Sporting Kansas City hits the road for a match with Austin FC at Q2 Stadium on Saturday. First kick will take place at 8 p.m. CT on 38 The Spot beginning a half-hour before with the Sporting KC Pregame Show.
Saturday will be Sporting’s second ever match at Q2 Stadium after suffering a 3-1 defeat at the one-year-old soccer-specific stadium last season. Austin, currently sitting in second place in the West, have been tough at home in spurts this season. They opened the season with back-to-back wins scoring five goals in each match, but have won just three of their last nine home matches at Q2 Stadium.
Here are five things to keep an eye on in the matchup between Sporting Kansas City and Austin FC.
In the third and final showing of a three-match home stretch, Sporting KC lit up the LA Galaxy for four goals, scoring three in the first half. That win snapped a losing streak and produced some of the best individual performances of the season for Sporting KC. Midfielder Erik Thommy scored his first goal for Sporting KC and had said goal nominated for AT&T Goal of the Week. Forward Willy Agada bagged a brace in the first, opening his Sporting KC scoring account and giving all SKC fans a memorable celebration. Forward Daniel Salloi contributed three goals, providing two assists and sealing the match with his second-half stoppage time score. Sporting will be riding the momentum of that win into Austin, looking to even the series at two wins a piece in the fifth ever meeting.
