The top team in the Western Division faces one near the bottom as Sporting KC travel to Houston Dynamo this weekend. Both teams will play Wednesday night before this matchup as first-place Sporting host FC Dallas while next-to-last place Houston host second-place Minnesota United. This contest kicks off at 8:00 p.m. Saturday night at BBVA Stadium in Houston ESPN+.
Sporting and the Dynamo have history in MLS regular-season play, MLS post-season play and the US Open Cup with 45 total head-to-head matchups. In MLS regular-season play Houston has an 11-9 advantage with 13 draws and the Dynamo also lead in post-season play with a 4-2-1 record. These teams have already met twice in 2020 with Sporting winning 4-0 at home in March and Houston winning in Kansas City 5-2 on August 26.
Sporting KC Outlook: Take the Attack on the Road
Sporting KC will host Dallas Wednesday with a two-point lead over Seattle in the Western Conference standings and could head into Houston with the best record in all of MLS. Since the return to regular-season play after the Orlando tournament, Sporting has one win, one loss and a 0-0 road draw.
They never led in the 5-2 home loss to Houston two weeks ago. Johnny Russell tied the game 1-1 in the 26th minute but Houston led 3-1 when Gadi Kinda scored in the 49th minute. Houston tallied twice in a four-minute span to put the game away at the 61-minute mark as Tim Melia allowed a season-worst five goals on eight shots.
Before the Dallas game, Sporting KC is led in goals by Kinda with four while Alan Pulido and Khiry Shelton both have three regular-season goals. Pulido also scored in the MLS is Back Tournament quarterfinal loss and leads the team with four assists. Melia has started seven of the eight regular-season games this year with 16 save, two clean sheets and eight goals allowed.
Houston Dynamo Outlook: Find the Home Game
The Dynamo are one game behind Sporting KC in games played at secon and are just one point out of last place as they host Minnesota Wednesday. Houston has played just two games since the Orlando tournament, a 0-0 home draw against FC Dallas and the win in Kansas City. That win was their first of 2020 to go with four draws and two losses.
Alberth Ellis got the scoring starting in Kansas City with a 17th minute goal and Christian Ramirez put the Dynamo back on top just before halftime. Niko Hansen made it 3-1 right after the break and Darwin Quintero scored both of the goals to secure all three points in the second half. Marko Maric made one save to secure coach Tab Ramos? first career win.
Houston scored just six goals in their first six games of the season with three in a draw against LAFC in the Orlando tournament group opener. The five goals they bagged on August 20 in Kansas City was the most for the team since they also scored five times on April 21, 2018 against Toronto FC.
Quintero and Elis lead the team with three goals each while Memo Rodriguez has two goals, both against LAFC. Quintero also leads the team with three assists in five starts. Maric has started all seven games in goal with 20 saves, 13 goals allowed and one clean sheet.
Sporting KC at Houston Dynamo Betting Lines
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The August 20 scoreline was a surprise and an aberration to both team?s results so far in 2020. Their first matchup on March 7 was a 4-0 win for Sporting KC as Pulido, Kinda, Shelton and Roger Espinoza beat Maric with goals. Look for Sporting KC to punctuate their position in the standings with a road win on Saturday.
Head to our favorite pay per head bookie site at _____ and take Sporting KC to win.
