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The only Eastern Conference team to have already wrapped up a playoff spot, Sporting Kansas City will take on the Columbus Crew this Sunday as the Major League Soccer regular season winds down.
Sporting KC will be hoping to stretch its good fortunes from the month of September over to October, as only three games remain before the 2012 MLS campaign turns toward the postseason. Undefeated in September with three wins and two draws, Sporting currently ranks second in the league with 17 victories, behind only the San Jose Earthquakes.
With the Crew sitting just one point out of the fifth and final spot in the East, Columbus should lay everything on the line come Sunday, as their season is hanging in the balance. Knowing that merely picking up a few draws down the stretch may not be good enough, the Crew could opt to play a more aggressive brand of soccer with a chance to both knock Sporting off its perch and also boost their playoff resume.