Interim coach Ryan Richter urged the Philadelphia Union to stay focused as they prepare to visit Sporting Kansas City in MLS on Saturday.

The Union are on a fine 10-match unbeaten run in MLS, emphatically winning their previous two games by 5-0 scorelines.

The most recent of those came away at San Diego FC last time out, with Cavan Sullivan scoring twice.

Richter has led Union into the play-off spots in the Eastern Conference, but he wants no let-up when they travel to Children's Mercy Park.

After the San Diego win, Richter said: "We're doing a lot of really sharp things and I can tell from the side that guys are feeling confident, guys are showing the best versions of themselves.

"It's fun to watch, it's fun to be a part of and we have to make sure that we stay focused and not get ahead of ourselves, but continue on this path that we're on."

SKC sit rock-bottom of the Western Conference, 10 points adrift of the nearest side in Seattle Sounders.

They did, however, end a seven-match run without a win by beating LAFC 3-1 on home turf last week, with Andre Luiz, Taylor Calheira, and Jacob Bartlett on target.

Head coach Raphael Wicky felt his team had been getting closer to turning things around, but is now merely focused on the clash with Philly.

"When we come into the training facility, there are a lot of TVs around, and the standing is on every TV, every day, all day. That's enough. We don't need to talk," he said.

"I see the standing every day and it hurts every day. It hurts every player every day and it hurts every staff member every day. 

"We try to take it game by game. The next most important game is next Saturday, and we're going to prepare and we're going to try to bring our best version again against Philly and try to be us against Philly."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sporting Kansas City – Andre Luiz

Luiz only made his MLS debut in August, and his goal in last week's win over LAFC was his first goal in the competition.

Five of Kansas City’s last eight goals have been scored by players in their first season with the club, and he will look to get on the scoresheet again here against the Union.

Philadelphia Union – Cavan Sullivan

Sullivan has been in superb form since returning from the World Cup break, recording five goals and seven assists for the Union.

His 12 goal contributions are tied for the most in the regular season in that time along with Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi, who had played 168 competitive matches for Barcelona before Sullivan was born on September 29, 2009.

MATCH PREDICTION: PHILADELPHIA UNION WIN

Recent history actually suggests that SKC have a decent chance of upsetting the odds and earning another victory.

They will be facing off with the Union for the first time since a 1-1 draw in March 2024, and SKC are on a five-match home unbeaten run in the fixture (W2, D3).

Indeed, the Union's last victory on the road against SKC was way back in May 2014, when both teams were in the Eastern Conference.

However, it is tough to look past an in-form Philly side in this one. Their 5-0 win over San Diego means they have recorded three consecutive shutout wins by multiple goals in the regular season for the third time.

CF Montreal in 2023 are the only team in MLS regular-season history to record four straight shutout wins by multiple goals.

SKC did record 20 shots in their win over LAFC, the second straight game they managed to do so after registering a season-high 26 against FC Dallas.

It is the first time they have registered 20-plus shots in back-to-back MLS matches since June 2024, and they have not done so in three straight since 2018.

But, with the Union in such brilliant form, it feels like now might be the time for them to find a win on the road at SKC.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Sporting Kansas City – 22.6%

Draw – 22.2%

Philadelphia Union – 55.2%