Two clubs in the top six of the Western Conference will try to improve their standings as Sporting Kansas City host FC Dallas at Sporting Park this Friday.
Sporting is in a must-win situation when they face the Toros at home with lower placed clubs already starting to make late playoff runs this season.
In their last Major League Soccer (MLS) match, the Wizards again suffered defeat which was the fourth time in their last five matches.
Orlando City SC proved to be a better club Sunday with a 3–1 win, Sporting forward Krisztian Németh netted the lone goal in the defeat.
The Wizards are currently on a five-match winless streak and before the defeat to Orlando City experienced losses to the San Jose Earthquakes (5–0), Columbus Crew SC (3–2), Colorado Rapids (2–1), and a scoreless draw with the Portland Timbers.
Sporting's streak held them to 41 points, enough for the fifth place in the West and tied with the Timbers.
A win will give them 44 points moving them past Seattle Sounders FC (42 points) for the fourth place in the conference.
Meanwhile, FC Dallas are looking to overtake Vancouver Whitecaps FC for the top spot in the West and the Supporters' Shield standings.
The Toros are on a three-match winning streak in the MLS that includes wins over Real Salt Lake (2–0), Columbus (3–0), and New York City FC (2–1).
Dallas is on the second spot in the West with 47 points tied with the defending MLS champions Los Angeles Galaxy.
A victory will be huge for the Toros since it will give them 50 points, which will catapult them to the number 1 spot in both the standings with the playoffs nearing.
The clubs already met twice this season with Dallas winning the first match 3–1 last March and Kansas City taking the second 4–0 back in May.
The match between Sporting Kansas City and FC Dallas will be on Friday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m. EST. To watch via live stream, click here.
