Sporting Kansas City concluded their 2019 preseason, presented by Childrenās Mercy, with a 4-1 victory and a 1-1 draw in split-squad matches against the Houston Dynamo at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona on Wednesday night.
Sporting KC will train in Scottsdale, Arizona for another week before returning to Kansas City ahead of the sideās Champions League Round of 16 opener against Deportivo Toluca FC at Childrenās Mercy Park next Thursday, Feb. 21.
In the first match, Sporting KC fell behind early on when Alberth Elis picked up a loose ball in the area and rifled home a low shot into the bottom corner to give the Dynamo a 1-0 lead. The advantage didnāt last long as Johnny Russell curled in a beautiful finish off Krisztian Nemethās through ball following a sweeping move from back to front by Sporting KC.
In the 23rd minute, Felipe Gutierrez gave Sporting KC the lead. Another flowing move saw Seth Sinovic square a ball for Gerso Fernandes, whose shot squirmed into the path of Gutierrez to slam home from close range. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but following review from the VAR, the goal was allowed.
Nemeth added a third before halftime, firing low into the corner from Gersoās cutback in the 28th minute after Sporting KC had forced a turnover deep into the Dynamo half.
The two sides shared a red card apiece in the second half, as first Romell Quioto was shown a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on Gutierrez before Roger Espinoza was also given his marching orders for a pair of yellow cards late in the half.
With the game drawing to a close, Graham Zusi freed Nemeth behind the Houston backline, and the Hungarian forward took his time before scooping a glorious finish over the Dynamo goalkeeper and into the back of the net to make the final score 4-1.
Sporting Kansas City vs. Houston Dynamo Match One
February 13, 2019 ā Kino Sports Complex (Tucson, Ariz.)
Sporting Kansas City 4, Houston Dynamo 1
Scoring Summary:
HOU ā Alberth Elis (Unassisted) 5ā
SKC ā Johnny Russell (Krisztian Nemeth) 11ā
SKC ā Felipe Gutierrez (Gerso Feranndes) 23ā
SKC ā Krisztian Nemeth (Gerso Fernandes) 28ā
SKC ā Krisztian Nemeth (Graham Zusi) 91+
Misconduct Summary:
SKC ā Krisztian Nemeth (Yellow Card) 34ā
HOU ā Romell Quioto (Red Card) 73ā
SKC ā Roger Espinoza (Yellow Card) 80ā
SKC ā Roger Espinoza (Yellow Card/Red Card) 87ā
Sporting Kansas City Lineup: Tim Melia; Graham Zusi, Andreu Fontas, Matt Besler, Seth Sinovic; Ilie Sanchez (Kuzain 77ā), Roger Espinoza, Felipe Gutierrez; Johnny Russell, Krisztian Nemeth, Gerso Fernandes
In the other split-squad match on a separate field at Kino Sports Complex, Sporting KC battled to a 1-1 draw with the Houston Dymamo.
The two sides traded chances throughout the first half before Sporting KC took the lead at the stroke of halftime when Yohan Croizet fired home a stunning strike from distance. After Rodney Wallaceās cross was cleared, Croizet picked up the ball 30 yards out and struck a brilliant right-footed strike off the post and in to give Sporting a 1-0 lead at the interval.
Shortly after the break, Houston pulled level. Memo Rodriguez let fly from 40 yards and Sporting KC goalkeeper Adrian Zendejas got a hand on the strike, seemingly keeping the ball away from goal, but the assistant referee deemed the ball to have crossed the line and awarded the Dynamo the goal. A chippy rest of the second half ensued as the game would end in a stalemate.
Sporting Kansas City vs. Houston Dynamo Match Two
February 13, 2019 ā Kino Sports Complex (Tucson, Ariz.)
Sporting Kansas City 1, Houston Dynamo 1
Scoring Summary:
SKC ā Yohan Croizet (Unassisted) 45ā
HOU ā Memo Rodriguez (Unassisted) 52ā
Misconduct Summary:
SKC ā Rodney Wallace (Yellow Card) 67ā
SKC ā Botond Barath (Yellow Card) 70ā
SKC ā Kelyn Rowe (Yellow Card) 75ā
Sporting Kansas City Lineup: Adrian Zendejas (Eric Dick 70ā); Jaylin Lindsey, Botond Barath, Graham Smith, Rodney Wallace; Kuzain (Ethan Vanacore-Decker 89ā), Kelyn Rowe, Gianluca Busio (Justin Bilyeu 87ā); Yohan Croizet (Felipe Hernandez 82ā), Erik Hurtado, Tyler Freeman