Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Sporting KC looks to secure fourth consecutive road win on Wednesday vs Columbus Crew

Sporting KC looks to regain first place in the Eastern Conference Wednesday night when they travel to Ohio to take on the Columbus Crew.

The midweek match is scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT with pregame coverage beginning at 6 p.m. CT on KMCI's 38 the Spot and SKCTV. Fans can also listen to the match on 1510 AM and La Gran D 1340 AM.

Supporters are invited to Sporting KC's official watch party on Wednesday at the Turn 2 Sports Bar & Restaurant at Hollywood Casino. The event will feature $3 Boulevard Drafts, $6 wings and a chance to win Sporting KC team-signed merchandise. Doors will open at 4 p.m. CT.

Sporting Kansas City (8-5-5) is just two points behind D.C. United (9-5-4) in Eastern Conference standings and has won three consecutive road matches including a 2-1 win over the Montreal Impact on Saturday night at Stade Saputo.

Sporting KC leads MLS with five wins away from Sporting Park in 2014 and has won at least three straight road matches four times since 2000. Should Sporting KC defeat Columbus on Wednesday, it would be the first time in club history that the team has won four straight on the road in the same season.

Columbus dropped their last match 4-1 against the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena, but has not dropped a match at home since May 10, a 1-0 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Sporting KC has just one loss in their last eight meetings with Columbus and is in the midst of a five-game unbeaten streak against the Eastern Conference opponent.

In the last meeting between these two clubs, Sporting KC earned a 2-0 victory on May 4 at Sporting Park. Jacob Peterson and Claudio Bieler each tallied a goal in the match.

Dom Dwyer ranks second in MLS for goals scored with 14, behind only New York's Bradley Wright-Phillips (15). Dwyer has scored at least one goal in three of the team's last four outings including a brace in Sporting KC's triumph at Montreal last weekend.

The Crew is led by Argentine striker Federico Higuain who has tallied six goals and five assists this season and will be available for selection on Wednesday.

Columbus will be without striker Jairo Arrieta who exited the Crew's match at New York in the 25th minute after suffering a left hamstring strain.

Follow Wednesday's match online at  SportingKC.com/GameOn or via Twitter at @SKCGameday.