FC Dallas vs Sporting Kansas City Prediction, Odds, Best Bets - MLS
FC Dallas make the trip to Sporting Park on Saturday holding second place in the Western Conference, with St. Louis CITY SC three points behind them and two matches to play, while Sporting Kansas City sit bottom of the West with the league's worst defensive record.
The Matchup
Sporting Kansas City have conceded 80 goals in 32 matches this season, more than any other side in MLS, and 34 of them have come in their 16 home matches at Sporting Park, where they have won 3 times all year. FC Dallas travel in the opposite shape. Dallas have won 7 of their 16 away matches and scored 29 goals in them, and their attack is built around Petar Musa, who sits second in the league's scoring race.
Kansas City have taken one point from their last five matches and conceded 15 goals in them, most recently a 3-1 defeat at Minnesota United FC on Wednesday. Dallas lost 2-0 at home to Columbus Crew the same night, but that was a rotated side. Neither club has named its side yet.
The expectation is a stronger Dallas team on Saturday, with Musa leading the line again after starting against Columbus, and with Joaquín Valiente and Kaick expected back from the start after both came off the bench on Wednesday. Dallas remain without Logan Farrington, who is out with a lower body injury. For Kansas City, the expectation is André Luiz, Stephen Afrifa and Taylor Calheira across the front line again after all three started at Minnesota.
Key Factors
Musa is the matchup. He has 22 goals and 5 assists this season, he scored twice when Dallas beat Kansas City 4-3 in September, and he is running at a defence that has been opened up by good and bad attacks alike. Valiente gives him the supply line, with 13 assists this season, and Dallas have scored in bunches on the road when those two play together. Sporting Park has not protected Kansas City at any point this season, and a home crowd that has watched its side lose 9 times at home has little left to lift.
The counterpoint is that Dallas are not flawless travellers, and Wednesday showed how quickly their attack can stall: Columbus Crew kept them scoreless, and Dallas have won 2 of their last five while the seeding pressure has built. Kansas City, with nothing to lose, scored 3 goals against Portland Timbers at home this month and 3 more at Dallas in September, and André Luiz has 7 goals in 11 appearances this season. If Dallas let this become a shootout, the away win is no formality.
Kansas City cannot defend, and that single fact has decided their season. Dallas have the finisher to punish it in Petar Musa, fresh legs to recall in midfield, and a seeding race that gives them every reason to chase this game rather than manage it.
The draw is the live danger, because Dallas have shared the points often enough on the road and Kansas City can still score in bursts at home, and a level game beats this line outright. But a defence that has conceded more than any other in the league should not be trusted to hold a favourite that needs the win. Take FC Dallas -0.75 at +103.
Game Information
| DATE | Saturday (10/31) |
|---|---|
| START TIME | 2:00 PM CT |
| HOW TO WATCH | Apple TV |
| VENUE | Sporting Park, Kansas City |
| COMPETITION | MLS |
| ROUND | MLS Regular Season |
| SPREAD | FC Dallas -0.75 (+103) |
| TOTAL | 3.25 (Over -112 · Under -108) |
| MONEYLINE | Sporting Kansas City +285 / Draw +314 / FC Dallas -125 |
| DRAW NO BET | Sporting Kansas City +198 / FC Dallas -258 |
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