Houston Dynamo look to avenge June loss to Sporting Kansas City

The Houston Dynamo host familiar foe Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night. While the Dynamo recently beat Sporting in the Open Cup, Sporting got the win earlier in the season when the Dynamo were on the road.

Both teams are looking to rebound after losing their games last weekend. SKC lost 3-2 to FC Dallas while the Dynamo gave up an 80th minute goal for a 2-1 loss to the Portland Timbers. While the teams had no midweek games due to the MLS All-Star ‘break’ each side had players participating in the game on Wednesday. Sporting’s Ilie Sanchez and Graham Zusi both played in the second half of the game against Juventus while the Dynamo’s Alberth Elis also played for 45 minutes in the second half. The All-Stars lost the game in a penalty shoot out after the game ended regulation tied at 1-1.

Just two weeks ago the Dynamo hosted SKC in the US Open Cup and walked away with a 4-2 win that knocked SKC out of the competition. SKC scored in the second minute of the game, but Romell Quioto and Mauro Manotas followed that goal with braces. Yohan Croizet scored in stoppage time as SKC attempted to mount a come back but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.

In MLS play SKC was the one who walked away with a victory over the Dynamo at the end of June. It was a frustrating 3-2 road loss for the Dynamo. Houston held the lead of much of the game thanks two goals from Mauro Manotas in the first half. Daniel Salloi was instrumental in the comeback win for Sporting. Salloi scored in the 61st minute and had an assist on each of the two goals that would follow. The Dynamo was able to hold off the home team until the 85th minute when Diego Rubio scored to level things at 2-2. The Dynamo would go down a man in the 87th minute after Eric Alexander was issued his second yellow card of the game. Three minutes later Khiry Shelton scored off a cross from Salloi to give SKC the win.

Johnny Russell and Salloi have each scored seven goals for SKC this season as well as having six assists. While Mauro Manotas leads the Dynamo with 11 goals this season. While All-Star Alberth Elis isn’t far behind him with nine goals. The Dynamo have manged to find their fire power but struggle to shut down the offense on the other side.

Sporting currently occupies fifth place in the Western Conference standings. They sit one point away from fourth place with 33 points so far this season. The Dynamo have struggled to win on the road and late goals have robbed them of valuable points. They sit in ninth place with 27 points after winning only seven games this season.