Atlanta United and Sporting Kansas City enter Sunday’s match in a weird spot. Both teams are below the red line (which is easier to be above than ever with 14[!] of 24 teams getting into the playoffs). Sporting KC sit in eighth in the West with 10 points through eight games (2-2-4). Atlanta sit in tenth place in the East with eight points through seven games (2-3-2).
For those that say ‘it’s too early in the season,’ the points count the same either way. Sure teams have come from poor starts and recovered just fine in the long MLS season, but Sporting are a team that usually get off to a hot start and fade at some point.