Kerry Zavagnin has been instructed the Sporting Kansas Metropolis job is his to maintain if he can encourage a turnaround, starting towards St. Louis Metropolis.
Sporting parted methods with long-serving coach Peter Vermes on Monday after a 2-1 defeat to FC Dallas left them with one level from six video games.
It means Saturday’s sport towards St. Louis at Kids’s Mercy Park shall be their first with out Vermes in cost in 15 years.
Zavagnin will now fill in as interim boss whereas the seek for a everlasting successor begins, however he may but be chosen to remain on himself.
Talking to reporters this week, Metropolis co-owner Mike Illig mentioned: “I’ve executed 4 offers with Kerry now.
“It’s all the time been understood between he and I that if something ever occurs to Peter, he would get an opportunity on the interim job.
“That mentioned, he understands we’re going to run a search, a world search alongside him. He’ll be thrown within the combine. I’ve instructed him it’s his job to lose.”
Pushing ahead #SportingKC pic.twitter.com/itbjZISwFG
— Sporting Kansas Metropolis (@SportingKC) April 3, 2025
Sporting KC have fewer factors than some other facet in MLS after six matches and subsequent welcome a St Louis facet who’re seven factors higher off.
Nonetheless, Olof Mellberg’s workforce have misplaced back-to-back video games by the identical 1-0 scoreline towards Philadelphia Union and Austin FC.
No workforce within the Western Convention has fewer targets than St. Louis’ 4, however Mellberg has refuted that may be resolved by utilizing extra attackers.
“We’ve tried on a number of events to go together with two strikers,” he mentioned. “We tried that in pre-season as properly. We all know we haven’t scored sufficient.
“We’ve put a number of focus into the assault. That is one thing we’ve been conscious of since pre-season and we’re working arduous on to enhance.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sporting KC – William Agada
Agada has been used primarily instead up to now this season, however a change in administration may imply an alteration within the line-up this weekend.
The ahead boasts a very good report on this fixture, too, having scored two targets and assisted one other in 4 regular-season conferences with St. Louis.
St. Louis – Simon Becher
As acknowledged by Mellberg, extra is required from his facet in an attacking sense having gone back-to-back video games with out discovering the online.
Becher has led the assault for each video games with out a lot success and, whereas extra assist is required, the ahead will know he must step up.
Similar, Sabrina pic.twitter.com/d1PGVsR7Bi
— St Louis CITY SC (@stlCITYsc) April 4, 2025
MATCH PREDICTION: ST. LOUIS WIN
Sporting have made their second-worst begin to a season, whereas they’re the primary membership in MLS historical past to gather fewer than two factors by way of six matches on a number of events.
Metropolis have misplaced 12 of their previous 13 matches stretching again into final season, in the meantime, and have conceded a number of targets in 11 of these video games.
By comparability, St. Louis have conceded solely two targets of their first six matches this season, making them the 14th workforce in MLS historical past to concede two or fewer at this stage.
Sporting could also be unbeaten in 4 all-time residence video games with St/ Louis, however they know they are going to have their work lower out this weekend.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Sporting KC – 32.8%
St Louis – 41.6%
Draw – 25.6%
