Sporting Kansas City And Houston Dynamo Share Points
In a match in which both teams looked capable of finding a winner in front of a sold out Sporting Park, neither found the final break through and the points were shared in a 1-1 draw between rivals Sporting Kansas City and Houston Dynamo. Brad Davis took the lead for Houston in the first half, while Sporting Kansas City star Kei Kamarapegged them back to 1-1 in the second half.
May 26, 2013; Kansas City, KS, USA; Sporting KC forward Kei Kamara (23) heads a shot on goal in the second half of the match against the Houston Dynamo at Sporting Park. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Sporting Kansas City started quickly in this one, and a Graham Zusi free-kick in the 1st minute found Ike Opara’s head but he sent it high over the bar. Three minutes later, it was Zusi again who found space to run into with the ball before firing a right-footed shot directly at Tally Hall for an easy save.
The visitors, Houston Dynamo, found their first chance in the 6th minute when a free-kick just outside the box was headed down by Will Bruin but his shot bounced just wide of the post.
In the 15th minute, Sporting Kansas City’s Jacob Peterson sprinted down the right and sends a cross into the box to Claudio Bieler, but Houston defender Ricardo Clark blocked his shot. Two minutes later, Oriol Rosell tapped the ball to Mechack Jerome on a free-kick who sent a rocket from 35 yards toward goal but it was just over the bar.
Sporting Kansas City nearly had another chance in the 19th minute as Zusi slowed his breakaway to wait for support, slid it back to Claudio Bieler but Clark was able to get the ball away before the chance was taken.
Sporting Kansas City’s best chance of the half came in the 36th minute on a Matt Besler long throw-in. Zusi headed the ball down to the right and it looked goal bound before Tally Hall’s diving save pushed it wide.
There was controversy in the 39th minute as a penalty was given to Houston Dynamo following a tackle by Rosell on Brad Davis in the box. After conferring with the assistant referee, the call was rightly overturned and a drop ball given.
Houston Dynamo took the lead in first half stoppage time when Brad Davis received a through ball from Will Bruin before calmly finishing the goal with the outside of his foot for his 3rd goal of the season.
In the 53rd minute, another long throw-in by Besler bounced around in the box in front of goal before Peterson took a shot but it was blocked.
Sporting Kansas City nearly drew even in the 65th minute. Peterson played a good give-and-go with Chance Myers before sending a low shot toward the far post, but it rolled just wide. Sporting Kansas City’s pressure paid off with an equalizer in the 68th minute as returning man Kei Kamara’s shot from 22 yards out gave Tally Hall no chance, and made it 1-1. The goal was Kamara’s first since returning from his loan to English Premier League side Norwich City.
Houston Dynamo’s counter attacking abilities were on display as Sporting Kansas City sent men forward, and in the 70th minute Will Bruin was able to get in behind the defense but Ike Opara recovered quickly and slid in to block his shot.
Sporting Kansas City nearly grabbed the winner in the 76th minute off of a Graham Zusi free-kick that found a leaping Kei Kamara for a headed shot. The header was headed into the net but Tally Hall made a magnificent acrobatic save to keep the score level at 1-1.
The last chance of the match fell to Houston Dynamo’s rookie Jason Johnson in the 93rd minute. On a breakaway in which Johnson looked to have a one-on-one chance with Sporting Kansas City’s goalkeeper, Jimmy Nielsen, Paulo Nagamura closed in at the last moment to block the shot and ensure the points would be shared.
Sporting Kansas City’s next match is against the Des Moines Menace on Tuesday, May 28th at 7:30 pm CT in the US Open Cup 3rd Round at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas.