Preview: Sporting Kansas City vs. DC United - prediction, team news, lineups

Having both had to settle for a share of the spoils in their respective last outings, the teams will be aiming to return to winning ways here.

Match preview

Sporting Kansas City played out a goalless stalemate against Houston Dynamo when the sides faced off at the PNC Stadium on Sunday morning.

Peter Vermes's men had a man advantage for the latter stages of the first half and the entire second period but were unable to make it count.

The Wizards remain 12th in the Western Conference Standings, a whopping 12 points off the last playoff place with just four regular season matches left to play.

Next up is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have lost just one of the last eight meetings between the teams stretching back to 2014.

Off the back of three straight wins on their own turf by a combined score of 9-3, Thursday's hosts will back themselves to get the job done in front of their own fans once again.

DC United had to make do with a point for the second game running following a 0-0 draw against Real Salt Lake at the Rio Tinto Stadium on Sunday.

Wayne Rooney's men had their backs against the wall for the majority of the contest but managed to ensure that honours were even at the sound of the final whistle.

With a meagre tally of 27 points from 30 league games so far, The Black-and-Red are rooted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.

Currently on a run of just one win from their most recent eight outings on the road, Thursday's visitors now seek to turn their fortunes around away from home.

Sporting Kansas City Major League Soccer form:

DC United Major League Soccer form:

Team News

Adrien Perez has only made three appearances for DC United this term due to a fractured foot and he remains unfit to play any part here.

Defender Bradley Smith suffered a cruciate ligament rupture back in July which is set to rule him out of a considerable period of action.

Sporting Kansas City will have to be without the services of Gadi Kinda and Alan Pulido who are both down with knee injuries at the moment.

Twenty-two-year-old William Agada has scored four goals in his last three home games for Thursday's hosts, making the Nigerian one to keep an eye on.

Sporting Kansas City possible starting lineup:

Pulskamp; Sweat, Fontas, Isimat-Mirin, Pierre; Thommy, Walter, Hernandez; Salloi, Agada, Russell

DC United possible starting lineup:

Ochoa; Akinmboni, Palsson, Pines; Najar, Morrison, Durkin, Canouse, Hopkins; Benteke, Kamara

We say: Sporting Kansas City 2-1 DC United

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