Houston Dynamo FC defeated Sporting KC 1-0 at Shell Energy Stadium tonight to advance to the Round of 16 in the U.S. Open Cup. Houston played the final 55 minutes of the match with 10 men after a red card was issued to defender Chase Gasper in the 35th minute.
The Dynamo remain undefeated at home this season in all competitions and are yet to concede a goal at home. The Dynamo have tallied seven clean sheets in all competitions this year and six at home.
Wednesday’s match was the 11th meeting in an elimination match or series between both sides since 2011. Both teams entered with five victories each in that stretch and the last meeting came in the Round of 16 of the Open Cup in 2022.
The Dynamo took the lead in the 12th minute off a cross from defender Brad Smith. Dynamo forward Sebas Ferreira challenged for the ball and forced the defender to head the ball onto the path of forward Thor Ulfarsson outside the box. The second-year attacker brought the ball down with his first touch prior to ripping a shot that beat the Kansas City goalkeeper at the near post for his first goal of the year.
Kansas City generated the first threat of the evening in the sixth minute after Marinos Tzionis got behind the Dynamo backline and found Stephen Afrifa at the top of the box, but his effort was off target.
Kansas City knocked on the door again in the 23rd minute following a foul outside the box. The ensuing free kick found Chris Rindov but his effort bounced off the crossbar.
Dynamo goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell was well positioned to deny Gadi Kinda’s effort on the ensuing free kick following the red card in the 35th minute. Tarbell was called into action again in the 49th minute and this time to deny Daniel Salloi at the bottom corner of the near post. The Dynamo shot stopper finished with four saves against Kansas City tonight.
Tarbell tallied his second clean sheet of the year and first at Shell Energy Stadium. The goalkeeper also donned the captain’s armband in tonight’s match.
Four players made their club debuts today, including defender Mujeeb Murana, defender Djevencio van der Kust, forward Aliyu Ibrahim, midfielder Charles Auguste, and defender Talen Maples.
The draw for the Round of 16 will take place tomorrow at 1 p.m. CT and can be streamed on the B/R Football YouTube Channel. The Dynamo return to league action on May 13 to host the Seattle Sounders at Shell Energy Stadium at 7:30 p.m. CT.
