NEED TO KNOW:
- Six goals were the most in a Dynamo game this season
- FW Fafà Picault scored his 11th goal of the season, a new career best
- GK Michael Nelson credited with 5 saves, earning $500 equipment donation through MLS WORKS’ Every Save Makes A Difference program
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Houston Dynamo FC fell to Sporting Kansas City in a high-scoring affair on the road by a final score of 4-2. The six total goals scored represent the highest scoring total in a game for the Dynamo this season.
Dynamo forward Fafa Picault scored his 11th goal of the season, setting a new career high, and added his fifth assist of the year. Midfielder Darwin Quintero scored his second goal of the season, and goalkeeper Michael Nelson was credited with five saves on the day, earning a $500 soccer equipment donation from Allstate and Univision for MLS WORKS’ Every Save Makes A Difference program.
Kansas City broke through first, when forward Johnny Russell won a foul inside the penalty box in the 13th minute, giving Kansas City a penalty kick. After a lengthy video review, the referee confirmed the penalty call and Russell finally took the penalty in the 16th minute and powered the ball into the bottom right corner past Nelson.
Nelson came up big with two saves in the span of thirty seconds in the 24th minute. Both shots came from outside the penalty box, with the Katy, Texas-native making a diving stop on the first shot before securing the ball in his arms following the second.
Kansas City broke through again in the 26th minute when midfielder Gadi Kinda sent a through ball to forward Daniel Sallói racing down the left wing for the second goal of the match.
Houston came out of the locker room strong to begin the second half, as Picault and forward Griffin Dorsey continued their recent run of great chemistry. In the 50th minute, Dorsey found some space on the right wing and was able to get a cross off just in front of the Kansas City goalkeeper. The ball fell to the feet of Picault, who knocked the ball into the top corner of the goal and pull the Dynamo within one.
The Dynamo nearly tied things up in the 56th minute, as Dorsey got another dangerous cross off, this time after a short corner. Once again, Dorsey’s ball found Picault, who put it into the back of the net with a header. However, Picault was ruled offside and the goal was disallowed.
Two minutes later, Kansas City brought the game back to a two-goal margin, as Sallói found Kinda alone in front of the goal, setting up the home team’s third goal of the match.
Houston, however, was determined to keep the game competitive. In the 76th minute, Picault received a pass from defender Maynor Figueroa and found himself with room to operate on the left wing. The forward was able to get off a dangerous cross that found the head of Quintero. Quintero nodded the ball past the keeper to once again reduce the Kansas City lead to one goal.
In the 90th minute, Russell dribbled through the Dynamo defense by himself and knocked home one more goal for Kansas City as the game finished 4-2.
The Dynamo will return to BBVA stadium for their next match on Saturday, October 16 against the Seattle Sounders. Tickets are available for purchase at https://www.houstondynamofc.com/tickets/.
Sporting Kansas City (15-6-7; 52 pts.) 4-2 Houston Dynamo FC (5-12-12; 27 pts.)
MLS Regular Season – Week 29
Children’s Mercy Park – Kansas City, Kansas
SCORING SUMMARY
SKC: Johnny Russell 9 (penalty) 16′
SKC: Dániel Sallói 16 (Gadi Kinda 4) 26′
HOU: Fafà Picault 11 (Griffin Dorsey 3) 50′
SKC: Gadi Kinda 5 (Daniel Sallói 6) 57′
HOU: Darwin Quintero 2 (Fafa Picault 5, Maynor Figueroa 1) 76′
SKC: Johnny Russel 10 (unassisted) 90′
LINEUPS:
Sporting Kansas City: Tim Melia; Luis Martins, Andeu Fontàs, Ilie Sánchez, Graham Zusi; Gadi Kinda (Roger Espinoza 78), José Mauri, Remi Walter (Cameron Duke 73); Dániel Sallói, Khiry Shelton (Alan Pulido 59), Johnny Russel (C)
Unused substitutes: Roberto Puncec, Amadou Dia, Kaveh Rad, Grayson Barber, Kendall McIntosh, Wilson Harris
Total shots: 17 (Johnny Russel, Dániel Sallói 5); Shots on goal: 9 (Gadi Kinda 3); Fouls: 5 (Luis Martins 2); Offside: 1; Corner kicks: 8; Saves: 2 (Tim Melia 2)
Houston Dynamo FC: Michael Nelson; Maynor Figueroa, Teenage Hadebe, Tim Parker (C); Sam Junqua (Maxi Urruti 32), Darwin Cerén (Joe Corona 32), Matías Vera (Memo Rodríguez 79), Griffin Dorsey; Corey Baird (Tyler Pasher 61), Darwin Quintero, Fafà Picault
Unused substitutes: Kyle Morton, Ari Lassiter, Derrick Jones, Boniek Garcia, Zarek Valentin
Total shots: 9 (Darwin Quintero 4); Shots on goal: 4 (Darwin Quintero 2); Fouls: 13 (Joe Corona 3); Offside: 5; Corner kicks: 1; Saves: 5 (Michael Nelson 5)
DISCIPLINE:
HOU: Sam Junqua (caution, foul) 16
HOU: Teenage Hadebe (caution, foul) 27
HOU: Matías Vera (caution, foul) 53
SKC: Graham Zusi (caution, foul) 85
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
Assistant Referee: Eric Weisbrod
Assistant Referee: Jeffrey Greeson
Fourth Official: Jon Freemon
VAR: Ismail Elfath
Weather: 75 degrees, partly cloudy
