In a battle of USMNT legends, Petere Vermes drops in on Tab Ramos and the pair of NJ coaches will battle it out Saturday at 7 p.m. CT in BBVA Compass Stadium. Ties are far better than losses as the hosts have a 3-4-7 record with 16 points, just 4 below the 6-5-2 visitors. This is the 4th time they face off on the year, follow it on ESPN 94.5FM , La Grande 1340 AM, ESPN+, FOX Sports Kansas CIty, FOX Sports Midwest & FOX Sports Go from 6:30.
Peter Vermes now in year #12 with a win would be only the 5th MLS coach to reach 150 wins in the regular season, his charges come in with 6 days of rest following the Rapids game being pushed back to Oct. 21. They are in the start or 30 days with 9 games, the busiest time in the history of the club
This game may be a tunring point for both sides as KC is 1-4-2 of late yet retain 3rd place just 4 points below the top of the table, Houston are but a point out of the playoff picture and need their first win in almost a month, 2-1 over KC, 3 ties and 2 losses, including to first year side Nashville 1-1 away have not helped their cause. Houston is but 9 points off the lead themselves, a win cuts that by a third. The top 8 teams make the playoffs, this year still in a single elimination format as we advance to the Dec. 12 title game.
Johnny Russell, huge these last 2 years in claiming the Offensive Player of the Year honor is clearly a top attacker league wide. This year has been no different as he has all of the last 4 goals for the team going back to Sept.13 for a season total of 6. He is the 4th player forr Sporting to get 4 in a row, his 3 game scoring streak is the 2nd longest league wide this season.
Dawin Quintero of Houston is also an offensive power to be reckoned with, only one other player this year has 5 goals and 7 assists, that includes the 2 goals and twice that in assists over his last pair of games with SKC. Alberth Elis is gone to Portugal, Nik Hansen and Mauro Manotas are hoped to fill the gap, with his 8 goals over the last 11 games, Mauro he seems up to the task.