Dynamo look to stay unbeaten at home when Kansas City comes to town

This Saturday the Houston Dynamo will return home after a disappointing trip to Minnesota United last week which resulted in a 0-1 loss. This week they’ll face a familiar foe in our rival from another state Sporting Kansas City.

Last season SKC finished 1^st in the Western Conference and number 3 overall which saw them downed in the Conference Finals by MLS Cup runner-ups the Portland Timbers. The Dynamo on the other hand were unable to advance to the playoffs. This season has been very different for both sides. Kansas City are currently 11^th in the West with just 3 wins total and none away from Children’s Mercy Park. The Dynamo are riding pretty high at 4^th in the West with a few games in hand and are unbeaten at BBVA Compass Stadium.

It is always a battle when these clubs meet with SKC coming away with both wins in the MLS regular season last year. In the first we saw the Dynamo give up a 2-0 lead to end up falling 2-3 on the road. The game also saw Eric Alexander sent off for two cautions. In the second meeting, Alejandro Fuenmayor was sent off in Houston in just the 14^th minute, but he wouldn’t be the only player to see a straight red card that evening. Darwin Cerén and Alberth Elis both were ejected for violent conduct in stoppage time which shows how much these teams can get under each other’s skin. Diego Rubio’s 74^th minute goal was the difference for SKC.

Houston would see some success in 2018 over Kansas City with the Dynamo coming out on top in the US Open Cup 4-2 with Mauro Manotas and Romell Quioto each netting a brace.

In 2019 Sporting Kansas City are finding some success at getting the ball in the back of the net. Krisztian Nemeth and Johnny Russell each have 7 goals to their names, 1 more than Dynamo leader Mauro Manotas. Despite their firepower, it’s been the club’s defense which has been holding them back. Departures of players like Ike Opara and a slew of injuries are likely at least partially to blame as to why they’ve given up the second most goals in the Western Conference.

SKC have won just one game since the beginning of April and the club will definitely be hungry against a rival. Houston are hoping to put some wins together to move up the table while staying unbeaten at home this season. Buckle up; it should be a fun one.

Kick off starts at 7:30 PM CT at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, TX.