Defense likely to be the storyline as Sporting KC hosts Rapids
Defense probably will be the storyline as two of the stingiest teams in MLS square off at Children's Mercy Park Sunday evening, when the Colorado Rapids travel to face Sporting Kansas City for a 7 p.m. ET kickoff.
Colorado (1-1-1, 4 points) led MLS with 32 goals allowed in 2016, fewer than a goal per game. The Rapids also led MLS with 13 clean sheets, more than one in every three games.
Sporting KC (1-0-3, 6 points) is taking that stat and running with it, as it has allowed one goal in four games, including three 0-0 draws.
"Obviously we want to get three points every game," Kansas City defender Seth Sinovic said. "Unfortunately, a few bounces haven't gone our way. At the same time, we're defending very well as a team."
Sporting is 8-0-3 in its last 11 matches at home. A win or draw against Colorado will equal a club record of 12 straight unbeaten games at home, set in 2015.
Kansas City is one of three MLS clubs that hasn't yet lost in 2017.
Because of the international break and a match with FC Dallas that had to be rescheduled, Colorado has not played since a 2-2 draw against Minnesota United FC on March 18.
"It's been hard to gauge how much work you do versus rest, especially when you have nothing to play for," Colorado head coach Pablo Mastroeni said.
"But we got off to a good start at the beginning of this week, and I think the guys are ready to play against a very good Kansas City team."
Colorado will be without midfielder Sam Cronin and left back Marc Burch for the first time, as the duo was traded to Minnesota on March 31 for two players and an international roster spot.
Cronin and Burch were key contributors in last season's defensive excellence.
Colorado has won five straight regular-season matches against Sporting Kansas City, tying KC's second-longest losing streak to a single opponent in club history.
The Rapids swept the 2016 series with three one-goal victories, scoring the game-winner after the 75th minute each time. The five-game stretch follows an 11-match streak in which Sporting KC went 11 MLS matches against Colorado without a loss (6-0-5) from 2009-2015, including two playoff wins in 2011.
Sporting midfielder Benny Feilhaber is questionable as he continues to recover from a thigh strain.
Colorado will be without 2016 MLS Best XI selection Axel Sjoberg. The 6-foot-7 center back injured his hamstring in a 1-0 loss at the New York Red Bulls on March 11 and is expected to miss another few weeks.
