Columbus Crew SC vs. Sporting Kansas City | 2019 MLS Match Preview

2019 MLS Regular Season — Week 16
Columbus Crew SC vs. Sporting Kansas City
 MAPFRE Stadium — Columbus
June 23 - 5:30 PM ET

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, on DAZN in Canada

A pair of MLS originals hoping to use the Gold Cup break as a springboard above the playoff line square off Sunday at MAPFRE Stadium when Columbus Crew SC host Sporting Kansas City in the finale of an abbreviated Week 16 schedule. 

Columbus (5-9-2) are coming off a 3-2 home loss to Atlanta United in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 Tuesday night. Brandon Vazquez and Miles Robinson staked the visitors to a two-goal lead inside the opening 15 minutes before David Accam pulled back a goal five minutes from halftime. Vazquez provided the dagger on the hour-mark with his second. A Brad Guzan own goal gave Columbus late life, but the hosts couldn't find the equalizer. 

Sporting Kansas City (3-5-7) were knocked out of the USOC at first asking, falling to Minnesota United FC, 4-1, in the fourth round on June 12. Gerso canceled out an early Angelo Rodriguez opening goal to level in the 27th minute. But the floodgates opened for the Loons after halftime, with Ethan Finlay scoring in the 46th minute followed by a Darwin Quintero brace across a 12-minute span. 

Columbus Crew SC

• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Federico Higuain (M) - right knee injury
  • OUT: Milton Valenzuela (D) - right knee injury
  • OUT: Josh Williams (D) - right foot injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty:  Zack Steffen (GK), Wil Trapp (M), Gyasi Zardes (F), Jonathan Mensah (D)

Sporting Kansas City

• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Roger Espinoza (M) - PCP sprain
  • OUT: Erik Hurtado (F) - right knee surgery
  • OUT: Jaylin Lindsey (D) - torn meniscus
  • OUT: Rodney Wallace (D) - hip injury
  • QUESTIONABLE: Matt Besler (D) - hamstring injury
  • QUESTIONABLE: Gianluca Busio (M) - head injury
  • QUESTIONABLE: Jimmy Medranda (D) - hamstring injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution:  None
• International duty:  Krisztián Németh (F), Botond Baráth (D), Nicolas Hasler (D), Johnny Russell(F)

Series Matchup at Crew SC

• Crew SC: 13 wins, 44 goals
• Sporting: 11 wins, 41 goals
• 5 draws

Officials

• Referee: Allen Chapman
• Assistant Referees: Corey Rockwell, Nick Uranga
• 4th Official: Dave Gantar
• VAR: Edvin Jurisevic