By The Numbers presented by KDOT: #HOUvSKC | July 18, 2018

"By The Numbers" is a season-long series sponsored by The Kansas Department of Transportation, giving a statistical preview of every Sporting KC match.
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2,211   The number of alcohol-related crashes in Kansas in 2016.

A pair of familiar foes renew their rivalry Wednesday when Sporting Kansas City visits the Houston Dynamo in the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals. Kickoff at BBVA Compass Stadium is slated for 7:30 p.m. CT, and the match will stream live on SportingKC.com.

Sporting KC and Houston have a habit of crossing paths in knockout-style fixtures, and Wednesday will be no exception as both sides look to take another major step toward domestic silverware. Manager Peter Vermes' men are the reigning Open Cup champions, having effectively mastered the tournament for the last half-decade, while the Dynamo are seeking their first-ever Open Cup title. We take a statistical look at the matchup in our By The Numbers preview.

Head-to-Head

• These teams last met in the MLS regular season on June 23, when Sporting KC rallied from a two-goal halftime deficit to prevail 3-2 at Children's Mercy Park. Houston forward Mauro Manotas bagged a brace before Daniel Salloi, Diego Rubio and Khiry Shelton struck in the second half to seal a dramatic comeback victory.
• Wednesday marks the fourth straight year Sporting KC and Houston will meet in the Open Cup. Sporting KC prevailed in the 2015 quarterfinals and the 2017 Round of 16 en route to winning the tournament, while Houston won in the 2016 Round of 16.
• Only two other teams have met in four straight editions of the Open Cup during the tournament's modern era (since 1995). The New York Red Bulls and Philadelphia Union have squared off in the Open Cup each year since 2015.
• Sporting KC has lost five of its last six matches at BBVA Compass Stadium in all competitions. The lone victory was a 2-0 result in the 2017 U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 last June.
• Sporting KC has faced Houston 28 times in all competitions since 2011, more than any other opponent, and posted a 10-9-9 record during that stretch. This includes six playoff games (2011-2013, 2017) and four U.S. Open Cup matches (2011, 2015-2017).

Houston Dynamo

• 2018 MLS record: 7-6-5, 26 points (7th in West)
• 2018 MLS home record: 6-2-1 (23 GF, 10 GA)
• Last MLS match: T 0-0 at Colorado Rapids on July 14
• Last five MLS matches: 2-1-2, 8 points (W-L-T-W-T)
• Best Open Cup Finish: Semifinals (2006 and 2009)
• Houston is looking to equal its best-ever finish in the Open Cup, having reached the semifinals in 2006 and 2009.
• Houston has yet to concede a goal during the 2018 Open Cup, defeating NTX Rayados 5-0 in the Fourth Round and ousting Minnesota United FC 1-0 in the Round of 16.
• Houston has scored 29 goals in 10 home games this season across all competitions, posting an 8-2-1 record at BBVA Compass Stadium.
• Houston leads MLS in shots on target per game (6.7) and ranks second in total shot attempts per game (15.6). The Dynamo also lead the league in fewest shots faced per game (10.2).
• Houston leads MLS with 3.7 successful open-play crosses per game.
• Houston has scored seven goals in the first 15 minutes of MLS matches this season, tied for second-most in the league.
• Houston forward Alberth Elis has 16 combined goals (9) and assists (7), good for sixth-most in MLS. He leads the league with 33 shots on target.
• Houston forward Romell Quioto is second in MLS with 10 assists and leads the league with 28 successful crosses from open play. He also ranks second with 12 big chances created.
• Houston forward Mauro Manotas leads Houston with 10 goals in all competitions this season.

 Sporting KC

• 2018 MLS record: 9-5-6, 33 points (3rd in West)
• 2018 MLS away record: 3-4-3 (15 GF, 16 GA)
• Last MLS match: L 2-3 at New York Red Bulls on July 14
• Last five MLS matches: 1-3-1, 4 points (W-L-L-T-L)
• Best Open Cup Finish: Champions (2004, 2012, 2015 and 2017)
• Sporting KC is 17-3-3 in its last 23 Open Cup matches dating back to 2012. The three draws account for penalty shootout victories in the 2012 and 2015 finals as well as the 2017 semifinal.
• Sporting KC's four Open Cup titles are tied for the most among MLS clubs (Chicago Fire, Seattle Sounders FC).
• Sporting KC is winless in four straight MLS matches (0-3-1) since defeating Houston 3-2 on June 23.
• Sporting KC has conceded at least two goals in five straight MLS matches for the first time since 2001.
• Sporting KC has scored multiple goals in seven of their last nine games across all competitions since the start of June.
• Sporting KC has conceded the first goal in six straight matches across all competitions.
• Forward Johnny Russell leads the team with eight goals in all competitions, including one in the Open Cup. He has also registered seven assists, second on the team behind Roger Espinoza's eight.
• Espinoza has recorded a career-high eight MLS assists and ranks fifth in MLS with 36 chances created from open play.
• Midfielder Ilie leads MLS with 701 successful passes in the attacking half while ranking tied for fifth with 36 chances created from open play.
• Graham Zusi leads MLS defenders with 39 chances created, having assisted both goals in a 3-2 loss at the New York Red Bulls on Saturday.
• Forward Daniel Salloi is one shy of tying Sporting KC's all-time record with six career goals in the Open Cup, currently held by Dom Dwyer.
• Goalkeeper Tim Melia owns an 8-0-2 record and a 0.64 goals against average in Open Cup matches for Sporting KC, with the draws accounting for shootout victories in the 2015 final and 2017 semifinal. He is one shy of tying Sporting KC's all-time record with five career shutouts in the Open Cup, currently held by Eric Kronberg.

Recent #HOUvSKC meetings in all competitions

• Regular season record vs. Houston: 6-10-12
• All-competitions record vs. Houston: 11-15-13

Team stats (2018 regular season)

MLS rank in parenthesis (source: Opta)