Wicky backs Sporting KC's spirit after Portland fightback as Nashville test looms

Wicky sees positives in Portland point

Sporting Kansas City fought back to draw 3-3 against Portland Timbers last time out, and now face MLS leaders Nashville SC. Raphael Wicky believes the comeback will help his side finish the season strongly.

Sporting KC were down 3-1 in the 64th minute against the Timbers. Quickfire efforts from Justin Reynolds and Andre Luiz saw the club, currently the bottom side in MLS, claim a point.

Coach highlights mindset shift

Wicky admitted that earlier in the season, falling behind often led to problems for his team.

"I think early in the season, before the World Cup break, probably at 3-1 down we have seen games where then the guys started chasing, losing their shape, losing their heads, and then you [concede] the fourth one," he said.

"Maybe it's learning. Maybe it's being more confident because, to be fair, the last two and a half months, the performances of the team have been way better and have been, at times, really good.

He added that the team must now turn its performances into results.

"We just cannot turn it into results. Also, when you feel like you have a good performance and you're competitive, it gives you confidence.

"Of course, in the end, it's always the win that gives you the most confidence. But if you see that you're actually playing well and creating a lot and scoring in every game and able to move the ball, I think that gives you confidence.

"I hope that this is giving this team confidence and we can keep growing together."

Players to watch

Nashville SC: Hany Mukhtar

Mukhtar has scored in three straight matches for Nashville, totalling four goals in those games. It is the seventh time in his career he has scored in at least three consecutive regular-season matches, including a four-match run in September 2022 and a five-match run in June-July 2022.

Sporting Kansas City: Andre Luiz

Luiz has scored seven goals in his last five MLS matches, finding the net at least once in each. Only Johnny Russell has a longer run in Sporting's MLS history, scoring in eight consecutive matches in September-October 2021.

Match context

The Portland draw was Sporting's 10th match this season without defeat and their fifth in which they had to come from behind to avoid losing. Nashville continued their pursuit of the MLS points record with a 4-1 win over Austin FC on Saturday, taking them to 63 points from 28 matches, one more than any team has managed through 28 matches in MLS history.

The sides have split the first four meetings, with each winning twice. This will be their first meeting since 2023; the only previous match in Nashville was a 2-1 Sporting win in June 2022.

Match prediction

Opta's win probabilities give Nashville SC a 71% chance of winning, a 16.5% chance of a draw and a 12.5% chance for Sporting KC.