FC DALLAS vs SPORTING KANSAS CITY
TOYOTA STADIUM, Frisco, Texas
March 14, 2015 (WEEK 2, MLS Game #12)
7:30 p.m. CT (KTXA-CBS21; KMCI-38)
A key matchup in the Western Conference is ahead in just the second week of the campaign as FC Dallas play host to Sporting Kansas City on Saturday evening at Toyota Stadium. FC Dallas started off their new season on the right foot, getting a late goal for a 1-0 win against the San Jose Earthquakes last Saturday evening in Frisco. Sporting have moved to the West this season, but started off their year with a 1-1 home draw against the New York Red Bulls.
- FC Dallas striker Blas Perez picked up where he left off, scoring the game-winning goal in stoppage time to lead his club to a dramatic 1-0 win against the San Jose Earthquakes to open the season. Perez scored five goals in the final seven games of the season last year for FCD.
- Sporting’s central defense partnership played a vital role in their season-opening 1-1 draw with the New York Red Bulls. Ike Opara scored the SKC opener early in the first half, while Matt Besler was sent off late in the match.
- The teams have played to draws each of the last two seasons, including a 1-1 result last year at Sporting Park. FC Dallas has not defeated Sporting at home since 2010, when they won 1-0 in Frisco.
- The teams are back in the same conference for the first time since 2004. They met in the Western Conference semifinals all the way back in 1996, the first playoff series for both clubs.
REFEREE: Jair Marrufo. AR1 (bench): Eric Boria; AR2 (opposite): Philippe Briere; 4th: Nima Saghafi
MLS Career: 176 games; FC/gm: 23.4; Y/gm: 2.8; R: 34; pens: 51
SUSPENDED: KC: Matt Besler (through March 15)
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (49 meetings): FC Dallas 19 wins (1 shootout), 80 goals … Sporting 20 wins (2 shootout), 71 goals …Ties 10
AT DALLAS (29 meetings): FC Dallas 11 wins (0 shootout), 46 goals … Sporting 9 wins (2 shootout), 27 goals … Ties 4
RETURN MATCHES: 5/29: Sporting Kansas City vs. FC Dallas, 8 p.m. CT (UniMas); 9/18: Sporting Kansas City vs. FC Dallas, 6 p.m. CT (UniMas)
LAST YEAR (MLS):
3/15: KC 1, DAL 1 (Collin 81 – Hedges 90)
- The teams have played to draws each of the last two seasons, including a 1-1 result last year at Sporting Park. FC Dallas has not defeated Sporting at home since 2010, when they 1-0 in Frisco.
- The teams are back in the same conference for the first time since 2004. They met in the Western Conference Semifinals all the way back in 1996, the first playoff series for both clubs.
- Coaches record: Peter Vermes vs. DAL: P8 W3 L3 D2 … Oscar Pareja vs. KC: P3 W0 L1 D2
CHECK OUT THE INJURY REPORT HEADING INTO THE MATCH
FC Dallas re-signs Jamaican veteran Je-Vaughn Watson
