Dallas FC vs Sporting Kansas City Prediction: A Battle of Survival; Dallas FC and Sporting Kansas City Clash as Both Teams Struggle to Climb the MLS Standings

The match between Dallas FC and Sporting Kansas City on October 20, 2024, is shaping up to be an important one for both teams. With only two places separating them within the MLS Western Conference, these clubs are fighting desperately in hopes of rescuing their seasons. Dallas currently sits in 11th place with 10 wins, whereas Kansas sits a bit behind in 13th with 8 wins. Both teams have struggled for much of the season so far through inconsistent form, and this presents the next chance for them to rebuild some momentum as we enter the final stretch of the campaign.

Dallas comes off a goalless draw away at Portland, extending their winless streak to three matches. Meanwhile, the home team, Sporting Kansas City, was handed a bruising 3-0 defeat by LAFC at home as they recorded their fourth loss in five games. With each side needing the result, expect a high stake contest in this fixture.

FC Dallas has really struggled for consistency of late, coming into this tie with a record of 1 win in their last five games (1W 1D 3L). Against Portland last week, FC Dallas showed a glimpse of an organized defense, but with some lacking bit of edge in attack. Even though FC Dallas commanded possession for 53% of the match and fashioned two big chances, FC Dallas could simply not force a breakthrough. Their 4-3-3 formation, being deployed by head coach Peter Luccin, has been balanced in the approach, though bereft of the final-third execution that is required to get the points.

Dallas will probably still play in their 4-3-3 format for good width and possession of the ball, just like they've been doing over the last games. Coach Peter Luccin could instruct his troops to concentrate on exposing Sporting Kansas City's leaky defense that has conceded first in five of their last six games. Dallas will press high, look to create from wide areas, and use those long balls-42% of them-to transition quickly from defense to attack. Having said that, they will have to sharpen their finishing, as their profligacy in front of goal has been a repeated concern.

Defensively, Dallas is pretty solid, winning 57% of their defensive tackles in their last match against Portland, which may help them weather the storm from Sporting Kansas City. However, having conceded over 2.5 goals in four of their last five matches, they need to pull their socks up to prevent goals from going in.

Defensive lapses have haunted Sporting Kansas City under the management of Peter Vermes. A loss to LAFC was perhaps marked by a four-game losing streak, and they desperately need a response. KC have let in seven goals in their last five outings while finding the net just three times. Vermes, like Berhalter, embraced a preferred 4-3-3 format, but the lack of creativity within his team has hamstrung the results, as too often, a lack of conversion of possession into meaningful chances has affected them.

Peter Vermes probably won't change his 4-3-3 formation either. He is more about the directness of the game. Kansas City's long ball percentage is very high at 59%. This means they prefer bypassing the midfield and prefer playing vertically. That hasn't paid any dividend yet. They have been outscored 7-3 over their last five games. Kansas may also try to dominate the duels and the second balls, as they had 53% last match to disrupt the rhythm of Dallas.

Offensively, Sporting KC will have to create more chances-most of them have only three on target in defeat to LAFC. Vermes will be looking to target Dallas' defensive flanks for vulnerabilities and lapses in concentration. Defensively, the team has to stay wary of set-pieces and long balls, areas where Dallas often have profited and Sporting KC have been prone to conceding with fast transitions.

Historically, Sporting Kansas City leads this fixture with 10 wins to Dallas FC's 8. There have been just two draws between these sides, and a decisive result is therefore likely in this fixture. The last three meetings have seen Kansas City come out on top, and the last meeting in the quarterfinals of the US Open Cup ended 1-1 at regulation before Kansas secured a 2-1 win in extra time.

Both teams to score in each of the last eight clashes. Over 2.5 goals scored in seven of the last eight meetings. Sporting KC scoring first in four of the last five matches against Dallas. Most matches between these teams, head-to-head, have seen fewer cards dished out: under 4.5 cards in the last five matches.

This game will probably be decided by which team can break through a little slump. With home-field advantage, Dallas FC could try to control the pace of the game, keeping possession and finding weaknesses in Kansas's fragile back line. However, their inability to find the net with consistency has been an issue.

Meanwhile, Sporting Kansas City has been in terrible form lately, losing the last four matches and having conceded seven goals in five games without keeping a single clean sheet. Their directness may give Dallas some problems, but they need to be clinically good in front of the goal.

• Over 3 Goals @ 1.812 Odds
• GG + Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.69 Odds
• Under 10 Corners @ 1.80 Odds