Sporting KC v Austin FC: Preview, Predictions & How to Watch
Sporting KC @ Austin FC
When: Saturday, August 13, 2022 at 8:00pm CT (kick-off 8:08am)
Where: Q2 Stadium
To watch/stream: 38 the Spot | ESPN+ (outside the market) | SportingKC.com & SKC App (on the market) | Sporting One app enabled Roku, Apple TV and Fire TV
That feels familiar.
It’s been just two weeks and a game since Sporting Kansas City met Austin FC. In the first meeting, KC lost 2-0, but a red card helped spoil a promising start that didn’t make them look like an underdog. Even the first goal they gave up is a 1 in a 1,000 situation and the second was in the final moments of the game with Sporting pushing for a win. Austin is very good but Sporting should aim high after the performance they showed against LA Galaxy.
The question is, can they repeat that performance and continue to build, or will it be the bad team that showed up earlier in the year?
Sporting’s playoff chances are in the “extremely thin to none” range, but Austin is fighting hard for the top spot in the West. LAFC is now six points clear with a game in hand, but Austin has a nine-point lead over third-placed FC Dallas. The top teams just run away with things.
Sporting are still bottom on points per game and just a point clear of DC United’s total points for the wooden spoon, but DC have two games in hand. As a show of pride, they will continue to play hard.
Austin’s current form
Austin is a bit unlucky compared to his performance all season. With only one win in the last four. Prior to those games, they had won five times in a row.
What’s new for Austin FC since the last meeting?
Most moves were covered in our last preview, but Austin made a big move before the transfer window closed.
IN: Austin added a Designated Player (DP). They added 29-year-old attacking player Emiliano Rigoni from Brazilian club Sao Paulo FC. However, Austin isn’t LA so they probably won’t get their man in time, although you never know since the last update is a week old at this point.
No news from Josh Wolff on Emiliano Rigoni’s visa, entry into the United States. Says other people in the club are looking into it, he’ll get updates as they come. #AustinFC
— Chris Bils (@ChrisBils) August 3, 2022
OUT: none
Injuries/Availability*
Sporty KC
OUT – Alan Pulido (knee surgery), Gadi Kinda (SEI – Knee Surgery), Ozzie Cisneros (paralyze), Kortne Ford (suspension), Tim Melia (hamstring)
QUESTIONABLE – Khiry Shelton (calf), Logan Ndenbe (hamstring)
*This is updated based on the official injury report. This is based on last week’s report at the time of this writing.
Austin F.C
AUS – Frederik Kleemann (left knee), Hector Jimenez (left groin)
QUESTIONABLE – None
Discipline watch for Sporting KC
Next yellow card blocked: Kortne Ford, Roger Espinoza
statistics
Sporty KC
Goals: Johnny Russell (6), Daniel Salloi (5), Remi Walter (3), Roger Espinoza, Willy Agada (2), Marinos Tzionis, Felipe Hernandez, Graham Zusi, Erik Thommy (1)
assists: Felipe Hernandez, Cam Duke, Daniel Salloi (3), Roger Espinoza (2), Ben Sweat, Uri Rosell, Remi Walter, Khiry Shelton, Kayden Pierre (1)
Austin F.C
Goals: Sebastian Driussi (16), Maxi Urruti (7), Diego Fagundez, Ethan Finlay (5), Alex Ring (4), Cecillio DominguezRuben Gabrielsen, Danny Hoesen, Daniel Pereira, Julio Cascante (2), two with one (1)
assists: Fagundez (10), Driussi (7), Finlay (6), Ring (5), Nick Lima, Jon Gallagher (4), Hector Jimenez, Pereira, Cascante (3), Zan Kolmanic, Urruti (2), seven with one 1)
Start XI predictions
This will get its own story. Look for it closer to game day.
predictions
Austin is one of the best teams in the league. However, they only lost points to the San Jose Earthquakes last weekend (and kept the Quakes a point ahead of KC for bottom in the west). They also have to deal with an all-star game trip to Minnesota for their superstar Sebastian Driussi (and amazingly no other players) during the week. But losing a guy who’s 16g/7a is nothing. His 23 goals is the number of goals Sporting KC have scored as a team all season.
It could be Sporting’s perfect storm just as Austin slips a little. I’m still not at the point where I can take Kansas City to victory, but I won’t be as stunned as I seemed a few weeks ago.
2-1 Austin FC win
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