ATLANTA — Atlanta United returns to action Sunday night against Western Conference opponent Sporting Kansas City for the first meeting between the two clubs. Atlanta enters Week 22 in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with 34 points. SKC enter this weekend in first place in the West with 36 points. The match is scheduled to kick-off at 8 p.m. EST and will be televised nationally on FS1.
Atlanta United tied Orlando City SC 1-1 July 29 in the final game at Bobby Dodd Stadium in front of 45,006 fans for the club’s ninth-straight sellout. Kaka put the visitors ahead in the 40th minute with a world-class shot from roughly 25 yards out. Orlando nearly held on for the win, but Tito Villalba equalized in stoppage time to steal a crucial home point.
Sporting Kansas City played its first match without star striker Dom Dwyer after he was traded to Orlando City on July 25. SKC had no trouble putting away one of the Eastern Conference’s best clubs in Chicago Fire during a 3-2 home win July 29. Dániel Sallói opened the scoring for Sporting KC in the 23th minute before a Matt Besler own goal leveled the match just five minutes later. A Benny Feilhaber bicycle kick gave SKC a 2-1 lead during first-half stoppage time. Latif Blessing extended the home side’s lead in the 51st minute when deflected Diego Rubio’s attempt on goal. David Accam brought one back in the 78th minute to cut the deficit to one, but SKC held on to claim all three points and remain atop the West.
