Our prediction for this MLS match:
After sharing the spoils with Houston Dynamo in their opener, Sporting Kansas City will look to register their first win of the new MLS season when they host Philadelphia Union to their Children’s Mercy Park. The Wizards are a real force to be reckoned with at home, but they will have to showcase their worth on the field. All Khiry Shelton, Danny Flores, Ozzie Cisneros, and Logan Ndenbe are out of contention with injuries, but there are no suspended players in the home team.
The U’s, on the other hand, head into the match following the CONCACAF Champions League defeat to Sarprissa. As Philadelphia are not regarded as good travellers, we predict that Sporting are going to pick up all three points from their first home game of the season. Both Isaiah LeFlore and Leon Flach miss out with injuries, while goalkeeper Andre Blake is a major doubt.
Highlighted Player (Andre Blake):
Andre Blake is a Jamaican goalkeeper who plays for MLS club Philadelphia Union. Blake was born in May Pen, Jamaica, on November 21, 1990, but he went to the UConn college in United States of America. The 193-cm-tall shoot-stopper spent three years playing college football and in 2014 he signed a professional contract with Philadelphia Union.
Andre Blake made his debut for the U in July 2014 in a friendly game against Crystal Palace and he played his first MLS match against Montreal Impact. Speaking of his international career, the goalkeeper made his Jamaica debut on March 2, 2014 in a 2-0 victory over Barbados. Later that year Andre Blake won the Caribbean Cup with the Reggae Boyz as they defeated Trinidad and Tobago on penalties in the title game.
Over the years Blake has established himself as a first-team regular and, no doubt, there is a bright future ahead of him. The Philadelphia Union shoot-stopper wears the number 18 on his shirt.
Highlighted Team (Sporting Kansas City):
Sporting Kansas City have been competing in Major League Soccer since 1996 and they won their first MLS Cup trophy in 2000. The club faced Chicago Fire at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington in the play-offs final and Miklos Jon Molnar scored the winner for Bob Gansler’s team. 13 years later Sporting Kansas City met with Solt Lake in the title game and they were fortunate to defeat the Royals on penalties.
The Wizards welcome their rivals at Children’s Mercy Park, but they used to play some games at Blue Valley Sports Complex, Julian Field, Hermann Stadium and Durwood Soccer Stadium in the past as well. Sporting Kansas City were founded in 1995 and the club’s original name was Kansas City Wiz.
The Wizards wear navy blue shirts and dark blue shorts when playing at home, while the colour of their away kit is blue. Former Wigan Athletic man Roger Espinosa is regarded as one of the club’s most notable players and he has been playing for the Children’s Mercy Park outfit since 2015.