NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Houston Dynamo FC

Three Points: Houston Dynamo FC and Sporting Kansas City Renew Rivalry at BBVA Stadium on Wednesday

May 11, 2021 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


HOUSTON - Houston Dynamo FC return to BBVA Stadium on Wednesday to host Sporting Kansas City after a 1-1 draw with FC Dallas on Saturday. Wednesday's match is the second game in a three-match run that began in Frisco and ends on Saturday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park against the Colorado Rapids.

The Dynamo enter the match with two consecutive draws and look for their first victory since the opening day triumph over the San Jose Earthquakes on April 16. Fafa Picault scored the lone goal for the Dynamo against Dallas, his first with the club, and the forward enters Wednesday's game with a goal and assist in his last two outings. The Dynamo were without Tyler Pasher on Saturday due to a lower body injury and the Canadian winger is listed as questionable for Wednesday's game.

Tim Parker wore the captain's armband for the first time on Saturday and the center back currently leads the team in clearances with eight. Parker was a key acquisition for the Dynamo in the offseason and he will be tasked with limiting a Sporting Kansas City offense that features two of the most dynamic attacking players in Johnny Russell and Alan Pulido.

The Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City split the series in 2020 with each team winning one game at home and on the road. Dynamo head coach Tab Ramos earned his first victory with Houston against Sporting Kansas City at Children's Mercy Park. The Dynamo exploded for five goals on Aug. 25 and won the following matchup at BBVA Stadium 2-1 on Sept. 5.

The Dynamo will travel to Denver on Saturday for the third and final game of this three-game stretch. Houston will face the Colorado Rapids at 8 p.m. CT at Dick's Sporting Goods Park and the match will air live on QuestTexas ch. 55 in English and TelExitos 47.2 in Spanish.

WHO: Houston Dynamo FC vs. Sporting Kansas City

WHEN: Wednesday, May 12 - 7:30 p.m. CT

TV: QuestTexas ch. 55 (Glenn Davis, Eddie Robinson and Cindy Burbano)

RADIO: English: HoustonDynamoFC.com/Radio

Spanish: TUDN Radio Houston 1010 AM (Daniel Mejia and Lester Gretsch)

Here are three key points ahead of Wednesday's game:

FAFA FINDS SCORING TOUCH: Forward Fafa Picault scored his first goal of the season on Saturday and enters the midweek match with Kansas City contributing to the last two goals scored by the Dynamo. The forward had the assist in Tyler Pasher's goal in Houston's 1-1 draw with LAFC on May 1. Picault will look to score his first goal against Kansas City or tally his second assist against Sporting on Wednesday. The forward is also aiming to score in back-to-back games for the first time since the 2019 season. Picault scored the opening goal against New York City FC on June 29, 2019 and followed up with the third goal in a 3-1 victory for the Union over Orlando City SC on July 3.

FIGUEROA RETURNS TO BACKLINE: Defender Maynor Figueroa made his 2021 debut on Saturday and led the team in tackles, clearances and interceptions with three in each category against Dallas. The 38-year-old defender is in his third season with the Dynamo and has played 46 games for Houston since joining the Club in 2019. Figueroa has been a staple in the Dynamo backline and returns to the Dynamo after leading the team in interceptions with 41, blocks with 20, aerial duels with 86 and clearances with 73 in 2020.

KANSAS CITY FACE QUICK TURNAROUND: Sporting Kansas City travel to Houston 48 hours after defeating Austin FC at Children's Mercy Park with a late goal from midfielder Gadi Kinda. Peter Vermes' squad earned their first three points since the opened the season with a 2-1 victory on the road in New Jersey against the New York Red Bulls. Kansas City has rotated their lineup coming into Wednesday's game and only four players have played more than 300 minutes in the opening four games of the season. Three of those players are on the Sporting backline including Andreu Fontas and Luis Martins, who are the only field players to play every minute for Kansas City this season. Gianluca Busio is the only attacking player to pass the 300-minute mark and defender Jaylin Lindsey rounds out the list at 306 minutes played this season.

Check out the Houston Dynamo FC Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Major League Soccer message board...

Major League Soccer Stories from May 11, 2021


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central