Off to the best start in franchise history, Sporting KC has looked more like a champion thus far than the actual MLS Cup holder.
KC seeks to remain the only perfect team in MLS on Saturday when it hosts the reigning champion Los Angeles Galaxy, who are expected to have Landon Donovan back from an injury.
Coach Peter Vermes has seen his team take the maximum 12 points through four matches on the strength of a stifling defense that has conceded one goal. KC's offense also didn't skip a beat while forward Teal Bunbury missed two matches playing for the U.S. Under-23 squad that failed to qualify for the Olympics.
Bunbury made a late appearance as a sub Sunday when Sporting KC (4-0-0) won 1-0 at Chivas USA on a goal in the 47th minute by C.J. Sapong. Graham Zusi started the play with a shot off the crossbar and tracked down his rebound before sending a cross to Sapong, who headed in his team-leading third goal of the season and second winner in 2012.
"I just told them that the great thing was that we got in even at halftime, got away without giving up a goal," Vermes told the team's official website. "When we scored, it wasn't with second effort. It was third effort, and I was really pleased with that."
Zusi has assisted on five of the team's seven goals, and Sporting KC has been far more proficient at home in the early going. KC has scored five goals in its two home victories - two by Kei Kamara.
Vermes, though, is concerned about his team making steady progress.
"We haven't hit the stride we want to," he said. "We're slowly growing. It's a long season and, so far, this is nothing to write home about."
That statement could also apply to the Galaxy's early season play. Los Angeles (1-2-0), which didn't suffer its second loss in 2011 until its ninth match, begins the road portion of its schedule trying to bounce back from a 3-1 defeat to New England last Saturday.
It was the second time in three games the Galaxy allowed three goals.
"Every year you start off and things are a little bit rusty," defender Todd Dunivant told the team's official website. "We need to correct those things and get better, and we will."
Donovan sat out the match due to a quadriceps injury but was able to practice Wednesday, giving coach Bruce Arena optimism the forward will be in the Galaxy's starting lineup for this match.
"Like any team, it's important to have your best players on the team," Arena told MLSsoccer.com "We're a better team with Landon on the field. We're hopeful to have him back on Saturday."
Robbie Keane accounted for the Galaxy's lone goal, giving the Irish striker three in his last two matches. He has nine of Los Angeles' 16 shots on goal.
The Galaxy have scraped out a point in each of their last three visits to Kansas City, settling for a 2-all draw last season when Sporting KC's Omar Bravo converted a penalty kick in the 90th minute. It was the fourth time in six overall matches the teams have split points.
