Sporting Kansas City vs. Austin FC Prediction, Match Preview and Betting Tips, 8 September 2025

Get ready for an exciting night of football as Sporting Kansas City takes on Austin FC at Children’s Mercy Park on 8 September 2025 in a Major League Soccer clash.

In a season where every point counts, Sporting Kansas City currently sits at 24th place with 27 points, while Austin FC is at 17th place with 38 points. Both teams are looking to improve their standing in the final stretch of the season.

Sporting Kansas City comes into the match as slight favorites, with bookmaker odds at 2.41 for a home win. Despite their challenging run of form with just one win in five games, they are known for their attacking prowess, led by top scorer Dejan Joveljic who has netted 16 goals this season.

On the other hand, Austin FC has shown more consistency, with 12 goals in their last five matches. However, they’ll be without their top scorer Brandon Vazquez due to a knee injury. Coach Nico Estévez will look to players like Myrto Uzuni to step up.

The recommended bet for this match is "Both Teams to Score (Yes)" given both teams’ scoring trends and defensive vulnerabilities.

Expect an entertaining contest as both teams battle for crucial points in this late-season matchup.

Sporting Kansas City vs Austin FC Prediction & Betting Tip

Sporting Kansas City vs Austin FC Prediction
Betting tip	Odds
Both Teams to Score (Yes)	1.75

• Sporting Kansas City’s Defensive Vulnerability: They have conceded 15 goals in their last 5 matches, averaging 3.00 goals per match, indicating a weak defense likely to concede.
• Austin FC’s Scoring Form: Austin FC has scored 12 goals in their last 5 matches, averaging 2.40 goals per match, showcasing their strong attacking capability.
• High Percentage of Matches with Both Teams Scoring: Sporting Kansas City has seen both teams score in 71% of their matches this season, highlighting a consistent pattern of both scoring and conceding.

Given these stats and current form, the "Both Teams to Score (Yes)" bet is strongly recommended by the data and observed trends.

Sporting Kansas City vs Austin FC Betting Odds

Sporting Kansas City vs Austin FC Betting Odds
Bet	Odds
Sporting Kansas City	2.41
Draw	3.64
Austin FC	2.61

This matchup is poised to be an intriguing contest, with the bookmakers tipping Sporting Kansas City as slight favorites with odds of 2.41 for a home win. However, Austin FC is not far behind at 2.61, indicating a fairly balanced game. A draw stands at an appealing 3.64, showcasing the unpredictable nature of this fixture.

Both teams enter this clash with contrasting forms. While Sporting Kansas City has been struggling recently, Austin FC has shown more consistency and attacking prowess. Given these odds, bettors might consider the high potential for both teams to find the net, making the "Both Teams to Score (Yes)" bet an enticing option.

Sporting Kansas City Team Analysis

Sporting Kansas City Recent Performance

Sporting Kansas City has struggled in recent matches, registering a record of L-L-L-L-W in their last five outings. A 4-2 victory against Colorado Rapids on August 31st offered a brief reprieve in an otherwise challenging period for the team.

Their average goals scored per game stands at 1.40 over these five matches, showing they can find the back of the net despite defensive vulnerabilities. However, they haven’t secured any clean sheets in this stretch, conceding a whopping 15 goals, which averages out to 3.00 goals per game—an area of significant concern.

With top scorer Dejan Joveljic netting 16 goals this season, there’s no doubt about their offensive capabilities. However, to improve their fortunes, Sporting Kansas City will need to shore up their defense and capitalize on their attacking prowess in the upcoming games.

Sporting Kansas City Key Players

Sporting Kansas City’s attacking force will be spearheaded by Dejan Joveljic, who has impressively netted 16 goals this season. His consistent scoring makes him a key player to watch in this match. Complimenting his efforts, Daniel Salloi and Magomed-Shapi Suleymanov will form the attacking trident, bringing speed and creativity to the wings.

In midfield, Santiago Munoz is expected to play a crucial role in both defensive and offensive transitions, alongside Jake Davis who will be tasked with controlling the tempo. Jacob Bartlett will provide additional support in central areas.

Considering their defensive struggles, key individual battles such as Joveljic against Austin FC’s centre-backs, Oleksandr Svatok and Brendan Hines-Ike, could be decisive. Additionally, Khiry Shelton and Tim Leibold will need to be solid at the back to counter Austin FC’s dynamic forwards.

Expected lineup for Sporting Kansas City:

• Goalkeeper: John Pulskamp
• Defenders: Khiry Shelton, Robert Voloder, Ian James, Tim Leibold
• Midfielders: Jacob Bartlett, Jake Davis, Santiago Munoz
• Forwards: Magomed-Shapi Suleymanov, Dejan Joveljic, Daniel Salloi

Their performance will be vital if Sporting Kansas City hopes to turn their fortunes around in this crucial fixture.

Sporting Kansas City Suspensions & Injuries

Sporting Kansas City faces some challenges ahead of their clash with Austin FC due to both suspensions and injuries.

Midfielder Zorhan Bassong is currently suspended due to accumulated yellow cards and will miss this crucial match. His absence will undoubtedly impact the team’s midfield strength, especially in ball recovery and defensive solidity.

Additionally, the team will be without Manu García, who is recovering from a hip injury. He is not expected to return until mid-September. García’s creativity and experience in the midfield will be sorely missed.

These absences mean that coach Kerry Zavagnin will have to make adjustments, potentially giving opportunities to other squad members to step up and fill the void. It will be interesting to see how these changes affect their overall performance against Austin FC.

Sporting Kansas City Tactics and Formation

Sporting Kansas City will likely adopt a 4-3-3 formation for their upcoming match against Austin FC, emphasizing both offensive and defensive roles.

Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 4-3-3
• Key Forward: Dejan Joveljic, who has netted 16 goals this season
• Midfield Trio: Jacob Bartlett, Jake Davis, and Santiago Munoz
• Defensive Strategy: Given their recent struggles, the defense needs to tighten up, especially considering they have conceded 15 goals in their last five games
• Notable Strategy: Utilizing the wings effectively with Magomed-Shapi Suleymanov and Daniel Salloi, providing width and support to Joveljic

Coach Kerry Zavagnin will aim to shore up the defense while capitalizing on the offensive prowess of his attackers. Expect a high pressing game to limit Austin FC’s playmaking, paired with quick transitions to exploit their scoring opportunities.

Austin FC Team Analysis

Austin FC Recent Performance

Austin FC has shown a more consistent form compared to Sporting Kansas City, with a recent record of W-D-D-L-W. Their offensive prowess has been evident, scoring 12 goals in their last five matches, which averages out to 2.40 goals per game. This attacking form will be crucial as they face Sporting Kansas City’s vulnerable defense.

Defensively, though, they have also struggled, failing to keep a clean sheet in their last five games. They have conceded 1.2 goals on average in their 27 matches this season, indicating potential areas of vulnerability that Sporting Kansas City might exploit.

Despite the absence of top scorer Brandon Vazquez, Austin FC’s attacking lineup, led by players like Myrto Uzuni, will be looking to make an impact. The team’s ability to score in 70% of their matches this season highlights their offensive consistency and will be a key factor in the upcoming encounter.

Austin FC Key Players

Austin FC will be looking to their offensive lineup to drive their performance in the upcoming match against Sporting Kansas City. Despite missing top scorer Brandon Vazquez, who has netted 5 goals this season, they still possess a potent attack featuring Myrto Uzuni and Jon Gallagher. Uzuni, being a reliable goal threat, will need to step up in Vazquez’s absence.

Daniel Pereira and Owen Wolff are expected to play pivotal roles in the midfield, contributing both defensively and offensively. They’ll aim to orchestrate the play and keep the team’s momentum going.

The defensive line, consisting of Brendan Hines-Ike and Oleksandr Svatok, will have their hands full trying to neutralize Sporting Kansas City’s top scorer Dejan Joveljic.

Expected lineup for Austin FC:

• Goalkeeper: Brad Stuver
• Defenders: Mikkel Desler, Brendan Hines-Ike, Oleksandr Svatok, Guilherme Biro
• Midfielders: Nicolas Dubersarsky, Daniel Pereira, Owen Wolff
• Forwards: Osman Bukari, Myrto Uzuni, Jon Gallagher

This balance of experienced individuals and young talent will be crucial for Austin FC in their quest for a positive result.

Austin FC Suspensions & Injuries

Austin FC heads into the match with a few injury concerns, which could impact their overall performance.

Top scorer Brandon Vazquez is out with a knee injury and isn’t expected to return until mid-September, which leaves a gap in their attacking capabilities. His absence means that others, like Myrto Uzuni, will have to step up their game.

Additionally, midfielder Ilie Sanchez is sidelined with a back injury, with a potential return late in September. Sanchez’s absence will affect Austin FC’s midfield depth and stability.

These injuries will likely force coach Nico Estévez to make tactical adjustments, providing an opportunity for other squad members to show their capabilities. How Austin FC adapts to these absences could be crucial in deciding the outcome of the match.

Austin FC Tactics and Formation

For their upcoming match against Sporting Kansas City, Austin FC is likely to stick with their reliable 4-3-3 formation, focusing on a balanced approach between attack and defense.

Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 4-3-3
• Key Forward: Myrto Uzuni, who will need to fill the void left by the injured Brandon Vazquez
• Midfield Trio: Nicolas Dubersarsky, Daniel Pereira, and Owen Wolff, who will be central in linking up play between defense and attack
• Defensive Strategy: Despite conceding goals recently, the defense led by Brendan Hines-Ike and Oleksandr Svatok must tighten up to mitigate Sporting Kansas City’s offensive threats
• Notable Strategy: Austin FC has a knack for scoring late, particularly in the 76-90-minute interval, which could be decisive against Sporting Kansas City

Coach Nico Estévez will likely emphasize maintaining possession and quick transitions to exploit Kansas City’s leaky defense. Look out for wing play from Osman Bukari and Jon Gallagher, who will aim to stretch the opposition’s backline.

Sporting Kansas City vs Austin FC Head-to-Head Statistics

In their last five encounters, Austin FC holds a slight advantage with three wins to Sporting Kansas City’s two. The most recent matchup on February 23, 2025, ended in a narrow 1-0 victory for Austin FC.

Here are the results of the last five meetings:

1. Austin FC 1 – 0 Sporting Kansas City (23 February 2025)
2. Sporting Kansas City 2 – 0 Austin FC (30 June 2024)
3. Austin FC 3 – 2 Sporting Kansas City (19 May 2024)
4. Austin FC 2 – 1 Sporting Kansas City (16 July 2023)
5. Sporting Kansas City 4 – 1 Austin FC (11 June 2023)

The games have been closely contested, reflecting a balanced rivalry. Sporting Kansas City’s significant win came on June 11, 2023, with a 4-1 scoreline, while Austin FC managed important victories at home. The head-to-head stats suggest a competitive fixture, with both teams capable of securing the upper hand.

Odds accurate as of 09.06.2025 00:04, and are subject to change. Please always check the odds before placing your bets with any bookmaker.