KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It doesn't feel like five years.
But, sure enough, the last time Sporting KC hosted an MLS Playoff game was 2013.
"It's too long," said Sporting defender Matt Besler.
The drought comes to an end Sunday at Children's Mercy Park when Sporting hosts Real Salt Lake in the second leg of a two-leg playoff round.
"Playoffs are about getting results," said Sporting manager Peter Vermes.
And the club needs one this week. After tying RSL in leg one in Sandy, Utah 1-1, Sporting can advance with a win on Sunday.
"At this moment it's all about getting the result," said Vermes. "You're not saying to yourself 'Oh, we have 20 games left' or whatever. It just doesn't work that way."
It works a different way in the MLS Playoffs. The tiebreaker is road goals, so since Sporting picked up one at RSL, Sporting needs to avoid a 2-2 tie or greater. A 1-1 tie Sunday sends the game into extra time. A 0-0 tie means Sporting KC moves on to the Western Conference Finals.