Key Matchups: Sporting Kansas City vs Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake side decimated by suspensions will be visiting Children’s Mercy Park this Saturday (7:30 pm CDT) in the latest installment of what has been an exceptionally fun rivalry to follow ever since the epic 2013 MLS Cup finals that ended in a ten-round penalty shootout in Sporting Kansas City’s favor.

While Sporting Kansas City will be without midfield fulcrum Roger Espinoza, Real Salt Lake will be without its own midfield enforcer in captain Kyle Beckerman, who was sent off two weeks ago against the Portland Timbers and will be serving his automatic one-game suspension. Ditto for hulking center back Jamison Olave, who was also sent off in that game, and forward Juan Manuel Martinez,…