Both teams will be be searching for their first win of the season when Sporting Kansas City host Philadelphia Union in MLS on Sunday.
Kansas drew 1-1 away to Houston Dynamo, while Philadelphia held Chicago Fire to a 2-2 draw at home.
Match preview
The soccer team has huge boots to fill in Kansas City after the Kansas City Chiefs retained the Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers in February, especially having failed to lift the MLS Cup since 2013.
Peter Vermes was in charge for that triumph, having remained as the club's head coach since 2009. Despite only finishing eighth in the Western Conference's regular season last time out, Kansas managed to reach the conference semi-finals in the playoffs, ultimately falling to Houston.
As such, Vermes's side would have been desperate to gain revenge against them in the opening game of the campaign, but Erik Thommy and Gabriel Segal exchanged strikes after the break to hand both teams a point apiece. Kansas were arguably fortunate not to lose, with Houston dominating possession (61%) and having twice as many shots (12) as their opponents during the encounter.
Given that they will be playing on home territory at Children's Mercy Park this weekend, Vermes will be confident of securing their first victory of the season, especially as their opponents were involved in continental duties in midweek.
Indeed, after defeating Deportivo Saprissa 3-2 at Estadio Ricardo Sapirssa Ayma in Costa Rica in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League first round tie, Philadelphia would have been hoping for smooth progression into the next round in the reverse leg. However, they lost by the same scoreline in normal time, before Mikael Uhre's strike in extra time sealed their place at the next stage.
Those dramatic games sandwiched a respectable 2-2 draw against Chicago on the opening MLS matchday, with Daniel Gazdag rescuing a point for Philadelphia in the third minute of injury time. Brian Gutierrez and Fabian Herbers had twice fired the visitors into the lead after Mikael Uhre's equaliser, with a point probably being the fairest outcome in the end.
Since missing out in two of his first three seasons in charge after being appointed in 2014, Philadelphia have qualified for the playoffs in each of the last six seasons under Jim Curtin. The 44-year-old, who won two US Open Cup trophies at Chicago during his playing career, will be hoping to celebrate a decade in charge of Philadelphia in June later this year.
Having finished as MLS Cup runners-up in 2022 following winning the Supporters' Shield two years prior, Curtin's reputation at the club is clearly on solid ground after winning MLS Coach of the Year in both of those seasons. However, the 44-year-old will know that anything short of reaching the playoffs once again would be regarded as failure, so he will be hoping his players can get off the mark in terms of league victories in Kansas.
Team News
Kansas will remain without Khiry Shelton (ankle), Danny Flores (head) and Ozzie Cisneroes (muscle) until later in March, while Logan Ndenbe is expected to be sidelined until mid-July due to an ACL injury.
William Agada could be called upon in an attempt to make the hosts' attack more potent, but Vermes may stick with the same starting XI after they showed plenty of grit to avoid defeat against Houston on the opening matchday.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, will travel without Isaiah LeFlore and Leon Flach due to knee and shoulder issues respectively. The duo are not expected to return to first-team action until April, but Andre Blake is nearing a return from a groin injury.
Curtin could shuffle his pack after hosting Deportivo Saprissa on Tuesday evening, especially having only used one substitute against Chicago last time out in MLS and played with 10 men for the entirety of extra time following Jack Elliott's late dismissal.
Sporting Kansas City possible starting lineup:
Melia; Davis, Rosero, Fontas, Leibold; Walter, Radoja, Thommy; Russell, Pulido, Salloi
Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:
Semmle; Harriel, Glesnes, Lowe, Wagner; Sullivan, Martinez, McGlynn; Gazdag; Carranza, Uhre
We say: Sporting Kansas City 1-1 Philadelphia Union
Both teams drew on the opening MLS matchday, and it would be little surprise to see them share the spoils against each other this weekend.
Philadelphia have been impressively consistent in recent years, but they may be tired after their continental exploits in midweek. Kansas were less than impressive in terms of their performance against Houston last time out and may settle for gaining another point.
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