Sporting KC at Houston Dynamo
Wed., October 9, 2013 - 7:30 p.m. CT
BBVA Compass Stadium | Houston, TX
English TV: KSMO-TV
Spanish Radio: La Gran D 1340 AM
MatchCenter | Game Notes | Media Guide | Prep Talk | Scouting Report
By the Numbers | Video Preview | Social Media | Game On | Watch Party
Sporting Kansas City plays Eastern Conference rivals Houston on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. CT at BBVA Compass Stadium. With a victory, Sporting KC will clinch a playoff spot and claim the best record in Major League Soccer with two games remaining in the 2013 regular season. The match will be broadcast live locally on KSMO-TV and fans can listen to the match on LA Gran D 1340 AM.
The Dynamo have eliminated Sporting KC in the race for MLS Cup in each of the last two seasons, creating a natural rivalry between the clubs heading into Wednesday's mid-week match-up. Sporting Kansas City and the Houston Dynamo currently sit in second and third place in the Eastern Conference, respectively, with four points separating the two sides.
Sporting Kansas City defeated Columbus 1-0 last weekend at Crew Stadium, marking the first time since 2006 that Sporting KC has swept the season series against the Crew. The Dynamo also posted a 1-0 victory in their last outing against Montreal, bypassing the Impact in the Eastern Conference standings courtesy of a Ricardo Clark goal.
Sporting KC is undefeated in all but one of their previous eight regular season meetings against Houston, including a 1-0 victory and 1-1 draw earlier this season. The victory on May 12 was the first loss suffered by the Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium and ended a 36-match unbeaten streak that dated back to the stadium's inaugural season in 2012.
Sporting KC will clinch a playoff spot outright with a victory on Wednesday night. With a draw against Houston, Sporting KC will clinch a postseason berth on Sunday if either the Chicago Fire lose or draw at FC Dallas, or if the Philadelphia Union lose or draw at D.C. United. If Sporting KC loses on Wednesday, they can still clinch a playoff spot on Sunday if either the Chicago Fire lose or draw at FC Dallas, or the Philadelphia Union lose at D.C. United.
Sporting Kansas City will be without defender Matt Besler and midfielder Graham Zusi on Wednesday as the duo prepares for the United States Men's National Team final home World Cup Qualifier to be held at Sporting Park on Friday at 5:30 p.m. CT. Houston will be without Jermaine Taylor (Jamaica) and Boniek Garcia (Honduras) who will also be on international duty.
All fans 21 and older can attend the club's official watch party at Hollywood Casino Turn 2 Sports Bar & Restaurant. Doors open at 4 p.m. CT featuring half price pizza, half price wings and $3 draft specials.
Sporting KC fans can track the match online by visiting SportingKC.com/GameOn or by following @SKCGameday on Twitter. The Final Whistle: Sporting KC Postgame Show will air live on 102.9 KCXL with hosts Dave Borchardt and Andy Edwards leading the discussion and taking supporters' calls at 913-491-TALK.
