SPORTING KANSAS CITY MANAGER PETER VERMES
Thoughts on the match...
My thoughts are that I think from the opening whistle, that we dominated the game. I think we had the run of play and Brad Davis had a great free kick. Outside of that, they really had no chances through the run of play. We shut most of their game down.
On the tactics employed...
The other thing is that they changed their formation for this game, which is kind of unusual for them. They usually play a straight 4-4-2 but they played a 4-3-3 in the first half. At that point, in the start of the second half, I thought they would change back to a 4-4-2 and they didn’t. So I think it really played to us because we know our system and that’s the way we play. So I thought from the opening whistle that we dominated the game other than the goal that they scored off the free kick, which was a great shot by Brad Davis.
Thoughts on playing up two men...
Nine, eight, whatever the number is, at the time when they started to just bunker on top of the box, it really is about patience, trying to play the ball in, then opening it wide and serving it in again. At times, we were a little impatient, but they did a good job and Hall was very good in goal there at the end to make quite a few saves. There is no doubt that we deserved a goal. We should have had maybe a couple more because of some of the actions that we created but like I said Tally Hall did a great job and I have to commend him for his performance.
On the team’s 11-game unbeaten streak...
It’s a good position to be in. It doesn’t mean that all of a sudden because you’re going home, that you’re going to get points all the time but it’s definitely a good position to be in. I think we have a good confidence about being in games and not giving up. The MLS season is a very long season and it’s a grind and for us, we have a game coming up in a week and that’s what we have to get ready for. I thought we’ve done a great job to come back and get back into it at after being ten games on the road and I think the guys have a lot of belief in each other. I think that’s a good place to be at this point of the season.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY DEFENDER AURELIEN COLLIN
On the goal...
I was lucky. They were solid in their defense. Their goalkeeper was very, very good today. We finally scored in the end, so I’m very happy for the team. With the condition of that game, we should have won.
On scoring so late...
The thing is that we kept calm and focused until the end. We were pushing it at the end and thank God we scored that goal to give us the point. We are very happy.
Thoughts on the result...
Are we satisfied? No. But it is better than if we would have lost. We are happy, but we could have won that game.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY FORWARD KEI KAMARA
On the match-up with Houston...
It was physical, like every other time we play against Houston. They’re a team that brings it and we’re a team that does the same. We came back from 1-0 to tie it up, but at the same time we have to find a way to get out of here with three points
On being back in Houston...
It’s weird, it’s weird. I’ve been out for two years now and it feels like I just left. I really appreciate all the support I still get. I’ve never had any one of the places I’ve played before, that when I come back and they say my name and I get that much applause.
HOUSTON DYNAMO HEAD COACH DOMINIC KINNEAR
On his team's performance...
I give the guys all the credit for getting that point. They stuck together and played their hearts out. They ran their legs until they were likely exhausted. Tally [Hall] came up with some wonderful saves and was holding strong and then they got a deflected goal. Looking at the chances maybe they were due one but it sure would have been nice to come out with three points. It was a tough night to go two down. I’m very proud of the guys. The attitude is something to be very happy with.
On the Dynamo’s play after the first red card...
I thought we did OK. We didn’t panic. When you’re down to nine you have no one to pass the ball to. Tally was very composed back there. He was under a lot of pressure as was the back four, well all nine were, but the heads didn’t go down and we defended and tried to make things difficult and that’s what we did.
On the red cards...
The second one was a red card. The first was difficult. The first tackle of the game was a foul and I thought ‘if that’s the way the game’s going to be called there won’t be much happening." Colin didn’t leave his feet but he put the decision in the ref’s hands and he thought it was a red card. Last time we played with nine men was four or five years ago. It’s always tough with the heat and then we had to make sub at halftime. It was a hard-earned point but it was well deserved. Things didn’t go the way we wanted too but the one thing we can’t question is the attitude of the players.
On playing a 4-3-3 to start the game...
We were trying to go with the three up high to match them because they are the most effective at it with their pace. We didn’t want them to have the passing lanes and I think we did that for the first 20 minutes and then we starting knocking the ball long to Brian [Ching]. Every ball he received after that was above his head and it made it tough on him. Defensively we were doing fine and not giving up too much. If we would have been a little more confident on the ball we would have done OK. Give them credit, they put us under pressure and they have imposing forwards.
On Tally Hall’s performance...
He had a couple of good saves. The save on [Birahim] Diop’s long shot was excellent and the one down to his right against [C.J.] Sapong was good. He commanded his box well and came out and got some good ones. The goal that got by him was something he probably had covered but unfortunately it got deflected. I thought Tally was excellent tonight.
DYNAMO FORWARD BRIAN CHING
On the red card...
I made a bad decision and we got punished for it. I cost the team two points. They did extremely well to be men, stand up, and not give up and fight till the end.
On Tally Hall in net...
Tally started the season off strong. He had a little mistake in the Colorado game, lost a little confidence, but over the past 4-5 games he stood on his head for us. I give complete credit to him and feel bad for him. I feel bad for him to get scored on a deflection after the effort him and the boys left on the field.
DYNAMO GOALKEEPER TALLY HALL
On his team's performance...
It’s always good to get out in the game and get an early goal. I couldn’t see the second one which was called back. The two red cards make the game difficult. It becomes a dog match for you. The guys worked really hard and it was fun to be behind them and see the work they were putting out and see how much each player wanted that win.
On the red cards...
It’s unfortunate that red cards happen and we just have to move on. That’s the situation that is presented in front of us but we walked away with a result and we were unlucky to let two points get away from us.
On being busy in net...
I’m glad on the nights that there are a lot of shots, I make more saves. It would be unfortunate on a night when there are a lot of shots that I don’t make more saves. That’s the role I had to play today but I’m glad I could help the team out. It’s kind of cliché but it’s all about the team and if you can’t get that by watching the performance the guys put on the field than you are missing something out there.
