flag
back Retour
Wicky slams Sporting KC’s slack defending
Wicky slams Sporting KC’s slack defending

Sporting Kansas City boss Raphael Wicky has lamented his side's poor defending in MLS this season.

SKC, who are rock bottom of the Western Conference, lost 3-1 against Minnesota United last time out, now conceding 80 goals in the league this season.

No team has conceded more often in the competition this season, and things do not get any easier for them as they prepare to host second-place FC Dallas.

Sporting KC are already out of playoff contention, with this their final home match of the campaign.

Wicky believes their fortunes will only turn next season if they stop conceding so many goals.

"It's obviously very disappointing that we concede so many goals. I've mentioned it many, many times," said Wicky.

"For me, it's not about a record or not a record. For me, it's about that you cannot win games if you concede two or three goals every single game.

"It's very, very difficult to win football games. As a team, we have to, in the key moments, do less mistakes. Because all the goals are not just defending, it's also doing mistakes.

"We have to defend better and stronger in those moments as a team. Otherwise it's very difficult to win games."

Dallas are flying high in the West, but lost ground on conference leaders Vancouver Whitecaps after a 2-0 defeat against the Columbus Crew midweek.

Four points now separate the top two sides in the standings, with Dallas needing the Whitecaps to drop points against the Seattle Sounders this weekend in order to keep their hopes of finishing in top spot alive.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sporting Kansas City – Taylor Calheira

Taylor Calheira scored his fifth goal of the season in Sporting Kansas City’s 3-1 loss to Minnesota on Wednesday.

All five of Calheira's goals have come since the beginning of September, as 12 of Kansas City's goals scored in that time have been by either Calheira or Andre Luiz (seven).

FC Dallas – Petar Musa

Petar Musa has scored five goals in his five regular-season matches against Sporting Kansas City.

The only team Musa has scored more regular-season goals against in his Dallas career is the San Jose Earthquakes (six).

MATCH PREDICTION: FC DALLAS WIN

Dallas have one win in their last four away matches (D2 L1) despite scoring at least two goals in each game in that span.

However, they have won four straight meetings with Sporting KC, including a 4–3 home win on September 5.

This equals the longest winning streak by either team in the 86 all-time meetings between the teams in all competitions, along with a four-match winning run for Kansas City in 2004.

SKC have allowed at least one goal in all 16 of their home matches this season. They need a clean sheet on Halloween to avoid becoming the second team in MLS history to allow a goal in 17 home matches in a single season (Toronto FC this season).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Sporting Kansas City – 24.4%

Draw – 22.8%

FC Dallas – 52.8%

You may like

‘The playoffs isn’t the end goal’ – Columbus set sights on MLS Cup victory

soccernews.com il y a 10 heures

Cincinnati defender Gidi insists ‘there’s no time to back down’

soccernews.com il y a 9 heures

‘They won’t hand it over on a silver platter’ – NYCFC boss Jansen wary of Montreal threat

soccernews.com il y a 5 heures

Ranking Michael King suitors from favorites to dark horses

fansided.com il y a 34 minutes

Preview: Elche vs Valencia - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk il y a 5 heures

Preview: Elche vs Valencia - prediction, team news, lineups

amp.sportsmole.co.uk il y a 5 heures

Preview: Marseille vs Toulouse - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk il y a 17 heures

Brewers' Jake Bauers Could Land Multi-Year Contract After 2026 Breakout

si.com il y a 3 heures

Simeone keeping focus on Atletico, not on wider title race

soccernews.com il y a 2 heures