Sporting Fall at Home Again

Sporting Kansas City finds themselves in a rare situation from the past few years. For the first time since opening Sporting Park, and the first time since 2010, KC has lost back to back home games, falling 3-1 to the Houston Dynamo. It's also the first time since 2010 that KC has allowed three goals in back to back matches (4-3 win over Houston 3-1 loss to Dallas). Last week it was a lack of organization and counters that killed KC in their loss to DC, this week it was an inability to follow marks on set pieces that doomed Kansas City.

The game lasted just 17 minutes before a storm passing through the area caused a 90 plus minute delay in the game. The delay came at a good time for KC, as the Dynamo had been the better team through the early part of the game. Immediately after the restart the Dynamo had a good opportunity off a corner, with the ball being flicked to the back post for Jermaine Taylor, but the defender headed the ball over the bar. KC almost found the lead in the 26th when Kevin Ellis flicked a Graham Zusi corner on goal. Tally Hall though made a good reaction save and the ball was cleared away before a finishing touch could be put on the ball. KC regreted that miss minutes later as a ball played into the box by Kofi Sarkodie was touched by Aurelien Collin but not cleared. The ball bounced perfectly for Will Bruin who one timed his shot past Jon Kempin and into the corner to make it 1-0 Dynamo. Things started to get a bit out of hand just before half time. Setting up for a corner, Benny Feilhaber ran to get the ball for Zusi. The Dynamo's Sarkodie was standing on the ball, Feilhaber ran up and pushed Sarkodie off the ball. Sarkodie responded by shoving Feilhaber back. This caused both sets of players to come together. Once everything was clear, referee Mark Geiger gave yellow cards to both Feilhaber and Sarkodie. The yellow for Feilhaber and an earlier one for Dom Dwyer will see both players suspended for KC's midweek trip to New England.

The second half saw KC come out quickly looking for an equalizer. It took them almost 10 minutes but they got it. CJ Sapong had the ball tackled away about 35 yards from goal. The ball fell to Feilhaber to pushed the ball past a defender and into the box. He squared the ball for Dwyer. KC's leading scorer took a touch and shot, the ball took a deflection that carried it past Hall and into the net. The game wasn't level long though. in the 62nd minute the Dynamo went back on top. After a stupid foul by Collin to the right of Kempin's goal, Brad Davis played a beautiful free kick into the box. Dynamo defender David Horst had left Lawrence Olum standing and thumped a header past Kempin who had misjudged the play. Only five minutes later it was 3-1, again from a Davis free kick. This time from the opposite side his free kick was flicked on into the net by Ricardo Clark as the Dynamo added to their lead. KC controlled the final 20 plus minutes of the game but didn't really pressure Hall or Tyler Deric in the Houston goal too much. KC's struggles at home continued as they've now won just five of their 14 home games.

Wizards Man of the Match - Dom Dwyer - Really only because he put himself within one goal of tying Preki's team record for goals in a season. Not a good night all around for Kansas City ain.

Player Ratings - Kempin 4, Ellis 4, Collin 3, Besler 3, Sinovic 4, Olum 2, Steuble 3, Feilhaber 5, Zusi 4, Dwyer 5, Sapong 4. Subs Claros 4, Saad 4.