move on? It is good that you have this game so quickly that you can’t really even think about Wednesday,” he added.

Myrto Uzuni leads Austin with five goals this season, with Christian Ramirez following closely with four. Facundo Torres has provided a team-high six assists, while Uzuni has recorded four.

Sporting (2-8-2, 8 points) heads into the weekend with the fewest points in the West, the fewest goals (11) in MLS, and the largest points differential in the league (minus-22). Kansas City travels to Austin after a solid 3-1 victory against the Los Angeles Galaxy at home on Wednesday, courtesy of a goal and two assists from Calvin Harris.

This win marks a strong comeback following a 6-0 loss at Portland on May 9 and snapped a seven-match winless streak (0-6-1) dating back to a 2-1 victory over the Galaxy on March 14.

“It’s been too long to sit here without a win,” Sporting coach Raphael Wicky said Wednesday. “I’m very proud of the team and the way we reacted after the loss in Portland. I would be lying to you if I said that I was expecting that exactly, but you never really know what you are going to get. I just wanted them to go out there with energy.”

“The team stayed focused and concentrated. And that is very important for these guys,” he added.

Kansas City is led by striker Dejan Joveljic, who has scored six goals, making him the only Sporting player with more than one tally this year.

Austin has never lost to Sporting Kansas City at home, winning all five matches.