MLS Houston Dynamo FC

Dynamo Can't Hold off KC in Open Cup Play

Published on July 22, 2015 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


Will Bruin scored his 50th career Houston Dynamo goal, but Sporting Kansas City scored three times in the final 20 minutes to outlast the 10-man Dynamo, 3-1, in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday at Sporting Park.

Sporting KC advances to host Real Salt Lake in the semifinals while the Dynamo are eliminated from the competition.

The Dynamo are back at home at 8 p.m. CT on Saturday to face the LA Galaxy.

Houston began brightly, gaining four corner kicks in the first 12 minutes and generally outplaying the hosts in the first 30 minutes. But the game turned in the 30th minute when midfielder Luis Garrido was issued a red card by referee Ted Unkel for a hard challenge against Amadou Dia. The Dynamo were reduced to 10 players for the second straight game after Kofi Sarkodie was ejected early in the second half on Saturday at Real Salt Lake.

The Dynamo adjusted well after the ejection and the game remained scoreless entering halftime.

Houston continued to gain corner kicks, ending the night with seven, and broke through from the corner in the 59th minute. Brad Davis delivered in front of the cauldron and Ricardo Clark beat his mark to drive a header on goal, which was blocked at the line and Bruin, reacting first, smashed the rebound home.

Bruin, in his fifth season with Houston, is the second player in Dynamo history to record 50 career goals in all competitions with the club. Brian Ching is the franchise leader, with 69 career goals.

Sporting KC was awarded a penalty kick two minutes later as Brad Davis made contact with Chance Myers on the right side of the penalty area.

Dom Dwyer took the spot kick but was turned away by Dynamo goalkeeper Joe Willis, who dove to his right for a two-handed save. Willis, who recorded shutouts in his first two U.S. Open Cup starts this season, kept the clean sheet, and the 1-0 lead intact.

The hosts broke through ten minutes later as Benny Feilhaber, moments after his volley was cleared off the line by Sarkodie, drove a low shot inside the far post from 20 yards for the tying goal.

The Dynamo fought for the next 15 minutes and the game seemed detined for extra time before Dwyer slid in behind the defense, took a deft pass from Krisztian Németh, and beat Willis from the left side of the box for a 2-1 lead.

Németh added Sporting KC's third goal two minutes later as his shot deflected off Houston defender AJ Cochran and into the net, completing the 3-1 win.

Dynamo forward Erick "Cubo" Torres made his first appearance with the Dynamo after joining the club on Friday, entering for Bruin in the 64th minute.

Next game: Houston Dynamo vs. LA Galaxy - Saturday, July 25, 8 p.m. CT, BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, Texas

Dynamo Milestones and notes:

Will Bruin scored his 50th career goal in all competitions with the Dynamo in his 156th career game with the club. Ching, the club leader, tallied 69 in 224 career games with Houston.

Check out the Houston Dynamo FC Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from July 22, 2015


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