Alright Sporting Kansas City fans let’s talk about this Saturday. After the brief high of the St. Louis win got washed away by that frustrating loss to Portland at home, the boys are heading out to California to face the San Jose Earthquakes. It’s another tough test on the road, and honestly, it feels like a big one for figuring out where this team really is under interim coach Kerry Zavagnin.
The Opponent: San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose isn’t lighting up the league, but under Bruce Arena, they’re definitely more organized than they used to be. They sit around the playoff line in the West, which is miles better than where KC are right now. Remember, they came into Children’s Mercy Park back on March 1st and took all three points with a 2-1 win? That was not awesome.
Arena’s got them playing a disciplined style – they want to be solid defensively and then hit you fast. They’ve got serious firepower up top now too. Chicho Arango, who they got from Real Salt Lake, is banging in goals. He plays alongside Josef Martínez with the always-dangerous Cristian Espinoza on the wing.
Espinoza, in particular, is a worry – his crossing and set-piece delivery (five assists already) are stellar. They demolished D.C. United 6-1 at home, showing what they can do when they click, but they’ve also been smacked around a bit (like a 4-1 loss to Charlotte). They recently lost playmaker Hernán López to injury, which is a blow for them, and it’ll be interesting to see how Arena adjusts his midfield without him.
Where We Stand: Sporting KC
Sigh. Where do we stand? The 2025 season started about as rough as anyone can remember – winless through six, barely scoring, leaking goals. It led to the massive change with Peter Vermes departing and Kerry Zavagnin stepping in. That 2-0 win against St. Louis felt huge, like maybe, just maybe, things were turning. Dejan Joveljić bagging both goals are exactly what we hoped for when he arrived.
Then came the Portland game… and a 4-2 loss at home where those familiar defensive lapses popped right back up. Zavagnin talks about building trust, playing with more edge, maybe being a bit more direct instead of just possessing the ball without purpose. We saw flashes against St. Louis, but the consistency isn’t there yet, especially defensively. We know the stats under Vermes – lots of possession, lots of crosses, not enough end product, vulnerable defensively.
The question is, how much can Zavagnin change mid-stream? He needs to find a way to make KC less vulnerable, especially on set pieces – that remains a massive Achilles’ heel.
Key Things to Watch From an SKC Perspective:
- Can the Defense Hold Up? This is always question number one right now. Arango is clinical. Can our center backs (whoever Zavagnin pairs back there) keep him quiet? Against St. Louis, Fernandez and Miller got the clean sheet. They couldn’t replicate it against Portland. Consistency is key, and they’ll be tested heavily.
- Handling Espinoza: His service from the right wing is San Jose’s main creative engine. Whether it’s Leibold or Ndenbe at left-back, they have a huge assignment. Limiting his space and opportunities for good delivery is crucial to cutting off the supply to Arango and Martínez.
- Joveljić Needs Service (and to Finish): If we’re going to be more direct, Joveljić is the guy. He showed his quality against St. Louis. Can the midfield and wingers create enough clear chances for him against an Arena-organized defense? Sporting KC desperately need a reliable goal threat.
- Set Pieces… Again: Can we please, please just defend a corner or a dangerous free kick effectively? San Jose will test this with Espinoza’s delivery. Every set piece conceded feels like a potential goal against right now. We have to be better organized and more aggressive here.
- Zavagnin’s Approach: Does the team look noticeably different? Is the build-up faster? Are we pressing intelligently? Is there more fight, especially on the road in what should be a loud environment at PayPal Park?
The Vibe and Prediction
Going on the road in MLS is always tough, and heading to face an Arena team with attacking threats like Arango and Espinoza when our defense is still shaky? It doesn’t exactly scream “easy points.” San Jose is playing at home, they beat Sporting KC earlier this season, and they have clear danger-men.
That said, the St. Louis win showed something is there. Joveljić can score. If Zavagnin can get the defensive shape right and the team plays with the urgency he’s asking for, maybe Sporting KC can make it difficult. Maybe they can grind out a result.
Realistically, though, based on form and defensive worries, this feels like an uphill battle. San Jose has the edge at home. I think SKC might score – hopefully Joveljić gets another – but keeping them out feels like the bigger challenge.
Gut Feeling Prediction: San Jose 2, Sporting KC 1
It feels frustratingly familiar, but maybe, just maybe, the team can prove that wrong and show some real progress defensively.
What do you all think? Can SKC snag points on the road, or is this another tough learning experience under the interim boss? Let us know in the comments.
