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• ​Sporting Kansas City v Colorado Rapids: Armas hails visitors' professionalism

  Chris Armas has hailed the Colorado Rapids' professionalism as they close in on a playoff spot, ahead of Wednesday's trip to Sporting Kansas City.

  The Rapids sit third in the Western Conference amid a fine first campaign under Armas, and they boast an impressive seven-point cushion to those outside the automatic playoff places.

  Goals from Jonathan Lewis and Rafael Navarro handed them a 2-1 win over the in-form Portland Timbers last time out, but Armas says there is no chance of his men losing focus after that result.

  "It was a big step for our team," Armas said. "The mood in the locker room is one where it's like, 'it's just another day in the office'.

  "There's no big celebration but they understand that was a big step for us, to get three points in a decisive game, to put some separation there.

  "We have our eye on the prize, which is the playoffs. The mood is good, we've learned, we've grown and when the whistle blows, it's just three points closer." 

  Kansas City, meanwhile, look destined to miss out on the playoffs, sitting 12th and needing to make up an 11-point gap to the wild-card spots in just five games.

  They were beaten 2-0 by the Seattle Sounders last time out, leading coach Peter Vermes to express frustration with their response to conceding first.

  "I actually think we started the game really well, we were keeping them in their end, and we really didn't give them anything in our end," Vermes said. 

  "They got their goal off us being in a position to play forward but we played backwards. We were for sure the better team at the time, but when they scored, it put us back on our heels."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH 

  Sporting Kansas City – Daniel Salloi 

  Salloi has scored five goals in nine career matches against the Rapids. The only opponent he has scored more goals against is FC Dallas, netting eight against them.

  Colorado Rapids – Djordje Mihailovic 

  Mihailovic assisted both Rapids goals in their win over Portland last Saturday. 

  He has 65 goal contributions since the start of the 2020 season (25 goals, 40 assists), and the only American international with more in that time is Jesus Ferreira (69).

  MATCH PREDICTION – SPORTING KANSAS CITY WIN

  The Rapids have won their last two matches against Kansas City, including a 2-1 home success on July 4. Colorado had won just two of the previous 13 matches between the sides (six draws, five losses) dating back to the start of the 2018 season.

  Colorado's 3-2 victory at Dallas on their last road trip, on August 31, meanwhile, was their fifth away win this season. Only in 2021 (eight) and 2011 (six) have they won more on their travels in the post-shootout era.

  However, this is a tough test for Armas' men, with Sporting winning six of their last eight home games across all competitions (one draw, one loss), their only defeat in that span coming against Toluca in the Leagues Cup.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Sporting Kansas City – 41.3%

  Colorado Rapids – 32%

  Draw – 26.7%

• Orlando City v Charlotte FC: McGuire glad to be back among the goals

  Duncan McGuire is glad to be back among the goals as Orlando City continue their playoff charge, with a home clash with Eastern Conference rivals Charlotte FC next on the agenda.

  McGuire had gone over two months without a goal in MLS play since netting in June's 4-2 defeat to New York City, prior to Saturday's meeting with the New England Revolution.

  But he was on target in a 3-0 win for Oscar Pareja's team, who now boast a four-point cushion to those outside the automatic playoff spots in the Eastern Conference standings.

  Speaking after the game, the forward said: "It's always good to score. It has been a while since I've scored. 

  "It's been a bit annoying for my standards, so I'm definitely glad to be back on the scoresheet.

  "But at the end of the day, if we're winning as a team, then that's all that matters. But yeah, I'm definitely glad to be back on the scoresheet and hopefully I can keep it going.

  "We're very excited and it helps us with motivation and confidence going into the next one. We're excited to get the win and onto Wednesday."

  Wednesday's game could prove pivotal in the battle to reach the postseason, with Charlotte just two places and two points behind the Lions in the standings.

  The Crown were going well before the Leagues Cup break but have since suffered back-to-back losses versus Atlanta United and CF Montreal, leading coach Dean Smith to rally his troops.

  "Before the break, we had three of the toughest games you can get, and we came through those away games unbeaten with five points and probably should have had more," he said.

  "My consistent message is this is a new game; this is a new beginning. 

  "When you have six games left and build it like that, then they know their performance levels have to be to go and win that game."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH 

  Orlando City – Duncan McGuire

  Since the beginning of last season, McGuire has recorded 27 goal contributions (21 goals, six assists) in the regular season for Orlando. 

  That is the second most by any American in that time, behind only Brian White (34).

  Charlotte FC – Tim Ream

  Ream scored his first goal for Charlotte from a header against Montreal last time out. It was Ream's second career MLS goal, with the other coming on September 11 2010, for the New York Red Bulls, a gap of 5,117 days.

  MATCH PREDICTION – ORLANDO CITY WIN

  Charlotte are unbeaten in four straight matches against Orlando City in all competitions (two wins, two draws) after the Lions won each of the first two meetings between the sides.

  The Crown have also scored at least once in each of their last four away matches in league play, only being shut out three times on their travels this year. Only five MLS teams have been shut out fewer times on the road this season.

  While they will carry a threat, Orlando have won their last two games by 3-0 scorelines, at home to Nashville SC and New England, the first time they have won back-to-back MLS matches by three or more goals. They go in as favourites.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Orlando City – 53.4%

  Charlotte FC – 22.7%

  Draw – 23.9%

• Los Angeles FC v Austin FC: Wolff still targeting playoff spot

  Austin FC may have suffered a disappointing loss last time out, but Josh Wolff is aiming to bounce back against Los Angeles FC to give themselves a playoff chance.

  The Black and Verde were beaten 2-1 by Toronto FC at the weekend after failing to find a late equaliser, condemning them to a second consecutive defeat.

  Austin currently sit 11th in the Western Conference but are losing ground on the playoff spots as they are 10 points behind Houston Dynamo in seventh.

  Wolff admitted that their task is now harder but is determined to make sure his team are still in the conversation come the end of the regular season.

  "I think there's a points total that we have in mind," Wolff said, "but we need to work on things.

  "We're going to be able to get chances, but the playoffs are still achievable. We have to pick up points and get to the last game with a chance of still getting in.

  "We've got to take care of our chances in a better way, that's all."

  Meanwhile, LAFC are winless in three MLS matches, giving up a 2-0 lead against rivals LA Galaxy last time out in a 4-2 defeat.

  They still sit second in the table, but the teams below them have closed the gap.

  Steve Cherundolo was quick to brush aside Saturday's defeat, with his sole focus now on picking up three points.

  "We'll try to turn it around as fast as possible to get some points on Wednesday night," he said.

  "We'll continue to go and hope fatigue doesn't play more of a part as players continue to get towards full fitness."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  LAFC – Denis Bouanga

  Denis Bouanga has scored six career goals against Austin FC in all competitions, tied for the most of any player against them.

  Austin FC – Alexander Ring

  Austin failed to register a shot on target against Vancouver on August 31 but improved on that despite their loss to Toronto last time out.

  While Owen Wolff got the goal at the weekend, Alexander Ring registered the most shots on target with two.

  MATCH PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES FC WIN

  Los Angeles have won seven of 10 all-time meetings with Austin (D1 L2), though the Verde and Black did manage to take a point when the sides met in league play in Austin on June 19. LAFC have won four of five home matches against Austin (L1), keeping clean sheets in all four wins.

  However, LAFC suffered a 2-0 defeat to Houston Dynamo in their last home match. They have never lost two straight regular-season home matches and have failed to score in back-to-back home league matches only once, doing so against Atlanta United and Houston in June 2023.

  Meanwhile, Austin have lost eight of their last 13 regular season matches (W3 D2) dating back to late May. Austin had lost only seven times in their previous 23 regular season matches dating back to September 2023 (W7 D9).

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  LAFC – 66.3%

  Draw – 18.4%

  Austin FC – 15.3%