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The Houston Dynamo travel to Kansas City to take on Sporting KC on Saturday. The two teams are set to face off in the upcoming US Open Cup Quarterfinals in July. Saturday’s game will be the first time the two have played each other during the 2018 season.
The Dynamo won their last MLS game against the Colorado Rapids 2-0 prior to the international break for the World Cup. More recently they beat follow MLS team, Minnesota United, to advance to the Quarterfinals of the Open Cup. They did so thanks to a goal from Mauro Manotas, a player who has excelled in the Open Cup. As they return to MLS action they will still be without Adolfo Machado who is in Russia representing Panama. They have battled a long injury list, currently seven players, with most of the hits coming to the defense. However, with the long absences due to injuries the players who have filled in for their injured teammates are finally finding ways to win together. Off the injury is Philippe Senderos who has missed a big chunk of this season with injury. His return helps bring more veteran leadership along side DaMarcus Beasley.
SKC’s last MLS game was a 0-0 draw against the Portland Timbers. They followed it up with a 3-2 win over FC Dallas in the Open Cup. It was an 89th minute goal from Yohan Croizet that helped the team advance to the next round. But the Open Cup hero won’t be available against the Dynamo as he is out on the injury report due to a hamstring injury. SKC don’t have any players away for the World Cup this year, but they do have an injury list that make cause trouble of the field. In addition to Croizet, Matt Beasler, and Seth Sinovic are part of the seven players listed on the team’s injury report.
In fifteen matches Sporting has racked up 29 points to put them on top of the Western Conference. The Dynamo have played fourteen games and walked away with 21 total points to put them in seventh place. With eight points separating first from seventh a three point victory for the Dynamo would be huge.