Philadelphia Union will be tested at Sporting Kansas City

The Philadelphia Union will start a three-game road trip with a visit to Sporting Kansas City, a non-conference opponent with a dominant home field advantage. Sporting KC is tied with FC Dallas for the top slot in the Western Conference and has yet to lose at home this season.

The teams haven't met since August 2016, when the Union notched a 2-0 victory at home with goals from Roland Alberg and Tranquillo Barnetta. It was a chippy night at Talen Energy Stadium, and Sporting KC ended the game with only nine men on the field. Defender Jimmy Medranda earned his second yellow card in the 59th minute, and Roger Espinoza earned a straight red card for elbowing Alberg in the chest in the 87th.

Thursday night will be a trial for the Union offense, which has found momentum after the team snapped a three-game losing streak in their June 24 game against D.C. United. After a stagnant first period highlighted by a penalty kick goal by C.J. Sapong, the Union offense came to life in the second half of Sunday's game against the New England Revolution. Ilsinho and Roland Alberg found the back of the net in the dominant 3-0 victory.

After the game, head coach Jim Curtin said his team's attacking energy was behind the success. That energy will be necessary to take on Sporting KC, a team that has scored 23 goals while allowing only 13 this season.

The Union started the season on a scoring high but went on to struggle in finding the net. The team's strength throughout the season has come from the back line, which has allowed only 20 goals.

"A strong goal differential has been consistently in soccer a key indicator of the success of a team," Curtin said. "It's a credit to the players for how hard they're working defensively, and I think that defense is leading to our offensive success as well."

Both teams will play without several of their star players due to Gold Cup obligations. The Union will be without midfielder Alejandro Bedoya and goalkeeper Andre Blake. Striker Dom Dwyer, defender Matt Besler and midfielder Graham Zusi will be absent for Sporting KC, and the team won on the road and tied a game at home since the trio left for the Gold Cup.

"There's no margin for error. Every game that you get now is going to be a challenge," Curtin said. "Kansas City is a team that is very deep. A lot of their key players will be missing, but the way Kansas City plays will be the same. The challenge is there."

Union at Sporting KC

Thursday, 8:30 p.m. at  Children's Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kan.

Records: Sporting KC, 8-4-7, 31 points; Union, 6-7-4, 22 points

Television: CSN

Coaches: Sporting KC, Peter Vermes, 103-82-61; Union, Jim Curtin, 34-44-26.

Sporting KC at home: 6-0-3

Union on the road: 1-4-2

Goals: Sporting KC, 23; Union, 24

Goals against: Sporting KC, 13; Union, 20

Last game: Sporting KC came from behind to earn a 1-1 tie with Portland on its home field on Saturday, with the tying goal coming from Daniel Salloi. The Union dominated the Revolution at home on Sunday in a 3-0 victory with goals from C.J. Sapong, Ilsinho and Roland Alberg.

All-time series: The teams are tied, 5-5-4

Last meeting: The Union secured a 2-0 home victory on August 27, 2016.