FC DALLAS vs. SPORTING KC

2021 MLS Regular Season

July 31 - 7:30PM

Children's Mercy Park, Kansas City, KS

TXA 21 | KMPX-29 | FCDallas.com/Stream | FCDallas.com/Radio | 1270AM

SKCvDAL

HEAD-TO-HEAD

• FCD record: 3-7-5 (14 pts., 10th in West)
• SKC record: 9-3-3 (30 pts., 3rd in West)
• FCD vs. SKC all-time: 27-25-13 (105 GF, 94 GA)
• FCD vs. SKC away: 11-15-8 (44 GF, 60 GA)

LUCHI vs. VERMES

• FC Dallas head coach Luchi Gonzalez is undefeated against Sporting KC and its head coach Peter Vermes. Gonzalez took over FCD in 2019 and has registered a 4-0-1 record against its conference rivals. On the road, Gonzalez and Dallas have an impressive 2-0-1 against SKC at Children’s Mercy Park. Considering that record, this weekend could prove to be a good opportunity to get Dallas’ first road points of 2021.

Head Coach Luchi Gonzalez: "It’s good know that (record) historically, that helps build confidence in what we can do. But it’s in the past, it’s not going to fight for us on Saturday. We’ve got to do the fighting, the believing, and the work. It’s nice to know that it can be done but it’s going to be difficult, most teams don’t get that done over there against a very good side in Kansas City. We need to be up for the challenge and we need to bring our best."

BUILD MOMENTUM

• Dallas is coming off its biggest win of the season after a 4-0 victory over LA Galaxy last Saturday at Toyota Stadium. FCD has lost to the Galaxy two weeks prior to Saturday but the team was able to defeat the odds and get redemption thanks in part to a Ricardo Pepi hat trick. The match also included FCD's first shutout since the opening day of the season which gives its backline a good base to build on.

Midfielder Paxton Pomykal: “The big thing is a shutout, if we go on the road and get a shutout that means points. And I don’t think we’ve gotten any points on the road yet. So, It’s important first and foremost to keep a clean sheet so that we can get points on the road. I know if we can do that, balls might break our way and we can build chances to go on and win the game."

SZABOLCS SCHÖN

• Winger Szabolcs Schön earned his first MLS start last Saturday against the Galaxy. The young Hungarian looked lively out on the left wing and helped create Pepi’s third goal of the night and got his first FCD assist in the process. Considering there has been a lot of rotation on Dallas’ wings this season, it would be a huge benefit if Schön can continue his productivity and nail down the starting role.

Midfielder Szabolcs Schön: “I think I played well in the whole game. The first 20 minutes was a bit hard because of the weather. I need to get used to it. I’m really happy about my first start...We have to work hard in the (next) week and we want to win. We’re thinking just about the next game, we don’t mind who it’s against, whichever opponent. We just play our game and want to win."