Crew SC-Sporting KC preview

Two clubs used to being in the playoff picture match up Sunday as Sporting Kansas City hosts Columbus Crew with plenty of work ahead.

Both squads are on the outside of the playoff picture as it stands with about half the season remaining.

Sporting stands in seventh with 22 points, just a point behind the Portland Timbers and the Los Angeles Galaxy who are tied for fifth in the Western Conference, and two points behind the Vancouver Whitecaps, who stand in fourth.

The situation is more dire for Columbus, which played in the MLS Cup final last season. The Crew has just 16 points, good for only ninth place in the 10-team Eastern Conference. The Crew stand four points behind sixth-place Orlando City.

Sporting is undefeated in its last three MLS matches (1-0-2), thanks in large part to forward Dom Dwyer. He scored both goals in SKC's last league match at Montreal June 25 as SKC salvaged a 2-2 draw. His eight goals lead Sporting and are third in MLS.

The Crew are winless in their last three matches (0-1-2) and have just one win in their last eight. Striker Ola Kamara has led the Crew over the last month, scoring five goals in his last four league games. Midfielders Justin Meram and Ethan Finlay have chipped in five assists each for a team that leads MLS in possession.

Sporting Kansas City has gone 5-1-1 against Columbus in the last seven regular-season meetings. SKC is 4-1-0 vs. the Crew SC all-time at Children's Mercy Park, with 11 goals scored and five allowed, including shutout victories in each of the last two visits.

Both teams will face injury absences. Sporting KC will be without Chance Myers (hamstring). Paulo Nagamura and Nuno Coelho are questionable with thigh strains. Columbus will be without Federico Higuain (hernia), Gaston Sauro (PCL sprain) and Matt Pacifici (concussion).