{"id":522054,"date":"2026-11-07T20:06:48","date_gmt":"2026-11-07T20:06:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/522054\/"},"modified":"2026-11-07T20:06:48","modified_gmt":"2026-11-07T20:06:48","slug":"san-diego-sporting-kansas-city-limp-into-season-finale-field-level-media-professional-sports-content-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/522054\/","title":{"rendered":"San Diego, Sporting Kansas City limp into season finale – Field Level Media – Professional sports content solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saturday is Decision Day in MLS, the day that 18 teams can start planning for the playoffs.<\/p>\n

But when Sporting Kansas City visit San Diego FC for a late-afternoon fixture, the only thing these teams need to plan is next week\u2019s exit interviews.<\/p>\n

Neither will be part of the playoff field. San Diego (9-13-11, 38 points) followed up an expansion year in which it finished atop the West table by going winless in 10 straight matches before recording a 1-0 victory over St. Louis City SC on Oct. 31.<\/p>\n

Kansas City (6-22-5, 23 points) never got that close. It limped out to a 1-8-2 record and won consecutive matches just once all year. The club is riding a seven-match winless skid after its 1-1 draw on Oct. 31 with FC Dallas.<\/p>\n

But San Diego coach Mikey Varas said his team still has plenty to play for, even if a postseason spot isn\u2019t possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst and foremost is the honor of the city and the fans,\u201d he said. \u201cThe second one is because it\u2019s our duty as competitors. The third one is because we start winning next season right now and the fourth one is out of personal pride for ourselves and the families we represent.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anders Dreyer netted the only San Diego goal in St. Louis, giving him 14 for the season and 33 in his two seasons with the club. Dreyer might be good for another tally or two since Kansas City has allowed an MLS-high 81 goals.<\/p>\n

It could have been 82 but goalie Stefan Cleveland stopped Dallas\u2019 Petar Musa on a penalty late in the match to prevent another loss. It was one of the few highlights lately for SKC, which has used 20 new players this year to varying degrees of success.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe started the year with a thin roster and we had some injuries which made things tricky,\u201d coach Raphael Wicky said. \u201cYou almost never had a full team to work with, to have a preseason with. We\u2019ve been competitive in a lot of games but the results haven\u2019t gone our way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n

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