York ended a run of six games without a win in all competitions in style with a 2-0 victory against promotion hopefuls Gateshead.
Will Davies gave York the lead after just four minutes and goalkeeper George Sykes-Kenworthy kept the home side in front with an excellent close-range save from Marcus Dinanga.
Dinanga was presented with the chance to equalise in first-half stoppage time when Callum Whelan was fouled in the area, but the striker hit his penalty straight down the middle and saw it kept out by the feet of Sykes-Kenworthy.
Dipo Akinyemi, who had been restored to the starting line-up after coming off the bench in the reverse fixture on Boxing Day, sealed the win shortly before the hour mark with his ninth goal of the season following a swift counter-attack.
Sporting Kansas City v Austin FC: Inward focus for Vermes as hosts bid to end dismal run
Peter Vermes says Sporting Kansas City must focus on their own attributes, rather than those of upcoming opponents Austin FC, if they are to end their miserable run of form.
Sporting KC sit 13th in the Western Conference standings after losing 10 of their last 11 games including each of their last three, conceding four goals in each.
Following a 4-2 defeat to the LA Galaxy, a 4-3 reverse against Real Salt Lake and a 4-0 demolition at the hands of the Columbus Crew, Vermes says his team have had a good week in training and are raring to set the record straight.
"We're going to find out on Saturday. I think we've had a pretty decent week of training," Vermes said when asked how his team would measure up.
"It's been good for us to train in this kind of heat since it's what we've got to play in for these next couple of months.
"It's all going to be about the performance this weekend, for sure. The key is to just make sure we're good at the key aspects of our game.
"It's more about what we're doing and making sure that we're doing it right."
Austin were also on a poor run until they beat Minnesota United 1-0 last week, a result that lifted them to eighth in the West.
Boss Josh Wolff is pleased with the way his team have hung on despite losing players to international duty and injuries, saying: "We looked at the season, and we knew difficult stretches were coming. We just don't have the numbers.
"You can see in these games, we had to grind. We have guys playing in different positions. They continue to hang in there and compete.
"It's not like every game is perfect but the guys have done a great job of keeping us in a good position."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sporting Kansas City – John Pulskamp
Sporting KC are the fifth team in MLS history to concede four or more goals in three consecutive matches.
No team has allowed four or more goals in four straight games in league history. Goalkeeper Pulskamp will be desperate to avoid making unwanted history here.
Austin FC – Sebastian Driussi
Driussi has scored five goals in six regular-season meetings with Sporting KC, scoring one goal in five of those six games, including in both of his previous matches in Kansas City.
MATCH PREDICTION: SPORTING KANSAS CITY WIN
Sporting KC have lost 10 times in a span of 11 regular-season matches for the first time in the post-shootout era (since 2000).
They had suffered only nine defeats in their previous 33 regular-season matches before this run. Perhaps Saturday, though, is an opportunity to bounce back.
Austin were winless in five matches themselves before beating Minnesota last week (two draws, three losses) and have only won two of their last 17 road games (six draws, nine defeats).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Sporting Kansas City – 45.8%
Austin FC – 27.5%
Draw – 26.8%
Joselu thanks Madrid after move to Saudi Arabia confirmed
Joselu thanked Real Madrid "for everything you have helped me to feel throughout my life", after his departure from Santiago Bernabeu was confirmed.
Los Blancos triggered the option to sign the Spain striker on a permanent basis on Thursday, having spent the 2023-24 season on loan from Espanyol.
However, it was announced just 24 hours later that the 34-year-old, who was previously with Madrid between 2009 and 2012, will depart the club for a second time to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Gharafa.
Despite largely appearing as a substitute, Joselu chipped in with an impressive 18 goals from 49 appearances for Carlo Ancelotti's side last season, including a brace to secure victory in their Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich.
Although, with the impending arrivals of Kylian Mbappe and Endrick, his game time would likely have become even more limited should he have remained at the Bernabeu.
"Thank you. This is the best and most appropriate word to describe everything I feel at this moment, a time when emotion and nerves scarcely allow me to write," he said in a statement on the official club website.
"Thank you, Real Madrid for everything you have helped me to feel throughout my life. Outside and inside. Inside and outside. Thank you for all you taught me when I was a kid; thank you for providing me with so many examples of greatness and humility at the same time.
"Thank you for having kept my dream alive and for having made it come true. Thank you to each and every one of the employees of the greatest and most inspiring club. Thank you coach for how you understand this game.
"Thank you team for being my family. Thank you fans for your passion, your warmth and your support that allowed us to fly. I went away years ago, but I never left. I am also leaving today, but in reality I am staying. Thank you."
'Thank you for everything', Joselu tells Madrid as departure confirmed
Joselu thanked Real Madrid "for everything you have helped me to feel throughout my life", after his departure from Santiago Bernabeu was confirmed.
Los Blancos triggered the option to sign the Spain striker on a permanent basis on Thursday, having spent the 2023-24 season on loan from Espanyol.
However, it was announced just 24 hours later that the 34-year-old, who was previously with Madrid between 2009 and 2012, will depart the club for a second time to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Gharafa.
Despite largely appearing as a substitute, Joselu chipped in with an impressive 18 goals from 49 appearances for Carlo Ancelotti's side last season, including a brace to secure victory in their Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich.
Although, with the impending arrivals of Kylian Mbappe and Endrick, his game time would likely have become even more limited should he have remained at the Bernabeu.
"Thank you. This is the best and most appropriate word to describe everything I feel at this moment, a time when emotion and nerves scarcely allow me to write," he said in a statement on the official club website.
"Thank you, Real Madrid for everything you have helped me to feel throughout my life. Outside and inside. Inside and outside. Thank you for all you taught me when I was a kid; thank you for providing me with so many examples of greatness and humility at the same time.
"Thank you for having kept my dream alive and for having made it come true. Thank you to each and every one of the employees of the greatest and most inspiring club. Thank you coach for how you understand this game.
"Thank you team for being my family. Thank you fans for your passion, your warmth and your support that allowed us to fly. I went away years ago, but I never left. I am also leaving today, but in reality I am staying. Thank you."
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