Although both teams are at the top and bottom of the league table, I think this match is difficult to predict for various reasons.
Both sides have been playing tight schedules lately, but FC LA's situation is more serious, as they will be playing in the CONCACAF Champions League, as well as facing their rivals LA Galaxy in the 16th round of the USL Cup, and also in the USL, which is a lot of fixtures. On the other hand, Sporting Kansas have already exited all the cup competitions.
However, FC Los Angeles coach Jey Ventuno is wrong if he thinks that Sporting Kansas is low in the league and that his starters will be rested. Rotation is fine, but I think the visitors are capable of coming back with a win, so FC Los Angeles will need to be on their toes.
Dennis Buanga has scored 4 goals in his last 5 matches and he is at the top of the USL Top Scorers list. In the last round of the league, he scored a brilliant long-distance goal to help his team beat Real Salt Lake 3-0, and he is expected to be a crisis figure again this time.
Sporting Kansas have won their last two league matches, with a USL Cup defeat in the middle, but I think the results of those two league matches against the Seattle Sounders and Minnesota United may not have been that good.
In the game against Minnesota United, Timberlake not only saved a 12-yarder, but his replacement, McGillivray Duthie, also made a great save, so it is possible that this game will end up as a 2-2 game, rather than a 3-0 win.
Although Sporting Kansas is improving, I still think they are weak at the back, and experienced goalkeeper Tim Miriam is likely to miss the game after his injury last time, which will have a serious impact on the team, so I expect FC Los Angeles to get a narrow win over Sporting Kansas and take all 3 points.
