KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Saturday, May 29, 2021) – Houston Dynamo FC dropped a 3-2 result to Sporting Kansas City this evening. The match was played in front of a capacity crowd at Children’s Mercy Park, the first such game for the Dynamo since March 7, 2020, also in Kansas City.
Houston scored the opening goal of the match against the run of play in the 14th minute, beginning with forward Fafa Picault stripping the ball off defender Ilie Sánchez near the end line. Picault’s cross found forward Maxi Urruti inside the box and the forward laid the ball off to midfielder Matías Vera for his first goal in MLS.
Kansas City equalized in the 52nd minute off a free kick from Gianluca Busio. The midfielder scored from outside the box after his effort went over the wall and dipped just inside the top corner of the near post, caroming across the goalmouth and over the line.
The home side took the lead in the 61st minute following a penalty kick from forward Alan Pulido. Kansas City was awarded the spot kick after Dynamo captain Boniek García was whistled for a foul on Pulido just inside the box.
Sporting scored their third goal of the half four minutes later after Busio found Gadi Kinda inside the box for his third goal of the season.
Urruti scored his fourth goal of the season in stoppage time to make it 3-2 in the waning moments. The Argentinian striker initiated the scoring play in his own defensive third, breaking up a Kansas City pass. Midfielder Darwin Cerén picked the ball up and played it up the flank to forward Mateo Bajamich, who carried the ball into the penalty area. Urruti, who raced the length of the field after forcing the turnover, beat two Sporting defenders to the ball inside the six-yard to tap the ball home.
Dynamo goalkeeper Marko Marić made a key save in the first half after he denied Roger Espinoza’s side volley from near the penalty spot. The 25-year-old was called into action again in the 43rd minute to save Khiry Shelton’s header. The Dynamo shot stopper finished with five saves on the night.
The Dynamo head into an extended break due to a FIFA international fixture window, and will return to regular season action on June 19 when they visit the Los Angeles Football Club at Banc of California Stadium. That match will be televised nationally on UniMás. The Dynamo return to BBVA Stadium on June 23 to host Portland Timbers FC.
