Saturday, July 26, 2014

Sporting KC takes four-game road winning streak to Toronto

SportingKC.com

First place Sporting Kansas City (10-5-5) takes on Toronto FC (7-5-5) at 6 p.m. CT on Saturday at BMO Field.

The match will be televised locally on KMCI-TV and across the Midwest on SKCTV with coverage beginning at 5:30 p.m. CT. Radio broadcasts will be available on Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Gran D 1340 AM.

Sporting KC's official watch parties for the Eastern Conference clash will be held at Johnny's Tavern locations in the KC Power & Light District (1310 Grand Boulevard) and Overland Park (6765 W. 119th Street).

Supporters are encouraged to attend and enjoy select Boulevard draft specials as well as the "Blue Believer" signature cocktail (Dragon Berry, Lemon-Lime Red Bull and Blue Curacao).

Toronto FC currently sits in third place in the Eastern Conference, nine points behind Sporting Kansas City. The home side has dropped just one match in the club's last 10 League outings, securing a 2-2 draw against the Houston Dynamo in their last MLS contest courtesy of goals from Gilberto and Dominic Oduro.

In the draw, Toronto FC's leading goalscorer Jermain Defoe (11) was shown a yellow card in the 88th minute and the English striker will be unavailable on Saturday as he serves his mandatory one game suspension for caution accumulation. Toronto FC will also be without defenders Steven Caldwell (right Quad) and Mark Bloom (left knee sprain) due to injuries.

Both teams are coming off midweek friendlies against international opponents.

Sporting Kansas City hosted Manchester City on Wednesday night and dropped a 4-1 decision against the 2013-14 English Premier League Champions. Toronto FC welcomed Tottenham Hotspur and fell 3-2 despite second half goals from Andrew Wiedeman and Jordan Hamilton.

Sporting KC boasts three consecutive 2-1 victories in League play and has secured a club record four straight road wins in MLS regular season play (at Houston, Portland, Montreal and Columbus).

Sporting KC hosted the LA Galaxy last weekend and earned a 2-1 victory at Sporting Park with goals from Benny Feilhaber and Lawrence Olum. Feilhaber earned MLS Player of the Week honors boasting two goals and an assist in Week 19.

Saturday marks the second of three meetings between these two clubs this season. Sporting KC and Toronto played to a 2-2 draw in May.

Dom Dwyer scored two goals for Sporting KC and currently sits in second place in the League for goals scored in 2014 behind only New York's Bradley Wright-Phillips. Late game heroics by Bradley Orr in second half stoppage time yielded a point for both sides at the final whistle.

Fans can follow the match online by visiting SportingKC.com/GameOn  or via Twitter @SKCGameday.

Additionally, the match will also be available to watch live online as MLSsoccer.com's Stream of the Week.