Sporting Kansas City forward Shapi Suleymanov wants to do everything he can to make his fans happy this season ahead of facing the Houston Dynamo this weekend. 

Suleymanov played in Russia, Turkey, Israel, and Greece before arriving in Kansas for his MLS debut.

Kansas City are struggling in the Western Conference, currently 13th after 15 games and seven points off a playoff spot.

After adapting to his new environment, Suleymanov is ready to give his all for the team and the fans.

Suleymanov said: "It's not that difficult to be honest, maybe the first three weeks, a month, you need to adapt, getting an apartment, furniture, or something like that, but after that it's easy.

"I give my maximum for the games. I will give my all. Fans will never see me like I don't want to move, I will try and give my best because we play for the fans.

"We want them to be happy, when we win, they're happy and we will give the maximum."

Interim head coach Kerry Zavagnin said Suleymanov's desire to win makes him a good leader in the squad.

"He's such a nice guy and has integrated himself with the group,2 said Zavagnin. "He's got a great personality and a great sense of humour. But when he gets on the field, he's a completely different person.

"He puts the mask on, if you will, and does embrace that villain role. He doesn't really care what people think or say or do from the fan perspective. I think that actually energises him. For us, I think that helps us. It helps us from an energy and an emotional level that we can join him.

"You're always competing in games like this that are rising to the level of just being over the edge. He's our leader in that regard."

Houston are currently ninth in the Western Conference, occupying the playoff sport that Kansas will be fighting for.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Houston Dynamo – Ezequiel Ponce

Ponce has caught the eye for Houston this season. The striker is the side's top scorer with four goals, two of those having been the critical first of the match.

He has also scored three in his last five games in all competitions, hitting his best form since moving to Houston last season.

Sporting Kansas City – Dejan Joveljic

Joveljic has been the leading attacking threat for Sporting KC, netting on seven occasions.

He scored a penalty in his last game as Kansas found the net three times in eight minutes.

MATCH PREDICTION – HOUSTON DYNAMO WIN

Two clubs on opposite paths face off at Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday as Houston look to prolong a four-match MLS unbeaten streak while Sporting KC are winless in four straight.

Houston have got the better of Sporting KC of late, unbeaten in the last three MLS matches between them. Sporting KC are looking for their first league win in encounters between the two teams since September 2023.

After losing their first three home matches this season, Houston have dropped only one of their last five at Shell Energy Stadium (W3 D1).

Kansas, meanwhile, have drawn each of their last three matches, with two of those draws coming on the road, including a 0-0 at San Diego FC in their last away match. Sporting last kept clean sheets in consecutive regular season away matches in August 2021 (three straight).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Houston Dynamo – 58.4%

Sporting Kansas City – 19.9%

Draw – 21.6%