Sporting KC vs Orlando City SC Prediction, 9/23/2020 Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

by Tony Sink - 9/22/2020

Game: Sporting KC vs Orlando City SC

Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Location: Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, KS

TV: FS1

Odds/Point Spread: Kansas City (-137) Orlando (+366)

Johnny Russell and Orlando City (6-4-2, 3rd in the Eastern Conference) go to Children's Mercy Park on Wednesday where they'll take on Sporting KC (6-2-4, 2nd in the Western Conference). The starting goalkeepers are Tim Melia for Sporting KC and Pedro Gallese for Orlando City. Sporting Kansas City is priced at -137 while the Lions are at +366. The total opens at 3.

Kansas City has been able to maintain possession for 51.7% of games while they successfully dribble 59.6% of the time (15th in the league). They have launched 180 shots at their opponents goal with 52 being on target, which means they have a 28.9% shots on target percentage. Sporting KC have collected 22 goals this season, which is 5th in MLS. They have received 4,870 passes on 5,520 attempts for the season, making their receiving percentage 88.2%.

Johnny Russell is one guy you are going to want to keep your eye on for Sporting KC. Russell has been in the starting lineup in 286 games during his MLS career while he scores 0.32 goals per 90 mins. The forward who is from Scotland has tallied 89 goals scored (13th among active players) in 25,384 minutes played. He has totaled 47 assists while accumulating 25 yellow cards so far in his pro soccer career. One more player who should impact this match is Graham Zusi, the defender who was born in the United States. Zusi has been on the field for 22,868 mins in 249 starts and has been handed a total of 25 yellow cards. He has assisted a teammate on a goal 47 times so far in his career while scoring 29 total goals. He sports an average of 0.11 goals per 90 minutes so far in his pro soccer career (180th among active MLS players).

The guy who will defend the goal for Kansas City will be Tim Melia. Melia (72-47-63 mark during his soccer career) has totaled 55 clean sheets, which has him sitting with a 30.4% clean sheet percentage. The keeper from the United States has faced 789 shots sent in his direction in 181 starting assignments. His goals against per 90 mins is 1.28 (232 total goals allowed) and he has earned a save % of .719. Melia has seen the pitch for 16,253 minutes and is sitting with 567 stops so far in his career.

Orlando has 5,477 targets on the season (9th in the league) to go along with 4,845 successful received passes. They have a receiving percentage of 88.5% and they control possession of the ball 51.9% of the time. The Lions have had success dribbling 60.1% of the time this year while tallying 22 goals. They have completed 38% of their shots on target out of 142 shots.

Tesho Akindele should provide a lift for Orlando. The forward who hails from Canada has played 9,156 mins while scoring 35 goals (61st among active MLS players). He has totaled 10 yellow card cautions in his MLS career and has helped a teammate on a goal 9 times. He scores 0.34 G/90 and has had a starting assignment in 196 contests during his MLS career. Be sure to watch out for Junior Urso, the midfielder who was born in Brazil. Urso has been handed a total of 18 yellow cards in 10,781 mins (126 career starts). His goals per 90 minute average during his MLS career is 0.20 (126th among active players). He has accumulated 24 goals so far in his MLS career while assisting a teammate on a goal 5 times.

Pedro Gallese will reside in front of the net for the Lions. Gallese has accumulated 26 clean sheets while he has defended 200 shots attempted against him in 11,541 mins throughout his career. He has a save % of .645 and his clean sheet rate is currently 20.0%. He has conceded 1.05 goals per 90 while earning a record of 43-34-51. In his career, Gallese has conceded 135 goals while he has accumulated 129 stops in 130 starting assignments.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Kansas City (-137)

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Sporting KC vs Orlando City SC Prediction, 9/23/2020 Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

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