Calheira frustrated Sporting KC's performances have not been rewarded

Sporting Kansas City forward Taylor Calheira conceded that it is frustrating for the club when they give their all and do not get results, with Austin FC next up.

Sporting KC have no chance of finishing in the playoffs as they sit bottom of the Western Conference on 22 points, having failed to win any of their last four games (D1 L3).

They have lost their last two outings, including a 3-1 defeat to Real Salt Lake in their most recent match.

And Calheira is disappointed that they have not been able to pick up more points during a frustrating campaign.

"We're all trying. That's the frustrating part," he said. "I feel like we're all giving our 100% no matter what.

"We're trying to get out of last place. We know how big of a club the club is and how much it means to wear the Sporting badge.

"We're all trying. We're all giving our 100%, and I think that's the frustrating part, when things aren't going our way."

Austin's playoff hopes are slipping away after failing to win any of their last five MLS matches (D2 L3), falling to three straight defeats, including a 2-1 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps.

They sit eight points behind the ninth-place Colorado Rapids with four games remaining, and interim head coach Davy Arnaud lamented their slow starts in recent performances.

"They're good teams," Arnaud said.

"They're very good teams, and against these very good teams, you have to be performing at a top level from the start of the game, which we haven't been."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sporting Kansas City – Andre Luiz

Luiz had an assist on Kansas City's goal against Salt Lake and now has nine goal contributions (seven goals, two assists) in his nine career MLS matches.

Despite not making his debut until August 29, Luiz's nine goal contributions are the third-most by an SKC player this season (Dejan Joveljic – 11, Calvin Harris – 10).

Austin FC – Myrto Uzuni

Uzuni scored his seventh goal of the season and his third with his left foot against Vancouver.

Uzuni has six career left-footed goals for Austin in the regular season, the second most by any player in club history, trailing only Jon Gallagher (seven).

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

Sporting KC earned their first road win against Austin in May, but the club have never won consecutive matches in the series.

The only time Kansas City have earned at least a point in consecutive matches against Austin was a win and a draw in the first two meetings in the series in 2021.

And Sporting KC have conceded at least three goals in 15 different MLS matches this season following their 3-1 loss to RSL. No other team in MLS history has had more than 13 matches with three or more goals allowed in a single regular season.

Meanwhile, since joining MLS in 2021, Austin have scored exactly 100 goals on the road in the regular season. That is the second-fewest road goals among teams who have been in the league every season during that time, besting only Toronto FC's 86 goals.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Sporting Kansas City – 37.2%

Draw – 26.4%

Austin FC – 36.4%