Energy FC face the Swope Park Rangers Saturday night in a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Final. OKC will be looking to get the season back on track, but it won’t be easy, as Swope comes to Taft Stadium with 12 points – good enough for 5th place in the Western Conference.

A couple of weeks ago, the key to getting a result in Kansas City would have been shutting down the league’s leading goal scorer, Kharlton Belmar. Fortunately for opposing teams, the dynamic striker was called up last week by Sporting Kansas City and made his first appearance of the season for the first team. Belmar will likely miss out on the trip to OKC as SKC host the Colorado Rapids Saturday night.

It hasn’t just been Belmar who’s helped Swope get off to a good start, though. Hadji Barry has two goals, including SPR’s lone goal in their draw last Saturday with Saint Louis FC. He’s also tied for second in the league in assists with three. Rodrigo Saravia has also chipped in with two goals and two assists.

After winning three of their opening four matches, Swope has cooled off of late and drawn three in a row.

Swope is also fantastic at retaining the ball. In all of their matches this season, they have had the vast majority of the possession. Head Coach Steve Cooke has Energy FC putting a great emphasis on possession as the Greens have also dominated in that area in every match except last week’s loss to Reno 1868 FC. OKC did have the edge in possession in Reno until Miguel Gonzalez was sent off in the 37th minute, however. Something will have to give Saturday night, as each side will look to impose its will on the game through the midfield.

The biggest difference between the two sides this season has been the creation and conversion of high-quality chances. Swope has had 67 shots, 32 on target, and 14 have resulted in goals. That’s good enough for a league-best conversion rate of 21%.

Fans looking to see a familiar face in goal for the visitors will likely be disappointed, as Eric Dick has been spending the majority of his time with the first team lately. Dick started every match for the Energy FC U23s in 2017 and was the #13 overall pick by Sporting Kansas City in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft.

Swope Park started its last match against St. Louis in a 4-3-3 formation: MacLeod; Lindsey, Evans (Smith 58’), Didic, Maher; Hernandez, Wan Kuzain, Busio (Saravia, 63’); Blackwood, Barry, Minter (Rebellon, 78’). Should SPR keep the trend going, this will be the first time Energy FC faces a 4-3-3 this season.

OKC won one and lost three in the four meetings with Swope in 2017. The losses, a 3-1 in March, a 2-0 in September, and the penalty shootout defeat in the Western Conference Final, were all in Kansas City. Belmar scored in that 3-1 opening day loss last season. The win, a 4-1 thrashing, came in October in OKC’s penultimate regular season match. Gonzalez, Jose Angulo (2), and Juan Pablo Guzman were the scorers on that day.

While Gonzalez will miss Saturday’s match through suspension, Justin Chavez will be back in contention for a starting spot after serving a one match ban for his red card against St. Louis.

The absence of Gonzalez likely means that we will see a return to the 4-2-3-1, after Cooke opted for a 4-4-2 against Reno. If Guzman is still unavailable due to injury, expect OKC to line up with the same goalkeeper and backline, Chavez and Callum Ross as holding midfielders, and a front four of Jon Brown, Jose Barril, Jaime Siaj and Alex Dixon. Angulo and Philip Rasmussen are probably still in need of more match fitness before they’ll be able to start, but they should be in the matchday squad.

For the returning players from 2017, getting redemption from the heartbreaking playoff loss and the chance to lift silverware for the first time in OKC’s history will surely be in the back of their minds. For those same players, as well as the new additions, getting back to winning ways will definitely be top of mind.

Saturday’s match at Taft Stadium kicks off at 7:00pm CT, and for those unable to attend in person, it will be available to watch on ESPN+.