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/.
