2011 MLS Reserve League – Central/Mountain Division
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Sporting Club Training Center in Swope Park (Kansas City, MO)
Goals by Period 1 2 F
Sporting Kansas City 0 0 0
Houston Dynamo 2 0 2
The Houston Dynamo (6-4-0) earned a 2-0 win over Sporting Kansas City (3-4-2) in MLS Reserve League action at the Sporting Club Training Center in Swope Park on Tuesday. Houston capitalized on their only two shots of the match, as Alex Dixon and Colin Clark each scored their second Reserve League goals of the season for the visitors.
The first chance of the contest for either team came in the fourth minute when Sporting Kansas City midfielder Jeferson took control of the ball near the corner flag. Jeferson whipped the ball to the far post where Stocjev made solid contact, but his shot was stopped by goalkeeper Tyler Deric for a Sporting Kansas City corner.
Sporting posed another threat in the 14th minute when Michael Harrington played a long pass to Jeferson on the right flank. The Brazilian cut inside and played Soony Saad behind the Dynamo defense, but Saad’s strike from the top of the 18 was turned away by Deric.
Two minutes later, Deric denied Stojcev for the second time in the contest, getting his fingers on the Serbian’s shot from the left side.
In the 22nd minute, Korede Aiyegbusi connected with Kevin Ellis for a diving header at the back post but the Sporting Kansas City Home Grown Player couldn’t push it past Deric. Sporting Kansas City kept up the pressure as Saad got himself free 20 yards from goal, but his shot went narrowly wide of the left post.
Despite looking the more likely side to score much of the first half, it was Houston who broke through in the 27th minute. Dixon worked his way through the middle of the field, and beat Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Eric Kronberg with a low shot into the left corner.
Sporting Kansas City’s nearly drew even in the 36th minute when Jeferson played a ball to the back post. The ball fell to Lawrence Olum, whose volley struck the post from close range.
Houston then doubled their lead in the 42nd minute. Danny Cruz began the buildup on the right sideline before playing a pass to Will Bruin, who played the ball across the goalmouth. Clark took a touch around Sporting Kansas City defender Michael Harrington and placed a well-composed shot into the lower left corner.
Chances continued to come in the second half for Sporting Kansas City, but the Dynamo defense withstood the pressure for their sixth shutout in the Reserve League this year.
Jeferson’s corner in the 52nd minute found Shavar Thomas in the middle of the box but Deric was well-positioned to make the save. Eight minutes later, the windy conditions pushed Harrington’s cross from the right sideline on target, forcing Deric to tip the service over the crossbar.
In the 73rd minute, Jeferson’s corner kick fell through the hands of Deric, but his defense was their to deny Olum’s shot with a goalline clearance.
Sporting Kansas City’s final chance came in the 88th minute, as Jeferson’s short corner was played to Harrington on the right side. The fullback fired a long-range attempt that sailed just over the crossbar.
With the victory, Houston moves into sole possession of second place in the Central/Mountain Division, while Sporting Kansas City will conclude their 2011 MLS Reserve League schedule at home against FC Dallas.
Scoring Summary:
HOU – Alex Dixon (unassisted) 28
HOU – Colin Clark (Will Bruin) 42
Disciplinary Summary:
KC – Birahim Diop (Caution; Reckless Foul) 55
Sporting Kansas City – Eric Kronberg; Korede Aiyegbusi (Nicholas Gonzales* 77), Shavar Thomas, Lawrence Olum, Michael Harrington; Birahim Diop, Craig Rocastle, Jeferson; Milos Stojcev (Scott Lorenz 54), Soony Saad, Kevin Ellis
Subs not used: Jon Kempin, Edvin Worley
Houston Dynamo – Tyler Deric; Hunter Freeman, Jermaine Taylor, Kofi Sarkodie; Danny Cruz (Francisco Navas Cobo 63), Josue Soto, JeVaughn Watson, Alex Dixon; Colin Clark, Jason Garey, Will Bruin (Bradley Bourgeois* 46)
Subs not used: Evan Newton, Christian Gonzalez
*Guest trialist
Academy player
