Sporting Kansas City head coach Peter Vermes wants to see a better defensive display when they travel to Columbus Crew in the MLS on Saturday.
Sporting KC sit second from bottom in the Western Conference, having won just three of their 19 games so far.
After back-to-back losses to LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake in which they conceded four goals in both, Vermes admitted they needed to rectify the situation as soon as possible.
"I can't deny the fight of the guys, but defensively, it's too soft," he said. "Unfortunately, it's similar to what happens in a lot of games.
"We can be fighting back in a game and give away a nothing goal. There's a ton of chances that could put us way ahead, but we can't be giving up the goals that we give up. That's it; that's the game."
Columbus, meanwhile, are right in the mix in the Eastern Conference, sitting sixth with 27 points.
A 2-1 defeat to Inter Miami snapped their four-match winning streak in the MLS, but head coach Wilfried Nancy is confident they can quickly put that result behind them.
"It has been good games, good performances," head coach Wilfried Nancy said. "[The last game] was also a good performance, but we were not good at certain moments. This is again something that we did well. We have grown a lot regarding these kinds of games."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Columbus Crew – Cucho Hernandez
Cucho attempted 10 shots in the Crew's defeat to Inter Miami on Wednesday, his third game with at least 10 shots since making his MLS debut in July 2022.
All other players in MLS have three total games with 10+ shots in that time (Raul Ruidiaz, Hany Mukhtar, Julian Carranza, one each).
Sporting Kansas City – William Agada
Agada scored two of Kansas City's three goals on Wednesday, his fifth multi-goal match for Sporting. Only five players have recorded more multi-goal games in the team's history.
MATCH PREDICTION: COLUMBUS CREW WIN
This will be the Crew's first regular-season home match since losing to FC Cincinnati on May 11. Columbus are winless in four straight MLS home matches after winning 12 of their previous 14 home league games.
Kansas City have lost nine of their last 10 regular-season matches (W1), including losing six in a row on the road in league play. This is the first time in the post-shootout era (since 2000) that Sporting have lost nine times in a span of 10 such matches.
However, Kansas City have lost just one of their last 12 matches against Columbus (W7 D4) dating back to October 2012, though three of the last four meetings have ended in draws. This will be the first meeting between the sides in Columbus in one day short of five years (June 23, 2019).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Columbus Crew – 64.2%
Draw – 19.1%
Sporting Kansas City – 16.7%
Montreal v Philadelphia Union: Curtin 'hurt' by recent MLS streak
Jim Curtin has said he will take the full burden of Philadelphia Union's poor recent form as they look to bounce back against fellow strugglers Montreal this Sunday.
The Union are without a win in their last six MLS fixtures, with their latest defeat coming at the hands of Charlotte FC in front of their home supporters last time out.
Curtin's side have managed just 20 points in their 19 league games after recording at least 32 at this stage in four of the previous five seasons.
And the Philadelphia head coach acknowledged his side's struggles in recent weeks, but highlighted the injuries within his squad as a major factor in their winless streak.
"The fingers are pointed at me first, and I accept that, and I take the responsibility for the current run that we are on," Curtin said.
"It hurts, but I still think the players are trying and giving everything that they can, but at the moment it is just not enough.
"We know that we're missing five to six key guys, and it hurts right now, and it's tough for us to catch a break and score a goal to make a play that changes the game."
Meanwhile, Montreal are enduring a losing streak of their own and are without a triumph since their 4-2 win over DC United back in May.
Laurent Courtois' side were beaten 4-1 by Colorado Rapids in their last MLS fixture, leaving them a point above bottom side Chicago Fire in the Eastern Conference.
L'Impact face a tough test should they want to return to winning ways this Sunday, having won one of their last nine meetings with the Union (D4 L4) dating back to October 2020.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Montreal – Josef Martínez
Martinez has scored eight career goals against the Union in all competitions, having only scored more against Orlando (9).
However, Curtin’s side have managed to keep the Venezuelan at bay in recent meetings, having shut the striker out in each of the last four league meetings, with his last league goal against them coming back in 2019.
Philadelphia – Tai Baribo
In the absence of top scorer Julian Carranzo (10) and Daniel Gazdag (10), Baribo has the opportunity to take centre stage for the Union against Montreal.
The Israeli scored his first two goals for the club on his first start in their 4-3 defeat to Cincinnati, and will be looking to rediscover his goal-scoring touch at the Stade Saputo.
MATCH PREDICTION: PHILADELPHIA WIN
The Union come into the encounter as marginal favourites despite their six-game winless streak, but their impressive record against their opponents will give them some much-needed confidence.
Philadelphia have lost just one of their last nine meetings with Montreal (W4 D4), but that defeat came in the last meeting between the two sides, losing 3-2 back in March 2023.
Montreal have won just one of their last 14 matches in all competitions (D7 L6) dating back to mid-April. They are one of three MLS teams, along with the Union and St. Louis City SC, with only one victory in all competitions in that time.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Montreal – 35.3%
Draw – 26%
Philadelphia – 38.7%
Atlanta United v Toronto FC: Reds must go back to basics to halt losing run, says Herdman
John Herdman has said that Toronto must go back to basics to halt their six-game winless run ahead of their trip to Atlanta United on Sunday.
The Reds fell to their third consecutive MLS defeat away to the New York Red Bulls last time out and have scored just four goals in their last five league fixtures.
Toronto enter the encounter in eighth place ahead of their trip to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, three points ahead of their opponents in the Eastern Conference.
Herdman's side Toronto FC has won only two of their last 30 away matches (D7 L21) dating back to September 2022, but the 48-year-old is keen to put an end to that run.
“We'll get back,” said Herdman. “As I've said to the lads, they just have to go to the next task.”
“That's all we can control at the moment,” he closed. “Just next task, back to basics, and then looking at evolving tactically for a tough match at Atlanta.”
For Atlanta, they are now unbeaten in their last three MLS games, having come from a goal down to draw with St. Louis City last Sunday.
Rob Valentino's side, however, have struggled at home in recent weeks and are without a win in seven (D2 L5), leaving them in ninth heading into the encounter.
The Five Stripes enter a busy period of the campaign, playing six matches in 18 days, starting by welcoming Toronto to Georgia, something which goalkeeper Brad Guzan knows about during his time in the Premier League.
“One of the most important things is being able to rest and recover mentally and physically," said Guzan.
So that when you step on the field for the next game, you are ready to go."
Atlanta – Daniel Rios
Having been an unused sub in consecutive games against Inter Miami and Charlotte, Rios has returned to the starting line-up with the desired impact, scoring two goals in his last three games.
The Mexican's equaliser against St. Louis City on Saturday came from a free-kick, the first non-penalty set-piece goal Atlanta have scored all season.
Toronto – Federico Bernardeschi
Should Toronto get back to winning ways, the experience and skill of Bernardeschi will be key, having provided 12 goal involvements from 17 MLS appearances this season.
The Italian has four goals in his last five league games, and has previously scored twice against the Five Stripes.
MATCH PREDICTION: ATLANTA WIN
Atlanta will be confident of maintaining their impressive record against their opponents at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium this weekend, having gone seven games without defeat (W3 D4).
But the Five Stripes will be wary of their recent home record. Valentino’s side are winless in seven straight games in front of their home supporters, (D2 L5) having not recorded a home win since March 31.
Despite their 3-0 defeat to the New York Red Bulls last time out, Toronto can take confidence from the defeat. It marked just the fifth time all season that Toronto failed to find the net. Last season, Toronto was shut out an MLS-record 18 times as the Reds already have more goals this season (28) than they managed in 2023 (26).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Atlanta – 60.6%%
Draw – 20.7%%
Toronto – 18.7%
John Herdman has said that Toronto must go back to basics to halt their six-game winless run ahead of their trip to Atlanta United on Sunday.
The Reds fell to their third consecutive MLS defeat away to the New York Red Bulls last time out and have scored just four goals in their last five league fixtures.
Toronto enter the encounter in eighth place ahead of their trip to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, three points ahead of their opponents in the Eastern Conference.
Herdman's side Toronto FC has won only two of their last 30 away matches (D7 L21) dating back to September 2022, but the 48-year-old is keen to put an end to that run.
“We'll get back,” said Herdman. “As I've said to the lads, they just have to go to the next task.”
“That's all we can control at the moment,” he closed. “Just next task, back to basics, and then looking at evolving tactically for a tough match at Atlanta.”
For Atlanta, they are now unbeaten in their last three MLS games, having come from a goal down to draw with St. Louis City last Sunday.
Rob Valentino's side, however, have struggled at home in recent weeks and are without a win in seven (D2 L5), leaving them in ninth heading into the encounter.
The Five Stripes enter a busy period of the campaign, playing six matches in 18 days, starting by welcoming Toronto to Georgia, something which goalkeeper Brad Guzan knows about during his time in the Premier League.
“One of the most important things is being able to rest and recover mentally and physically," said Guzan.
So that when you step on the field for the next game, you are ready to go."
Atlanta – Daniel Rios
Having been an unused sub in consecutive games against Inter Miami and Charlotte, Rios has returned to the starting line-up with the desired impact, scoring two goals in his last three games.
The Mexican's equaliser against St. Louis City on Saturday came from a free-kick, the first non-penalty set-piece goal Atlanta have scored all season.
Toronto – Federico Bernardeschi
Should Toronto get back to winning ways, the experience and skill of Bernardeschi will be key, having provided 12 goal involvements from 17 MLS appearances this season.
The Italian has four goals in his last five league games, and has previously scored twice against the Five Stripes.
MATCH PREDICTION: ATLANTA WIN
Atlanta will be confident of maintaining their impressive record against their opponents at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium this weekend, having gone seven games without defeat (W3 D4).
But the Five Stripes will be wary of their recent home record. Valentino’s side are winless in seven straight games in front of their home supporters, (D2 L5) having not recorded a home win since March 31.
Despite their 3-0 defeat to the New York Red Bulls last time out, Toronto can take confidence from the defeat. It marked just the fifth time all season that Toronto failed to find the net. Last season, Toronto was shut out an MLS-record 18 times as the Reds already have more goals this season (28) than they managed in 2023 (26).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Atlanta – 60.6%%
Draw – 20.7%%
Toronto – 18.7%
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