KeyBank Scouting Report | Sporting comes to Portland for first visit since 2019

Each Major League Soccer matchday in 2021, the KeyBank Scouting Report will give you a snapshot of the Portland Timbers’ next opponent. On Saturday, Portland hosts Sporting Kansas City with a 7:30pm PT kickoff on FOX 12 PLUS (TICKETS).
Apart from being the first Timbers match in over two weeks due to the FIFA international break, the match is also notable for the increase to 80 percent capacity at Providence Park. Read up on all the new stadium policies before coming to the match.

(USA Today Sports Images)

Team Form

Currently sitting in second place in the Western Conference, Sporting has played the most games in the conference so far (nine) and have made the most of it, going 5-2-2 including an undefeated presence at home (3-0-2). Their +5 goal differential is good for second in the conference and third in MLS. Head coach Peter Vermes – the longest tenured coach in MLS at 13 years – has KC in strong recent form with Sporting on a four-game unbeaten run (3-0-1), their most recent match being a 1-1 draw against Austin FC last Saturday.

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SKC midfielder Gianluca Busio
(USA Today Sports Images)

In attack

Sporting features a potent attack with 16 goals scored – best in MLS. Leading the way is forward, Designated Player and Mexico international Alan Pulido (above) who has five goals on the campaign. A pair of Homegrown Players also feature heavily for KC with Daniel Salloi (four goals, two assists) and 19-year-old phenom Gianluca Busio (two goals, one assists). Busio has been known to unleash a golazo or two and his play of late has been attracting transfer offers from overseas.

Familiar Faces

KC forward Khiry Shelton, former star of Oregon State and USL League Two side Lane United, features for Sporting. The second-overall pick of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft has currently three assists in the 2021 season.

Though out with an adductor injury, former Timbers goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh, who appeared in 60 matches for Timbers 2 – the club's USL Championship team – is in his first year with Sporting.

Sporting midfielder Roger Espinoza (USA Today Sports Images)

Defending

Though longtime Sporting backline anchor Nick Besler left for Austin FC in the offseason, SKC still features midfield stalwart Roger Espinoza who can deftly blunt many an opposition attack and 2017 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Tim Melia. The two longtime KC players have a combined 434 regular-season appearances for Sporting (263 for Espinoza, 171 for Melia) so their defense is not to be underestimated.

That said, while Sporting leads MLS with the aforementioned 16 goals scored, they've allowed 11 on the campaign – the same as the Timbers. Of late, their points have come from their defensive ability to hold on while their potent attack keeps rolling.