By The Numbers presented by KDOT: #HOUvSKC | Sept. 5, 2020

"By The Numbers" is a season-long series presented by the Kansas Department of Transportation that gives a statistical preview of every Sporting match. To visit the series archive, click here.
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269  The number of people injured in a crash caused by cell phone distraction in Kansas in 2018.

For the third time this season, Sporting Kansas City (5-2-2, 17 points) and the Houston Dynamo (2-2-4, 10 points) will rekindle their rivalry with hopes of gaining momentum as an unprecedented 2020 MLS campaign continues. Saturday's showdown at BBVA Stadium in Houston will kick off at 7 p.m. CT with live coverage on FOX Sports Kansas City Plus, FOX Sports Midwest Plus, FOX Sports GO and Sports Radio 810 WHB.

Currently owning a two-point lead at the top of the Western Conference table, Sporting enjoyed a scintillating 2020 home opener on March 7 by prevailing 4-0 against a hapless Dynamo side. Houston exacted revenge more recently, running out 5-2 winners in a convincing road performance at Children's Mercy Park. Saturday will thusly serve as a compelling rubber match in the series as Manager Peter Vermes and first-place Sporting visit head coach Tab Ramos and the upstart Dynamo.

In the lead-up to Saturday's mouthwatering battle, we offer a statistical breakdown in our newest edition of By The Numbers, presented by the Kansas Department of Transportation.

Head-to-Head

• Sporting are 4-1-2 in their last seven regular season meetings against Houston dating back to October 2017, posting four shutouts during that stretch.
• The clubs have already met twice this season at Children's Mercy Park. Sporting cruised to a 4-0 win in their 2020 home opener on March 7, receiving goals from Alan Pulido, Roger Espinoza, Gadi Kinda and Khiry Shelton. Houston exacted revenge with a 5-2 triumph on Aug. 25 behind a Darwin Quintero brace and additional strikes from Alberth Elis, Christian Ramirez and Niko Hansen.
• Houston's salvo on Aug. 25 set a club record for most goals in an MLS road match.
• Houston leads the all-time series in the regular season (11-9-13) and in all competitions (17-14-14).
• Sporting has faced Houston 34 times in all competitions since 2011, more than any other opponent, and posted an 13-11-10 record during that stretch.
• Sporting midfielder Gadi Kinda has scored in both previous meetings against Houston this season.

Houston Dynamo

• MLS record:2-2-4, 10 points (9th in Western Conference)
• MLS away record: 1-0-2 (4 GF, 1 GA)
• Last five regular season matches: 2-1-2 (L-T-T-W-W)
• Last Match: Won 3-1 vs. Minnesota United FC on Saturday, Aug. 29
• Houston was the last team to record a win this season, doing so on Aug. 25 after an 0-2-4 start.
• Following a six-game winless skid to start the season, Houston has won its last two matches by outscoring opponents 8-2.
• Houston are unbeaten in four matches (2-0-2) dating back to the club's finale in the MLS is Back Tournament on July 23.
• Houston ranks third in MLS with 11.5 chances created per game.
• Forward Alberth Elis and Darwin Quintero are two of five MLS players, including Sporting's Johnny Russell, with at least 20 goals and 20 assists in the regular season since the start of 2018.
• Elis and Quintero have combined for four goals and five assists in Houston's last two wins over Sporting and Minnesota. 
• Quintero is tied for fourth in MLS with four assists and ranks sixth with 18 chances created. He leads Houston in both goals (four) and assists (four).
• Midfielder Memo Rodriguez ranks fifth in MLS with 26 shot attempts and has started all eight matches for the club this season.
• Defender Adam Lundkvist ranks third in MLS with 19 tackles won, while defender Maynor Figueroa is tied for third with 41 clearances.

Sporting Kansas City

• MLS record:5-2-2, 17 points (1st in Western Conference)
• MLS away record: 2-0-1 (6 GF, 3 GA)
• Last five regular season matches: 2-1-2 (W-W-L-T-T)
• Last Match: Tied 1-1 vs. FC Dallas on Wednesday, Sept. 2
• Sporting are 2-0-1 in true road games this season, having beaten Vancouver and Minnesota and drawn with Colorado.
• Sporting ranks second in MLS in total goals scored (19) and goals per game (2.11).
• Nine different Sporting players have scored a goal this season, the most in MLS.
• Sporting has gained five points from a trailing position, the second-most in MLS since league play resumed in July.
• Sporting has lost just once in the four matches where it has conceded the first goal (1-1-2 record).
• In Wednesday's tie against Dallas, Sporting started four Homegrown Players and fielded five total Homegrowns for the second time ever. Gianluca Busio, Cam Duke, Felipe Hernandez and Jaylin Lindsey started, while Daniel Salloi came off the bench.
• Midfielder Gadi Kinda and forward Khiry Shelton are tied for the team lead with four goals apiece, while forward Alan Pulido has added three goals and four assists.
• Pulido is tied for fourth in MLS with four assists.
• Forward Johnny Russell had eight shots in Wednesday's tie against Dallas, tied for the most by a player in MLS this season.

Milestones and Miscellany

• Wednesday's draw against Dallas was the first time ever in which Sporting started two teenage midfielders (Cam Duke and Felipe Hernandez).
• Defender Matt Besler is one shy of his 300th career MLS start for Sporting (including playoffs).
• Midfielder Ilie Sanchez is one shy of his 100th career regular season start for Sporting.

Recent #HOUvSKC meetings (all competitions)

• Regular season record vs. Houston: 9-11-13
• All-competitions record vs. Houston: 14-17-14

Team Stats (2020 regular season)

(Per Opta; MLS rank in parenthesis)