Sporting Kansas City returns to MLS action this weekend with a matchup against long-time foes Houston Dynamo FC at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 7:40 p.m. CT and will be available to stream on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV in English and Spanish. The match will also be available on the radio locally on Sports Radio 810 WHB (English) and La Grande 1340 AM (Spanish). Tickets are available via SeatGeek.com.
1. BALANCING HECTIC SCHEDULE
Sporting Kansas City returns to MLS action this weekend on short rest following Wednesday night’s 2-1 victory over Union Omaha at UNO Caniglia Field in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32. Sporting went the full 120 minutes on Wednesday night with the game going to extra time and will face a Houston team on Saturday that endured the same physical exertion on Tuesday night as they were eliminated from the Open Cup by Detroit City FC on penalty kicks.
Sporting will hope to use Wednesday’s victory as a springboard with the team snapping a five-game winless skid, having previously gone 0-3-2 since beating Toronto FC 3-1 at BMO Field on March 30.
Sporting, who will play their 900th regular-season match in club history on Saturday against Houston, currently find themselves in 10th place in the Western Conference with 11 points, just two points out of the ninth and final playoff position. Despite starting the season with a 2-1-4 mark through seven matches, Sporting has ground to make up following their recent run of results.
2. HOSTING HOUSTON
Sporting Kansas City returns home this weekend when the club takes on Houston Dynamo FC at Children’s Mercy Park. Both teams are coming off 120-minute outings midweek in the U.S. Open Cup, as Houston was eliminated by Detroit City FC on Tuesday and Sporting topped Union Omaha on Wednesday.
Sporting opened the 2024 campaign with a visit to Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, earning a point following a 1-1 draw. Erik Thommy’s wonderful solo effort gave Sporting the lead but Houston responded through Gabe Segal to earn a share of the spoils.
Sporting and Houston met four times in 2023 - twice in the regular season, once in the postseason and once in the Open Cup. Sporting first fell to a 1-0 loss in the Open Cup Round of 32 on May 10, 2023 at Shell Energy Stadium following Thor Ulfarsson’s early goal before settling for a point on July 8, 2023 with a 2-2 road draw in regular-season action. The return fixture took place at Children’s Mercy Park on Sept. 23, 2023 with 10-man Sporting holding on for a 2-1 win after Johnny Russell scored and was later sent off.
The postseason meeting didn’t pass without controversy, as just moments after Houston scored the only goal of the game, Daniel Salloi saw a shot blocked off the line by the arm of Erik Sviatchenko, but no penalty was awarded. PRO later admitted an error had been made on the call.
3. TZIONIS SHINES IN OPEN CUP
Sporting Kansas City winger Marinos Tzionis enjoyed a fine outing on Wednesday night, tallying the equalizing goal and the game-winning assist in the club’s 2-1 victory over Union Omaha in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 at UNO Caniglia Field.
With Sporting trailing 1-0 at the halftime interval, Tzionis took matters into his own hands just three minutes into the second half by stealing the ball off an Omaha midfielder and firing a low left-footed shot that kissed the post before rolling into the back of the net. With his goal on Wednesday, Tzionis has now scored in the last three editions of the U.S. Open Cup, having tallied against FC Dallas in 2022 and Tulsa Athletic in 2023.
With the game heading for penalty kicks deep in the second half of extra time, a tireless Tzionis popped up on the left wing before finding Alan Pulido on the edge of the area who fired home the game-winner in the 120th minute of the match.
Tzionis, who joined Sporting ahead of the 2022 campaign, now has four goals and two assists across 55 appearances in all competitions for the club.
4. PULIDO SCORES LAST-GASP GAME-WINNER
Sporting Kansas City striker Alan Pulido showed his quality on Wednesday night, scoring the game-winning goal in Sporting’s 2-1 victory over Union Omaha in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 at UNO Caniglia Field with just seconds remaining in extra time.
Pulido received a pass from Marinos Tzionis on the edge of the area and nutmegged a defender with his shot that deceived Rashid Nuhu in the Omaha goal and nestled in the bottom corner to send Sporting through to the Round of 16.
The goal, scored in the 120th minute, is the latest goal in Sporting KC history.
Latest SKC goals in extra time in club history (all competitions)
- 120th minute: Alan Pulido in 2-1 win vs. Union Omaha on May 8, 2024
- 119th minute: Ryan Pore in 4-2 win vs. Carolina Railhawks on July 1, 2008
- 118th minute: Daniel Salloi in 3-0 win vs. FC Dallas on July 11, 2017
- 113th minute: Claudio Bieler in 3-1 win vs. New England on Nov. 6, 2013
- 113th minute: Khiry Shelton in 4-2 win vs. FC Dallas on May 10, 2022
5. VALUABLE MINUTES FOR SEVERAL PLAYERS IN OPEN CUP
Several Sporting Kansas City players earned their first significant minutes of the season during Wednesday night’s 2-1 victory over Union Omaha in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 at UNO Caniglia Field.
Robert Castellanos, Felipe Hernandez and Khiry Shelton all made their first starts of the season in the match while newcomer Zorhan Bassong earned his first-ever start for the club at left back. In addition, goalkeeper John Pulskamp, right back Kayden Pierre and forward Marinos Tzionis all went the full 120 minutes after making one appearance apiece this season.
Manager Peter Vermes spread the minutes as much as he could on Wednesday night, using all six substitutes available to him by introducing first-team regulars Memo Rodriguez, Daniel Salloi, Alan Pulido, Johnny Russell, Andreu Fontas and Jake Davis in the second half and beyond.
