Sporting Kansas City is one win away from reaching 300 home victories in official competitions. And they’re about to go for it in the same stadium where their most successful era began. The opponent? Seattle Sounders. Not just any team, but the one they beat back in 2012 to lift their first trophy at Children’s Mercy Park.
The matchup brings together two of the most decorated clubs in MLS—both with two MLS Cups and four U.S. Open Cup titles. Still, none of that matters now. What counts is the table. SKC is sitting in 11th place in the Western Conference with 23 points, fighting to stay in the playoff conversation. Seattle has 30 points and holds 5th place, but the team’s been dealing with injury after injury.
Sporting KC chasing a meaningful milestone
Saturday marks the 300th game at Children’s Mercy Park since it opened in 2011. That alone gives the night weight. But the bigger picture is about change. After a 13-match winless stretch, longtime coach Peter Vermes is gone. His assistant, Kerry Zavagnin, has stepped in as interim, trying to stabilize a team still in transition.
Last weekend’s road win over Colorado was the first in Denver in over ten years. That result, as small as it sounds, sparked something. Serbian forward Dejan Joveljic continued his incredible run, he’s contributed to a goal in seven straight league games, the longest streak in MLS this season. Since 2024 began, only Messi has scored more than him. He’s on 33 goals.
Goalkeeper John Pulskamp is another name worth noting. At 24, he’s started every match this season and leads the league in saves. He’s not just reliable, he’s been essential. Especially for a backline that’s already conceded 38 goals, one of the highest totals in the league.
Seattle Sounders dealing with more than just travel
Seattle hasn’t played outside the Pacific Northwest since mid-May. That alone makes this trip feel different. But it gets worse. Stefan Frei is out with a concussion. João Paulo’s recovering from a knee injury. Kalani Kossa-Rienzi is suspended. And that’s just part of the list. Yeimar, Arriola, Hawkins, Kim Kee-Hee, none of them are expected to feature.
Despite all that, the Sounders still have talent up front. Albert Rusnak has seven goals and four assists this season. Jordan Morris? He’s got eight goals, three assists, and a habit of making things happen against SKC. In 11 matches versus Sporting, he’s been directly involved in 11 goals. Add Pedro de la Vega to the mix, if he plays, Seattle has a shot at cracking open KC’s vulnerable defense.