FRISCO - As we head into the first FC Dallas-Sporting KC match-up of the season on Saturday night, here are five things to know about the game:
Home-Field Advantage
In the past five season, the home team in the FC Dallas-Sporting KC series has never lost in MLS play. Dallas has lost four straight league contests at Children's Mercy Park and has only won once since the building opened in 2011 (a 3-2 win on 8/27/11). Dating back to the 2000 season, the visiting team has won just 8 times in 39 tries.
Late Risers
All-time in the series, the teams have combined for 49 goals in the opening half of games, while exploding for 123 combined tallies in the second half. More goals have been scored in the last 15 minutes of games combined (57) than in the entire first half. Dallas holds a slight lead in the all-time aggregate score, 88-84, and leads in both halves of scoring, 26-23 in the first half, 62-61 in the second. In the last 15 minutes of games, Dallas has scored 33 times to SKC's 24.
Mr. November
FC Dallas and Sporting KC are two of just six MLS sides to reach the playoffs in each of the last three seasons. Dallas reached the Western Conference Semifinal in 2014 and 2016, with an appearance in the Western Conference Final in 2015, while SKC has been edged in the Conference Knockout game each of the past three years after winning MLS Cup in 2013.
Friends to Foes
FC Dallas Homegrown Coy Craft and Sporting KC Homegrown Erik Palmer-Brown were both members of the U.S. U-20 team that captured the nation's first CONCACAF U-20 Championship on Sunday, qualifying for the FIFA U-20 World Cup later this year along the way, but will be on opposing sidelines come Saturday.
Young Guns
FC Dallas and Sporting KC have two of the youngest rosters in MLS. Dallas holds the title of youngest average age at 24.31 years, while Sporting sits in fifth with an average age of 25.74 years. You can view the full average age rankings here.
