The best Western Conference team in the regular season in 2018 will take a relatively short jaunt to take on the MLS’ newest franchise in the MLS Game of the Week on Sunday. Sporting Kansas City are looking to repeat as Western Conference champions, but they have yet to win a road game in two tries this season. They have to like their chances against an expansion team, yet FC Cincinnati have shown they are more game than you might think. This will be the first meeting between these two teams.
Don't miss the Major League Soccer action from Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 7, 2019. Catch every moment of the match live on ESPN.
MLS Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
FC Cincinnati +123
Sporting Kansas City +204
Draw +254
Over/Under 2.5 and 3
Odds Analysis
You can forgive fans of Sporting Kansas City if they aren’t too excited for this match at the moment. Sporting KC are the only MLS team still alive in the CONCACAF Champions League, and they have a huge road match against Liga MX side CF Monterrey late Thursday night. No MLS team has ever won the Champions League, and Sporting KC would be the adoration of the MLS if they could pull it off.
In MLS action, Sporting KC have been top notch at home. They cruised to a 2-0 win over Philadelphia in early March, and they spanked Montreal in a clinical beatdown on Saturday. Krisztian Nemeth notched a hat trick and Johnny Russell had a brace in a 7-1 win for Sporting KC. However, this club has fared much differently on the road. They lost in the fourth minute of extra time to LAFC, and they drew with Colorado only after a late Rapids red card.
FC Cincinnati are out to follow in the footsteps of the two most recent expansion clubs, Atlanta Untied and LAFC. Those organizations both made the postseason in their inaugural season, and FC Cincinnati are off to a good start with a 2-1-2 record. They thumped Portland 3-0 in their home opener, but they fell to Philadelphia at home 2-0 over the weekend.
Key Absences
There are a number of injuries to note for Sporting KC. Midfielder Jimmy Medranda, forwards Erik Hurtado and Daniel Salloi, and defender Jaylin Lindsey are all out for this match. All four players are expected to be out until at least the end of the month.
Fanendo Adi has been suspended for this match by FC Cincinnati after a drunk driving charge. Their top forward will certainly be missed. Midfielder Jimmy McLaughlin has been ruled out for the match, and goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton is questionable. Defender Kendall Watson’s status is up in the air.
Player to Watch
One of the big questions coming into this season for Sporting KC revolved around the forward position. The club couldn’t get much scoring out of their No. 9 last season, and that eventually came back to bite them in the playoffs. In the offseason, they brought back Nemeth to play in that role even though it isn’t his natural position, and it has gone swimmingly. Nemeth has eight goals in seven matches through all competitions this year.
MLS Prop Bet – FC Cincinnati First Half -0.5 +162
Cincinnati will have two major advantages here. They will be well-rested after having the middle of the week off, and they will be playing at home. Sporting KC might sit players for this match following their tilt with Monterrey on Thursday, so there is extra value in Cincinnati.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Taking Cincinnati on the three-way line is a great idea, and they could easily win by multiple goals. Sporting KC have one of the top defenses in the MLS, but it will be fatigued here.
Major League Soccer Odds: FC Cincinnati 2, Sporting Kansas City 1
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