Kerry Zavagnin was full of praise for his side’s spirit and commitment following their “magical” win over St. Louis City SC last weekend, as they prepare to take on an in-form Portland Timbers in MLS.

Following the departure of long-time head coach Peter Vermes – who had been at the club since 2009 – Sporting KC broke a club-record 13-match winless streak with a 2-0 victory over St. Louis, delighting a home crowd at Children’s Mercy Park with their first win in 199 days.

The win lifted Zavagnin’s side to 14th place in the Western Conference standings, just two points above basement club LA Galaxy.

Dejan Joveljic scored a late second-half brace, with goals in the 71st and 88th minute, guiding Sporting KC their first win of the season.

"The spirit of the guys - they were not going to give in. It's the first time in a while that I heard at half-time, walking out of the locker room and saying we're not losing tonight," Zavagnin said.

"And credit to all the guys with their commitment to get forward and their commitment to get in the box and not just in the box, but to finish the opportunities."

Reflecting on a whirlwind week after stepping into the role at the end of March, Zavagnin said it had been emotionally taxing.

"I think the entire week – for all of us, not just me, for all of us – has been an emotional one.

"I have had to compartmentalise a lot of my emotions and feelings because I knew what I needed to do and what we needed to do to get the result tonight.

"To be able to do this against a rival; in my first time coaching; with the commitment that the players gave; and the confetti on the field that we've been missing for a little while. It's a magical night."

Portland, meanwhile, are in fifth place in the Western Conference standings, joined by FC Dallas and Colorado Rapids on 11 points.

After a tempered start to the season, the Timbers burst into a good vein of form with two commanding wins in March: 3-0 away to Colorado and 3-1 at home to the Houston Dynamo.

But their run stalled as a hard-fought affair against fourth-placed Austin FC ended in a goalless draw last Saturday.

It nonetheless marks the Timbers’ second-best start to a season in club history with 11 points through their first seven matches, as well as their second clean sheet of the campaign.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sporting KC – Manu Garcia

Sporting KC average an MLS-high 186.7 passes in the attacking third per match this season, with Manu Garcia playing a pivotal role in midfield.

The Spaniard leads MLS with 31.8 passes in the final third per 90 minutes (among players who have played a minimum of 350 minutes). He recorded his second assist of the season on Saturday, and will be one the Timbers must try to keep under lock and key.

Portland Timbers – James Pantemis

Against Austin, the Portland defence allowed only a single shot on target, which James Pantemis saved comfortably. In large part due to Pantemis’ impressive performances, the Timbers have kept clean sheets in each of their last two away matches: a 3-0 win at Colorado and their scoreless draw at Austin.

Portland has kept three straight away clean sheets just once since joining MLS in 2011, doing so between August and September 2021.

MATCH PREDICTION – PORTLAND WIN

In what is sure to be a tight contest, the visitors emerge as slight favourites. They are unbeaten in four straight matches (W2 D2), including their stalemate against Austin.

The Timbers allowed four goals in their season-opening defeat to the Vancouver Whitecaps but have conceded just four goals in the six matches since.

Sporting KC, though, have reason to be optimistic. They have lost only one of their last 10 home matches against Portland in all competitions (W4 D5), including going unbeaten in the last five (W2 D3).

The hosts have also scored 11 goals in their last three home matches against the Timbers, suggesting that Sunday’s clash should still have plenty in it for both sides.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Sporting KC – 32.1%

Portland Timbers – 42.5%

Draw – 25.4%