MLS Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Kansas City earns dramatic 1-1 draw at Houston Dynamo

July 16, 2011 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


For the second straight regular season match, Sporting Kansas City left it late to secure a 1-1 draw and extend their unbeaten run in MLS play.

Defender Aurelien Collin scored in the 90th minute on Saturday as Sporting Kansas City earned a road result at Houston and has now gone 11 straight matches without a loss in MLS action, the second-longest streak in MLS this season.

Houston midfielder Brad Davis opened the scoring in the eighth minute on a perfectly placed free kick from 30 yards out for the Dynamo's first goal directly from a free kick this season and the club's first goal from outside the penalty area. Striker Brian Ching drew the foul to create the chance, and Davis struck a curling shot with his left foot that dipped over the wall and tucked inside the near post for his third goal of the season.

Sporting Kansas City, who attempted a season-high 24 shots on Saturday, responded immediately with a free kick of their own from Chance Myers and apair of attempts by Graham Zusi.

Goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen was called into action to deny Colin Clark in the 24th minute and minutes later, Houston briefly appeared to have doubled their lead after capitalizing on a corner kick but the goal was disallowed due to a Dynamo player in an offside position.

The two sides, meeting for the first time in MLS play this season, continued to exchange scoring opportunities on each end as Houston forward Brian Ching directed a header wide of target in the 34th minute and Sporting Kansas City Designated Player Omar Bravo, named a 2011 MLS All-Star on Saturday, came close on a pair of half-chances.

Sporting Kansas City's best chance of the opening 45 minutes came came on a free kick taken by Zusi and mishandled by Hall, but Collin's off-balance attempt to hammer home the rebound couldn't connect.

After outshooting the Dynamo 10-3 in the first half, Sporting Kansas City took full control in the second half as Houston was reduced to nine players upon seeing players sent off on two occasions by referee Kevin Stott. Clark was dismissed first in the 51st minute for a two-footed, sliding tackle on Collin and Ching too saw red for a challenge on the Frenchman in the 69th minute.

Goalkeeper Tally Hall came through time and time again for Houston, denying C.J. Sapong's close-range effort in the 56th minute, holding onto a header from Roger Espinoza three minutes later and smothering a deflected shot from Bravo shortly thereafter.

Sporting striker Kei Kamara tried his luck in the 75th minute with a half-volley, but hit it straight at Hall, who recorded seven saves in the draw, second-most in his MLS career.

With the clock winding down, Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes inserted Teal Bunbury for Michael Harrington as his squad continued to attack from all angles. Espinoza's long-range drive from 30 yards out went narrowly wide, before Birahim Diop forced Hall to spring to his left for a shot destined for the top-right corner.

The Dynamo defense, which had posted shutouts in each of their previous two matches, dodged another bullet in the closing stages as a goalmouth scramble ended with Sporting Kansas City defender Matt Besler in prime position to break through for the visitors. But the 2011 MLS-Star rushed his shot high to prolong the dramatic finale.

A throw-in from Bravo along the right sideline was settled by Espinoza at the top of the penalty area and laid back for Collin, who had moved forward into the attack when given the opportunity in the game's later stages. The MLS newcomer took a controlling touch prior to unleashing a left-footed shot from 30 yards out that deflected mid-flight, leaving Hall helpless in net as Sporting finally found the equalizer the team had been searching to secure for more than 80 minutes.

The goal, Collin's third of the season, comes exactly one week after Bravo scored in the 93rd minute of Sporting Kansas City's 1-1 draw against Chivas USA at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. Espinoza earned his second assist of the year on a night when he made his 75th career MLS appearance and surpassed 5,000 regular season minutes played in his KC and MLS career, becoming the fourth currentSporting KC player to break the barrier.

Sporting Kansas City will return home to host the English Premier League's Newcastle United FC at 7:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, July 20th at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. Tickets are available at TicketMaster.com or at the LIVESTRONG Sporting Park box office.

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