Coming off a six-point road trip, the Dynamo will welcome Sporting KC to BBVA Compass Stadium for the first time in 2013. Here are five things you should know ahead of Sunday's match:
1. This will be the first of three regular season meetings in 2013
The Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City are two teams that have seen each other a lot recently. The clubs have met nine times over the past two seasons, with the Dynamo knocking Sporting out of the playoffs each of the past two seasons. Sunday’s match will be the first of three matches between the two clubs in 2013 and the first of two in less than a month. Following this two-game homestand, the Dynamo will head to Sporting Park for their second match with Kansas City on May 26.
2. Dynamo looking to continue home dominance
The story has been well told. The Houston Dynamo have the MLS record with 36 consecutive home games unbeaten. Houston has not lost a home game since June 18, 2011. The Dynamo are 3-1-3 all-time vs. Sporting KC in Houston with the lone loss coming on April 8, 2006. Will Peter Vermes’ squad be the one to break Houston’s streak and end their record dominance?
3. Dominic Kinnear continues to juggle squad with loaded schedule
Sunday’s match will be the culmination of three games in eight days for the Dynamo. Dominic Kinnear said prior to the first match that he did not expect to play the same starting XI in all three matches. Brad Davis was suspended for the first match at LA and Ricardo Clark missed Wednesday’s win over D.C. United with a groin injury. Will Kinnear have a full squad at his disposal when his team takes the field on Sunday?
4. Can Dynamo offense build off Wednesday's onslaught?
It was only a matter before the goals came. With Will Bruin, Brad Davis, Boniek Garcia and Giles Barnes among others, the Dynamo have weapons to spare and an offense that can go toe-to-toe with any team in MLS. Unfortunately, injuries or suspensions have kept the team from getting into a rhythm, but that all changed on Wednesday. The Dynamo took advantage of some sloppy United defending to the tune of four goals en route to a 4-0 win at RFK Stadium. Sporting KC has allowed only nine goals this year and has six shutouts on the season. Can the Dynamo offense break down the Sporting defense and keep Houston atop the Eastern Conference standings?
5. National team talent on display
Sunday’s match is littered with players who are part of the U.S. men’s national team program. Sporting KC defender Matt Besler and midfielder Graham Zusi and Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis all appeared for the USMNT in the 0-0 draw vs. Mexico at Azteca in March. Both Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall and forward Will Bruin participated in the January camp, with Bruin seeing time in the friendly against Canada at BBVA Compass Stadium. There will be no shortage of talent on the field come Sunday and much of that talent could be representing their country this summer with World Cup qualifiers and the Gold Cup on the horizon.
Tickets for Sunday's match are available and can be purchased at HoustonDynamo.com/Tickets or by calling (713) 276-GOAL.
