Sporting KC seek better 90-minute effort vs. New York City FC

Sporting Kansas City fell just short of coming back from a big first-half deficit their last time out. They hope for a better fate on Saturday night as they face New York City FC in Kansas City, Kan.

Kansas City (6-11-5, 23 points) trailed the Seattle Sounders 3-0 at halftime, but despite converting a pair of second-half penalties, it fell 3-2 as its three-match unbeaten streak (2-0-1) came to an end.

SKC interim head coach Kerry Zavagnin is hoping Saturday's match sees his team show a more consistent performance throughout the night.

"We have lost control at times in the first half. I don't think it's energy. I don't think it's mentality. I think it's an awareness of the group that the game is 90 minutes, and you have to work your way into the game while maintaining control of it," Zavagnin said.

Sporting Kansas City hope that Dejan Joveljic (13 goals) can continue his hot streak of eight goals in nine matches as they look to move up the table. With 12 matches remaining, Kansas City is six points behind the San Jose Earthquakes for the ninth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with two teams between them in the standings.

New York City FC (10-8-4, 34 points) took down Orlando City in dramatic fashion on Wednesday, forcing an own goal in the 87th minute before a match-winner from Alonso Martinez in the first minute of second-half stoppage time to win 2-1.

Martinez had a chance at what looked to be a sure goal in the 63rd minute, but instead hit the far post despite Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese being out of position.

But his stoppage-time winner, his ninth goal of the season, could be what he needed to get through what's been a "tough time" trying to match his 16-goal output of last year, New York City head coach Pascal Jansen noted.

"Sometimes he looks a little tired from all the games he's playing. He's a number nine. He lives off his goals. And like you saw (Wednesday), he missed a huge opportunity, but we kept him in the game," Jansen said. "As long as we have his back, he'll be OK and get back to his normal level."

New York City, currently in seventh in the Eastern Conference standings, has split the first two matches of a four-match away stretch. It is 2-5-4 away from home.

--Field Level Media