Sporting Kansas City v St. Louis City SC: Zavagnin begins audition for permanent job

Kerry Zavagnin has been told the Sporting Kansas City job is his to keep if he can inspire a turnaround, beginning against St. Louis City.

Sporting parted ways with long-serving coach Peter Vermes on Monday after a 2-1 defeat to FC Dallas left them with one point from six games.

It means Saturday’s game against St. Louis at Children’s Mercy Park will be their first without Vermes in charge in 15 years.

Zavagnin will now fill in as interim boss while the search for a permanent successor begins, but he could yet be selected to stay on himself.

Speaking to reporters this week, City co-owner Mike Illig said: “I’ve done four deals with Kerry now.

“It’s always been understood between he and I that if anything ever happens to Peter, he would get a chance at the interim job.

“That said, he understands we’re going to run a search, a global search alongside him. He’ll be thrown in the mix. I’ve told him it’s his job to lose.”

Pushing forward #SportingKC pic.twitter.com/itbjZISwFG

— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) April 3, 2025

Sporting KC have fewer points than any other side in MLS after six matches and next welcome a St Louis side who are seven points better off.

However, Olof Mellberg’s team have lost back-to-back games by the same 1-0 scoreline against Philadelphia Union and Austin FC.

No team in the Western Conference has fewer goals than St. Louis’ four, but Mellberg has refuted that can be resolved by using more attackers.

“We’ve tried on multiple occasions to go with two strikers,” he said. “We tried that in pre-season as well. We know we haven’t scored enough.

“We’ve put a lot of focus into the attack. This is something we’ve been aware of since pre-season and we’re working hard on to improve.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sporting KC – William Agada

Agada has been used mainly as a substitute so far this season, but a change in management could mean an alteration in the line-up this weekend.

The forward boasts a good record in this fixture, too, having scored two goals and assisted another in four regular-season meetings with St. Louis.

St. Louis – Simon Becher

As acknowledged by Mellberg, more is needed from his side in an attacking sense having gone back-to-back games without finding the net.

Becher has led the attack for both games without much success and, while more support is needed, the forward will know he needs to step up.

Same, Sabrina pic.twitter.com/d1PGVsR7Bi

— St Louis CITY SC (@stlCITYsc) April 4, 2025

MATCH PREDICTION: ST. LOUIS WIN

Sporting have made their second-worst start to a season, while they are the first club in MLS history to collect fewer than two points through six matches on multiple occasions.

City have lost 12 of their past 13 matches stretching back into last season, meanwhile, and have conceded multiple goals in 11 of those games.

By comparison, St. Louis have conceded only two goals in their first six matches this season, making them the 14th team in MLS history to concede two or fewer at this stage.

Sporting may be unbeaten in four all-time home games with St/ Louis, but they know they will have their work cut out this weekend.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Sporting KC – 32.8%

St Louis – 41.6%

Draw – 25.6%