The Houston Dynamo fell to Sporting Kansas City 1-0 tonight at Children’s Mercy Park after a goal from Sporting forward Johnny Russell in the 12th minute.
Graham Smith saved a ball at the endline and lobbed a ball to Johnny Russell at the far post. The Scottish forward headed the ball across the face of goal for his ninth goal of the season.
Sporting almost doubled their lead two minutes after scoring the only goal of the game on a corner kick that Dynamo midfielder Matias Vera attempted to clear inside the penalty area. The midfielder’s effort was blocked inside the box and the rebound fell to Benny Feilhaber who forced a save from Dynamo goalkeeper Joe Willis at the near post.
Kansas City midfielder Dániel Sallói missed an opportunity to double Sporting’s lead in the 19th minute. The forward was pressured by Dynamo defender AJ DeLaGarza as both players reached the ball inside the six yard box, but the Sporting forward’s effort went over the crossbar into the Kansas City Cauldron.
Dynamo forward Christian Ramirez forced a save in the 26th minute off a cross from Tommy McNamara. Ramirez dribbled along the top of the box to create space for a shot, but his effort was saved by Tim Melia at the near post.
Ramirez found Dynamo forward Alberth Elis at the edge of the box with a one-touch pass in the 40th minute. The Honduran international lobbed a cross for Ramirez who caught the ball with a bicycle kick, but his effort went over the crossbar.
Elis forced a save four minutes later off a long pass from Willis. The Honduran forward beat Matt Besler to the ball at the top of the box, but his effort was punched out of play by Melia at the near post.
Willis was called into action in the 56th minute as Erik Hurtado found space behind the backline for a shot at the near post. The Dynamo goalkeeper was well positioned to deny Hurtado for his third save of the game.
Sporting Kansas City knocked on Willis’ goal once again in the 66th minute off a free kick from Russell. The Scottish forward’s free kick avoided the wall only to be punched out of play by the Dynamo shot stopper at the near post.
Houston will return to BBVA Stadium on Sept. 11 to host Darwin Quintero and Minnesota United for Responders Night, presented by Bud Light.
