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Sporting Kansas City gives up lead in stoppage time to draw Houston

Three goals from three players was not enough to earn three points

By Thad Bell
MLS: Houston Dynamo at Sporting KC Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

It was no secret, Sporting Kansas City needed to get three points at home against Houston to solidify their spot in the standings and maybe even take a step towards the next team above them.

Whether it was that knowledge or the International break gave them some rest or some combination of factors, Sporting KC came out with their old energy. That pressure paid off early when Saad Abdul-Salaam came down on the wing and threaded the ball towards the center of the box where Jacob Peterson one -timed it. Dynamo keeper Joe Willis made the save but the rebound found Dom Dwyer ready to pounce. Dwyer had two whacks at but a sliding defender and Willis kept his pair of attempts out as well. The fourth time was the charm, Peterson waded into the mayhem and drilled the ball int the back of the net in the 14th minute.

The home team kept the pressure up and when the Dynamo defense tried to play it out of trouble, Roger Espinoza picked their pocket and lined a rocket into the upper corner with a gentle kiss off the left post in the 26th minute to take a 2-0 lead.

The two goal lead did not last long, Houston’s Boniek Garcia and Mauro Manotos sliced through Sporting KC’s defense. Manotos easily scored his first MLS goal.

Houston came out of the half with a little more energy and started creating more issues for the defense. Kansas City’s defense looked like it was the first time they had played together and Alex punished them to level the game at 2-2 in the 59th.

Manager Peter Vermes had to shore up the defense and he did. He brought Seth Sinovic in for Coelho and moved Besler to center back. While there were some more shaky moments the defense did settle down.

With Hallisey subbing in for Davis the team was creating even more opportunities and it paid off in the 81st. While Feilhaber and the team lobbied for a penalty, they did earn a corner. The ball pinballed off of a leg and Dom Dwyer drilled it home for his 13th goal of the year to take the lead.

A late goal came in stoppage time for the Dynamo to steal point at Kansas City.

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