League

Sporting Kansas City's 1-1 draw with the Houston Dynamo on Sunday continued a theme in the all-time series between the two Eastern Conference rivals: don't count KC out. Despite falling behind 1-0 on a goal from Dynamo captain Brad Davis in first-half stoppage time, Kei Kamara scored his first goal of 2013 in the 68th minute for a 1-1 draw at Sporting Park that keeps KC one point ahead of Houston in the Eastern Conference standings.

Prior to Sunday, Houston was a perfect 5-0-0 when scoring first this season and it's only fitting Sporting KC was the team to blemish the mark.

Dating back to the first ever meeting between the clubs on April 8, 2006 -- when Jose Burciaga scored in the 90th minute of a 2-1 come-from-behind win -- Houston has dropped 14 points from leading positions against KC. Four of the six matches (full list below) have seen Sporting KC complete their comeback in the 90th minute or later and the Dynamo have now seen a lead evaporate at the hands of Sporting KC in each of the last five seasons.

• May 26, 2013 - Houston led 1-0 until Kei Kamara goal in 68th minute for 1-1 draw
• September 14, 2012 - Houston led 1-0 until C.J. Sapong goal in 93rd minute for 1-1 draw
• July 16, 2011 - Houston led 1-0 until Aurelien Collin goal in 90th minute for 1-1 draw
• September 22, 2010 - Houston led 3-1 until Josh Wolff goal in 96th minute of 4-3 loss
• October 4, 2009 - Houston led 1-0 until Zoltan Hercegfalvi goal in 73rd minute for 1-1 draw
• April 8, 2006 - Houston led 1-0 until Jose Burciaga goal in 90th minute for 2-1 loss

Sunday's showdown between Sporting KC and the Houston Dynamo was the latest in a rivalry that continues to blossom and like any good grudge game, the contest came with no shortage of tough tackles. Referee Chris Penso whistled Sporting Kansas City for 25 fouls in the match, most by a team in MLS this season and second most in club history, but might there have been a method to the madness?

Mapping out each of the 25 fouls committed by Manager Peter Vermes' squad shows no set pieces were conceded closer than 35 yards from Jimmy Nielsen's net. The closest (shown below) came in the 25th minute when Brad Davis' left-footed free kick was saved by Nielsen at the near post.

In fact, Houston managed only two shots on goal through the game's first 90 minutes and both came from free kick opportunities. The Dynamo - historically a dangerous team on dead ball situations with Davis serving pin-point deliveries -- were stifled in the run of play and Sporting KC did well to limit the effectiveness of their restarts in large part by pushing the proximity of those free kicks further up the field.

Ironically, the foul-friendly approach is a tactic often used to stymie Sporting KC who lead all MLS teams in fouls suffered this season. Either way, the rivalry will write its next chapter in two weeks' time when Sporting Park hosts the rematch on May 26 live on national TV.

"When we play each other, it is always a battle," Vermes said. "These two teams are always battling each other. It’s every roll of the ball."

Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes joined The Border Patrol with Nate Bukaty and Steven St. John this morning on Sports Radio 810 WHB to discuss last night's match against the Seattle Sounders FC and the team's trip to Houston for Sunday's showdown with the Dynamo.

"With three games in eight days, we've got to get focused on Houston. But it was a tough one to swallow based on the fact that we gifted them the goal at the end there. A major blunder on our part defensively and it wasn't just from the throw-in. It was the play leading up to it, giving the ball away as we were attacking up the field -- just a big mistake on our part."

Given the quick turnaround, Vermes will put the team through training sessions on Friday and Saturday at the Sporting Club Training Center to prep for the trip to BBVA Compass Stadium.

"They're undefeated there -- it's not an easy place to play -- since they opened the place...They're actually on a bit of a roll at the moment. They're feeling it. They're a very confident team. So where it's going to be important for us, I truly believe that second balls in the game are going to be a big thing. They like to pump some balls forward and they like to win those second balls close to your box. And that's where they put you under pressure. The other is that they have two guys wide that have some good speed that are good in the counter. We're going to have to be alert to those two players."

Hear much more from Vermes -- including his thoughts on Graham Zusi's versatility, Matt Besler's injury and the Chiefs' Andy Reid -- in the full interview on 810whb.com.