KC Reporter

Sporting Kansas City is set to face Orlando City SC on Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium in Central Florida, marking the club's first visit there in over six years. The match will begin at 6:30 p.m. CT and will be available on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV and Sports Radio 810 WHB.

The teams have met eight times previously, with Sporting holding a 3-3-2 record against Orlando. In three visits to Inter&Co Stadium, Sporting has yet to secure a win, recording two losses and one draw. The last meeting between the two clubs at this venue was on August 14, 2019, when Orlando won 1-0. None of Sporting’s current players appeared in that match.

Their most recent encounter took place at Children’s Mercy Park on August 24, 2024, where Sporting won 3-0 with goals from Jake Davis, Daniel Salloi, and Remi Walter.

Sporting Kansas City enters the game with a record of six wins, thirteen losses, and six draws for the season. The team sits thirteenth in the Western Conference with twenty-four points and has scored thirty-six goals while conceding forty-seven. On the road this year, Sporting has posted three wins, seven losses, and two draws.

The team is currently navigating a challenging schedule against playoff contenders. In their last match—a home loss to San Diego FC—Sporting started in a 4-4-2 formation under interim head coach Kerry Zavagnin for the first time. Nine of the eleven starters were age twenty-six or younger.

Sporting has shown strength late in matches this season, scoring half of its goals after the sixtieth minute—the third-highest total in MLS behind San Jose and San Diego. The club also ranks high for points gained from losing positions and goals by substitutes.

Forward Dejan Joveljic leads Sporting with thirteen goals this season and is tied for ninth among all MLS players. He also holds the second-longest streak for consecutive games with a goal contribution in club history. Since joining MLS in 2024, Joveljic has scored thirty-four league goals—second only to Lionel Messi during that period.

Goalkeeper John Pulskamp has made eighty-six saves so far this season (tied for third-most in MLS) and is notable as the first goalkeeper in club history to record multiple assists within one campaign.

Daniel Salloi continues his strong run of form with six goals and four assists this year; he now ranks fourth all-time for career goals at Sporting Kansas City.

Orlando City SC stands fourth in the Eastern Conference with twelve wins, six losses, eight draws (fifty points), fifty goals scored (tied for league lead), and thirty-four conceded. At home they are 6-4-3 but have performed better away from home overall this season.

Orlando leads several attacking categories including expected assists per game and crossing accuracy from open play. Attacking midfielder Martin Ojeda is distinguished as "the only MLS player with at least thirteen goals and thirteen assists during the regular season." Ojeda ranks second league-wide both in total goal contributions (twenty-seven) and assists (thirteen).

The Lions recently completed a sweep of rivals Inter Miami CF following a convincing victory led by Luis Muriel's brace alongside contributions from Martin Ojeda and Marco Pasalic.

Several milestones may be reached during Saturday’s contest: Shapi Suleymanov approaches his three hundred fiftieth professional appearance; Dejan Joveljic nears one hundred career club goals; Andrew Brody could make his one hundredth career MLS start; Memo Rodriguez approaches fifty appearances for Sporting across all competitions; Manu Garcia is close to fifty career assists; John Pulskamp can move up Sporting’s all-time wins chart; Daniel Salloi could tie Dom Dwyer and Johnny Russell for second-most career goals at Sporting Kansas City.