Sporting Kansas City are down 2-0 to the Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Semifinals but as history is known to repeat itself, things are far from being over. Sporting KC have come from 2-0 deficits in first legs on two different occasions in the MLS Playoffs. Below are the details of both those times including one against a Dominic Kinnear coached team.
2004 vs SJ Earthquakes
KC struggled in the opening leg as they lost 0-2 at Spartan Stadium including a goal from SJ's Dwayne De Rosario. This was Dominic Kinnear's first season as manager and the team would move to Houston and become the Dynamo for the 2006 season. It was a very talented SJ team with De Rosario, Landon Donovan, Brian Ching, Jeff Agoos, and goalkeeper Pat Onstad.
The team responded in the second leg (at KC) with an impressive 3-0 win. Khari Stephenson and a Brian Ching own goal leveled the aggregate score at 2-2. The match appeared to be heading for extra time until a stoppage time goal from Jack Jewsbury gave KC the 3-2 lead. It was a dramatic victory and helped propel the team into the MLS Cup Final.
2001 vs Miami Fusion
The other time Sporting KC fought back from a 0-2 opening loss was against Miami in the 2001 MLS Cup Playoffs. The Fusion has several former KC players on its squad including Preki and Chris Henderson. Alex Pineda Chacon (2001 MLS MVP) and Diego Serna both scored in the first leg to set up a must win for KC in the second leg.
KC started quickly with a 3-0 lead by halftime on goals by Omandi Lowe, Matt McKeon, and Francisco Gomez. The victory forced a decisive third match in which Miami just edged KC on a second half Chris Henderson goal.
