CARSON, Calif. – For all of their attributes on the field, perhaps Sporting KC’s strongest attribute right now is their confidence.
The LA Galaxy will visit LIVESTRONG Sporting Park on Saturday (4 pm ET/1 pm PT; ESPN, ESPN Deportes, LIVE CHAT on lagalaxy.com/gamedaylive) and must deal with the hosts’ swagger.
Sporting KC have yet to drop a point, and they’ve won in nearly every manner: a blowout win (3-0 over New England), via a late goal (twice, a 1-0 win over D.C. United and 2-1 over FC Dallas) and a well as a tightly contested match (1-0 over Chivas USA).
MATCH PREVIEW: KC vs LA
“They’re a real confident team right so they’re dangerous,” Galaxy defender Todd Dunivant said. “They’re feeling good about being 4-0 and they should.”
A year ago, the Galaxy escaped LIVESTRONG Sporting Park with a 2-2 draw in a match played on Labor Day. The hosts will likely have a very similar squad to that team on the field Saturday, which is yet another factor that has helped Sporting KC and their fast start to the season.
“You see that in the league, teams that keep the same team year after year are the teams that generally have success,” Dunivant said. “They’ve built something there and they’ve continued to build on it. They’re a good team, they know each other well and know each other strengths and they play to that.”
C.J. Sapong has been scoring at a rapid pace, having banged in two game-winning goals thus far. Graham Zusi and Kei Kamara have also gotten off to strong starts for head coach Peter Vermes’ team.
“His physicality is certainly a strength,” Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said of Kamara. “He’s technically good and is a strong powerful player, is very aggressive with the ball at his feet and has done very well at getting at the end of balls and also creating chances for others.”
In trying to knock Sporting KC off their undefeated perch, the Galaxy will also look to solve their own ills. A 1-2-0 start is not what the club has envisioned and as the club has had an unsettled start to the season, the players said there is a little more riding on this game.
“You never want to say anything is a must-win game four games into the season,” Dunivant said. “Certainly there is urgency about it for us and we want to have a good performance and more than anything play the way we’ve been successful in the past.”
Luis Bueno covers the LA Galaxy for MLSsoccer.com and can be reached by email at buenodad@gmail.com.
