Set piece opportunities Saturday night at Sporting Park led to a downpour of confetti and a vocally frustrated locker room, as Sporting Kansas City and the Houston Dynamo battled to a rugged and controversial 1-1 draw.
“Any time we play Houston, we try and avoid set pieces,” Sporting KC captain Matt Besler said after the match. “It’s simple.
“Giving up set pieces in dangerous positions isn’t a good thing,” Besler added. “You have to give credit to them, because he (Brad Davis) put in a good ball and (Ricardo Clark) made a good play on it.”
More than hour after Dom Dwyer put the home team up off a free kick of his own, Houston was fouled in dangerous territory, setting up an opportunity for set-piece specialist Brad Davis. The left-footed service found a streaking Ricardo Clark at the six-yard box, who headed it in just past goalkeeper Tim Melia.
“When you have a team like Houston that is big and aggressive, they fight for every ball. We have to do the same,” Sporting KC defender Kevin Ellis said. “We have a couple big guys, but for the most part we have the attitude that we’re going to win the ball. They put good balls in the box a few times today and we dealt with them. A guy just got loose one time, and unfortunately that’s all it takes. One time and they’re back in the game.”
Clark’s header marked the fourth time this season Sporting KC allowed a goal off free kick.
“Is it troubling? It ticks me off,” Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes said. “I hate giving up any set pieces in any game. But we scored a great one. I thought we were dangerous in and around the box many times. It’s just unfortunate.”
Even after Houston drew level in the 78th minute, Sporting KC found themselves with a handful of chances late in the game. Houston keeper Tyler Deric stonewalled Krisztian Nemeth’s 81st-minute attempt. A few minutes later, Nemeth had a fabulous volley called back for offside. Replays indicated the forward was just a fraction offside when the ball was played to him.
However, replays indicated the officials were incorrect on a no-call made four minutes into stoppage time. Besler’s long throw-in took a high bounce in the middle of the penalty area and hit the outstretched arm of Dynamo midfielder Luis Garrido.
No call was made.
Players were confused with the ruling when referee Jorge Gonzalez motioned that the ball hit Garrido’s hip but later told reporters the ball hit the arm in a “natural playing position.” Vermes said it backed his belief that MLS needs replay technology.
However, allowing Houston the opportunity to get back into the game on a set piece proved just as frustrating when all was said and done.
“At the end of the day, all 18 guys and the staff, we’re really disappointed we gave away a goal on a set piece,” Ellis said. “That’s one thing we really talk on with every team. We don’t want to give away set piece goals.”
