Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes
General thoughts on the game...
I thought we started out slow. We didn't have enough zip to begin the game. In the first half, they had the better chances or the more clear cut ones, if you will. I thought we were in and around the box a little bit but I don't think we did a good job on second balls in the game-I thought they were better, especially in the first half. Second half we were a little bit better. The biggest reason why I think we scored was because we possessed the ball and we were knocking it around and we were patient with it. Obviously good goal by Kei (Kamara), but it was good that we were moving the ball around and I think that we made them spread apart and obviously got the goal back. In the end it's tough to just leave with a point. We should have left today with two more points, but we weren't as good as we needed to be.
Thoughts on the penalty kick call in the first half...
There wasn't one. That's what it was. It was no penalty kick. Thank god that the other guys got involved. The Assistant Referee on the other side and I believe the fourth official got involved as well. They talked him off the ledge there, because there was absolutely no penalty kick and he was making something up.
On appealing to the referee to reverse the penalty kick call...
I wasn't pleading. I wasn't pleading. I was telling him to. It would have been a major, major mistake so I'm glad that they got it right.
On Houston's goal...
I can tell you exactly what happened. We made a terrible decision out wide at midfield to play a ball into trouble, which lost us the ball ultimately costing us a foul. They played it quickly win it down the channel and score. We were out of position. We talk about these things all the time that you have to play out of the other teams strength and we played to their strength and unfortunately they took advantage of it. Big mistake on our part.
On what to take away from this game moving forward...
We still have a long way to go. We do. We have a long way to go as a team. We have a good team, but were still not consistent enough in these times. Going down to Houston and beating them there, going into D.C. and getting a point there, we should have had three but we still go there and get a result. When we come home we have to sense that we've done that hard work and now we do the same hard work here at home. These points are big for us, especially when we win points at other peoples places. To give those two points away today-for 90 minutes not being as aggressive as we needed to be, especially defensively, we need to get better at that area for sure.
Sporting Kansas City forward Jacob Peterson
General thoughts on the match...
It was a tale of two halves. First half, we weren't good enough. We didn't play with the sense of urgency that we needed to. Sometimes that happens. But I think we responded well in the second half. We created some good opportunities and at the end of the day- because of the poor first half, we got the result we deserved.
On what the team did wrong in the first half...
Pressuring the ball. That starts up top with me, Claudio (Bieler) and (Graham) Zusi. We didn't set the tone early on how we wanted to play. We lost a lot of second balls and then we had some possession but it wasn't dangerous possession in our own half, which of course Houston was fine with. They're an experienced team- they've been around and they know how they want to play on the road.
On coming back from being down a goal to draw...
A draw is better than a loss. It's not good enough. I think everyone here wants to win every game- especially at home. This season we haven't had the same home form that you would like. Especially from a team that has some pretty good pieces. I think we can't afford to play 45 minutes way below the level that we are. The second half was a pretty good performance and we created a lot more chances. On another day, maybe we would have finished a lot more.
Sporting Kansas City defender Matt Besler
General thoughts on the match...
I think the second half, we performed like the team we are. It was an up and down game. The first half wasn't good enough from us. That was the disappointing part of the match but the positive is that we performed well in the second half and came back and got the goal.
On coming back from being down a goal...
We felt the momentum the entire second half. We were pushing the game and looking for that second goal. We had to be cautious in back because Houston is dangerous on the counterattack. We let them have maybe one or two looks that they shouldn't have.
Sporting Kansas City forward Kei Kamara
On scoring as a second-half substitute...
I guess it was tough to watch the game from the bench. It's hard watching it from the outside, but it makes you learn a little bit so when I went in I knew what to do and like coach said, it was just a good sequence. It was a good ball played in the inside and I just took that touch and I just got lucky.
On whether he wondered when his first goal of the season would come...
For me I just worry about playing. I know when I'm out on the field I'm planning and chances are going to come.
On the match-up with the Dynamo...
That's that team when it comes to the game I feel like it's like Barcelona-Real Madrid. For me it feels like that every game because I know how competitive they are. I know what it is what they want to do when they come here, or we go to their place.
On the rivalry...
What they've done to us in the past couple years, I don't really care what anyone else is going to say, but definitely every time we step out onto the field against that team particularly it's like extra for us.
On scoring against Houston...
"It feels great, obviously, to score against your former team. The goal, for it to be important like that for my team to get a point from it, it's big."
Houston Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear
Comments on the match...
To be expected, a tough game. We played well. Both teams had their chances and moments of play. I'm really proud of the effort. I thought we played well today. Kansas City did too. We knew they were going to test us, and they did.
On the atmosphere at Sporting Park...
I'll credit this place. I've said that time and time again when we come here. It's a tough place to play, but you would love for anyone in a MLS market to have a something like this. Not only the stadium, but the fans and the support.
On the overturned penalty kick...
I think in the end they got the call right. I don't agree with the way it was reversed, but I do think it was not a penalty.
On Brad Davis' goal...
It was a great time to score right before halftime.
On ending the team's two-game skid...
We want to win, home or away. I look at the standings more than I do what happened two weeks ago.
Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall
On Houston's 1-1 draw with Sporting Kansas City...
That was one of the better games we've played in Kansas City. We've obviously had better results here, but in the end that was one of the best performances here that we've seen. The way we went about it was a complete team effort.
On Houston playing without Bobby Boswell and Jermaine Taylor...
We had some guys in different positions, but everyone came together. It shouldn't surprise anyone that just because we don't have everyone available in the lineup that we're going to change the way we play. I think the guys that came in played excellent, and that depth and team mentality is why we're one of the better teams in the league.
On his save in the 75th minute following Kei Kamara's header on goal...
It was a pretty good ball in (from Graham Zusi), and it was a really good header (from Kei Kamara). As a keeper, you just try to put yourself in a good spot and make the play. The team expects me to do that, so it was nothing spectacular.
On Houston losing himself, Corey Ashe and Brad Davis to USMNT duty...
It's kind of funny when you look back at the times when this team in its history has really come together. It hasn't been when we've had all the players available. It's usually when we need guys to step up. In those moments, when your backs are against the wall, you figure out how good of a season you'll have. We've been in this position before and guys have stepped up. We also know that other teams are missing guys to injuries and international duty. Yeah, we're getting hit a little harder than most, but that's something we can handle. This team's success speaks for itself.
On his thoughts of the upcoming U.S. Open Cup...
It's the oldest U.S. trophy that soccer has. There may be different guys in our lineup, but it's still a very important tournament for us. It maybe isn't a top priority, but it's a tournament we haven't had a lot of success in recently. So we'll definitely go into it with the intention of winning the whole thing.
Houston Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis
On the head official overturning what was initially ruled a penalty kick to Houston in the 38th minute...
The fourth official thought it wasn't a foul. After they talked it over, the ref made the change. To be honest, it ended the way it should have. Unfortunately for us, I think they got the call right. I thought (Oriol Rosell) got all ball.
On his goal just before halftime...
The ball went up to Will (Bruin) and he brought it down really well. I was just trying to make a late run off him. He turned his guy and slipped the ball in to me, and I saw Jimmy (Nielsen) start to come out. He didn't think I was going to be able to touch it, but I managed to get the touch and slot it home.
On Houston's 1-1 draw with Sporting Kansas City...
We would have loved to get all three points. We had plenty of chances to score more goals. They had some chances, too. We wanted a win after the two previous losses, but to play at Kansas City and get a draw, you can't feel too bad. After last week's game against New England, we wanted to come here and get back to the ways we're used to playing. We came out ready to play and put together a good performance. I'm a little disappointed we didn't get more from it, but also happy at the way we played.
On scoring his sixth goal against Sporting Kansas City all-time...
I didn't know that stat to be totally honest. But I do like playing here in Kansas City. I'm from St. Louis, so I have a huge family contingency here. It's always fun to play in front of your friends and family. We've had some pretty good success in this building. It's a great stadium and the whole team loves coming here.
Match official Drew Fischer
What convinced you to overturn the PK call in the 38th minute?
Upon consultation with the remainder of the referee crew, we determined that a foul had not been committed.
What did you originally see that led to the initial PK call?
From my angle during live play, it appeared as though the Sporting Kansas City player tripped the Houston Dynamo player.
After last week's blown call in DC vs SKC, was there an added emphasis from PRO to get the calls right this week?
I would say the emphasis from PRO every week is to get the calls right. I don't believe that that messaging changed this week or previous weeks.
Clarification on the PRO issue. Was that a talking point this week after what happened in DC?
Sure. Every week there are multiple talking points, multiple clips; critical incidents from all the games are reviewed. Certainly, it was one that was discussed in that pack.
Drew Fischer speaking on behalf of assistant referee Kevin Duliba...
From your angle, what led you to conclude it was not a penalty?
From (Kevin) Duliba's angle, it appeared as though the Sporting KC player won the ball and did not foul the Dynamo attacker.
