» Soccer Picks » Sporting KC vs New York City FC MLS Picks & Predictions 7/26/2019

Sporting KC vs New York City FC MLS Picks & Predictions 7/26/2019

by Tony Sink - 7/25/2019

Friday, July 26, 2019

Yankee Stadium

Johnny Russell and Sporting KC (6-7-8, 10th in the Western Conference) head to Yankee Stadium on Friday where they'll meet New York City FC (8-8-3, 5th in the Eastern Conference). The expected starting goalkeepers are Tim Melia for Sporting KC and Sean Johnson for New York City FC. NYCFC is priced at -143 while Sporting Kansas City is at +320. The over/under is set at 2.5.

Sporting KC comes into this matchup holding a mark of 6 wins, 7 draws, and 8 losses putting them at 10th in the Western Conference. So far this year, they have racked up a total of 30 goals which ranks them 8th in the West and 16th in the league. That said, if they are going to get the win this game, they will want to put some goals in the back of the net. Their goal differential is -4 putting them at 18th in the league. Sporting KC will look to get teammates more involved in this game because they currently have a total of 18 assists which ranks them 19th in the league and 10th in the West. With regard to shots on target, they currently have a total of 111 which ranks them 3rd in the West and 7th in the league. As a unit, Kansas City has compiled a total of 262 fouls which means they have an average of 12.48 fouls per contest. They currently have a total of 25 points for the 2019 season and they are averaging an attendance of 18,901.

Johnny Russell is one of the players to keep an eye on for Sporting KC. The midfielder from Scotland has engaged in 16 games in 2019 and has played a total of 1,180 minutes. In that time, the 28-year-old has connected on 7 goals and has assisted on 3 goals. He currently holds an average of 74 mins per game. Russell has been a starter in 13 games in 2019 and has racked up 10 fouls over that period. With regard to shots on target, Russell has produced 15 which ranks him 45th in Major League Soccer and 6th in the East among midfielders. Krisztián Németh is another scorer to watch out for on the team from Kansas City. The 30-year-old from Hungary has netted 7 goals in 2019 which has him sitting in 10th in the Eastern Conference among forwards and 21st among all qualified players in MLS. He has played 1,258 mins and holds an average of 70 mins per game which has him sitting in 263rd in MLS. Thus far in the season, he has produced 17 shots on target which has him sitting in 10th in the Eastern Conference among forwards.

Looking after the net for Sporting KC is Tim Melia from the United States. He is 32 years old and has played 1,800 minutes defending the goal for the 2019 season. Melia is allowing an average of 1.75 goals per 90 minutes which has him placed 13th in the West and 32nd among goaltenders in MLS. So far this year, he has surrendered 35 goals. He has a save % of .653 which has him placed 14th in the West.

New York City FC comes into this match with a record of 8 victories, 8 draws, and 3 losses ranking them 5th in the Eastern Conference. So far this season, they have converted a total of 33 goals which has them sitting at 5th in the conference and 8th in the league. This means that if they are going to win in this matchup, they will look to play mistake free soccer so they can take advantage of their opportunities. Their goal differential is +10 ranking them 3rd in the league. New York City FC will want to move the ball around the pitch and get the ball to their scorers because they have earned a total of 24 assists which has them sitting at 6th in the league and 4th in the conference. As to shots on target, they have earned a total of 106 which has them sitting at 5th in the conference and 8th in the league. As a team, New York City has collected a total of 266 fouls which has them averaging 14 fouls per game. They have earned a total of 32 points for the year and they have an average crowd of 20,704.

Héber is one of the standout players to keep an eye on for NYCFC. The forward from Brazil has competed in 12 contests this year and has played 891 mins. During that time, the 27-year-old has tallied 8 goals and has assisted on 2 goals. So far this year he is averaging 74 mins per game. Héber has started 10 contests this year and has committed 10 fouls during that period. Regarding shots on target, Héber has totaled 15 which has him sitting in 39th in MLS and 8th in the Eastern Conference among forwards. Maximiliano Moralez is another scorer to watch out for on the squad from New York City. The 31-year-old from Argentina has racked up 6 goals so far this year which has him sitting in 6th in the East among midfielders and 36th among all qualified players in MLS. He has totaled 1,489 minutes and holds an average of 88 minutes per appearance which has him sitting in 65th in MLS. So far this season, he has earned 19 shots on target which has him sitting in 6th in the East among midfielders.

Protecting the goal for NYCFC is Sean Johnson from the United States. He is 29 years old and has racked up 1,350 mins protecting the net for the year. Johnson is conceding an average of 1.20 goals per 90 mins which puts him at 6th among East goaltenders and 10th among goaltenders in MLS. During this season, he's allowed 18 goals. He holds a save % of .609 which puts him at 14th among East goaltenders.

Who will win tonight's MLS game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Kansas City (+320)

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Sporting KC vs New York City FC MLS Picks & Predictions 7/26/2019

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