FRISCO, Texas - FC Dallas faces Sporting Kansas City for the second and final time in the regular season this Wednesday, May 31 at 7:30PM CT at Children's Mercy Park.
Here's everything you need to know before the game.
How to Watch
The match will be available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Mark Followill and Lori Lindsey will call the game in English on Apple TV with Raul Guzman and Sonny Guadarrama providing Spanish commentary.
How to Listen
English: If you can't watch the match, you can listen to all the action on iHeartMedia 1190AM and the FC Dallas App. Host Sam Hale will provide pregame and postgame coverage beginning at 7:15PM with broadcasters Owen Newkirk and Steve Davis calling the game.
Spanish: Carlos Alvarado and Rafa Calderon will call the game in Spanish on 1270AM, starting at 7:30PM.
Match Overview
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS
- FCD record: 6-3-5 (23 points - 4th in West)
- SKC record: 3-8-4 (13 points - 12th in West)
- FCD vs. SKC all-time: 30-27-14 (114 goal scored, 104 goals conceded)
- FCD vs. SKC all-time away: 12-15-9 (48 goal scored, 63 goals conceded)
STORY LINES
- Injury Bug: FC Dallas earned a point with a 1-1 draw in San Jose over the weekend but it come at a cost. Midfielder Tsiki Ntsabeleng left the game with a knee injury after an unfortunate collision before defender Ema Twumasi limped off with an ankle issue toward the end of the game. The pair were both added to FCD's ever-growing injury report that also includes midfielders Paxton Pomykal and Sebastian Lletget as well as forwards Paul Arriola and Tarik Scott. Thankfully, GK Maarten Paes and right back Geovane Jesus returned to training this week after dealing with their own injury issues. Still, Dallas' roster is looking rather thin will all the absences so head coach Nico Estévez may need to be creative with his lineup.
- Tafari Time: There was an unlikely hero in Dallas' late 1-1 draw with the Earthquakes on Saturday. Nkosi Tafari scored the equalizing goal in the 94th minute after vacating his center back position to play as a striker, per his coach's instructions. It was Tafari's second goal of the season which, incredibly, makes him FCD's second-top scorer along with Alan Velasco (both are behind Jesús Ferreira's eight). And it's not just his goals. Tafari also has an assist this year and is putting together a solid defensive season as well. Among MLS center backs, Tafari is: 99th percentile for through balls (.29 per game, 90th percentile for % dribblers tackled (76%) and 91st percentile for aerial duels % (72.4%). Tafari has never been more important to the team (on both sides of the ball) and should be considered one of the best up-and-coming center backs in the league. Below you can see Tafari compared to the average performance of MLS center backs this season.
- Kansas City: Sporting Kansas City is certainly in better form than when FCD faced them last time. Dallas earned a 2-1 victory over SKC at Toyota Stadium back in March while Peter Vermes' team was still looking for its first win of the year. That search took a little while but Kansas City eventually got over the line with a 2-1 triumph against Seattle earlier this month. And they've earned two more wins and a draw since then, making this a much more difficult away trip for FCD than it looked a month ago. Still, Dallas has enjoyed their recent trips to Kansas City, winning four of its their last six league games at Children's Mercy Park.
