RECENT FORM VS. SPORTING KANSAS CITY
Sunday afternoon’s nationally-televised showdown will be the first meeting between the Revs and Sporting KC in more than three years, as these two sides last squared off in April 2019, just two weeks before Bruce Arena was appointed sporting director and head coach in New England. That game finished in a wild 4-4 draw as the Revolution finished with nine men, and the night was highlighted by DeJuan Jones’ first MLS goal and Tajon Buchanan’s first pro start.
Homefield advantage has been particularly important in the recent series between this pair of MLS originals, as the Revs have won four straight meetings in Foxborough but are just 0-2-1 in their last three visits to Kansas City.
Sporting KC was a playoff side last year, finishing third in the Western Conference with the second-best attack in MLS behind only the Supporters’ Shield-winning Revolution. They’ve struggled out of the gate in 2022, however, and currently sit on the bottom of the West with a record of 3-8-4. There’s been a pretty significant split between their road and home form, as they’re 0-6-2 on the road but a respectable 3-2-2 at Children’s Mercy Park.
New England comes out of the international break unbeaten in five (2-0-3), but there was often frustration through that stretch as they let leads slip away in all three draws. The attack has been firing on all cylinders as they’d scored multiple goals in seven straight games prior to their 1-1 draw with the Philadelphia Union before the break, and they picked up their first road win of the season on their last trip to FC Cincinnati on May 21.
With two of last year’s top teams aiming to turn things around after slow starts to 2022, Sunday’s game could be a big one as Major League Soccer moves into the all-important summer months.
Overall Record vs. Sporting KC: 19-27-13
Away Record vs. Sporting KC: 7-16-6
Last meeting at Gillette Stadium: Revs 1, Sporting KC 0 (April 28, 2018)
Last meeting at Children’s Mercy Park: Revs 4, Sporting KC 4 (April 27, 2019)
