Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Major League Soccer clash between Sporting Kansas City and Houston Dynamo, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sporting Kansas City will be looking to record consecutive wins for the first time since February when they welcome Houston Dynamo to Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday.
On the other hand, the away side make the trip this weekend in search of a what would be a first victory in five matches across all competitions.
Match preview
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Sporting Kansas City made it through to the last 16 of the US Open cup thanks to a 2-1 triumph over Union Omaha at Caniglia Field on Thursday.
Peter Vermes‘s men went into the interval trailing to Lagos Kunga‘s opener but wasted no time in restoring parity through Marinos Tzionis‘s strike after which Alan Pulido completed the turnaround in extra-time stoppage time.
This came off the back of a 1-0 defeat against Real Salt Lake which saw SKC remain 10th in the Western Conference of the MLS table, two points outside playoff contention.
Awaiting them next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have been beaten in only one of the most recent six editions of this fixture.
Having seen their last four home matches yield a combined 22 goals, Sunday’s hosts will be bracing themselves up for another goal fest on their own patch.
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Houston Dynamo were dumped out of the US Open Cup on penalties by lower league side Detroit in Wednesday’s last-32 tie at the Shell Energy Stadium.
Goals from Griffin Dorsey, Latif Blessing and Adalberto Carrasquilla were cancelled out by Ryan Williams, Yazeed Matthews and Maxi Rodriguez to send the game to a shootout where Carlos Saldana held his nerve to see off Ben Olsen‘s men.
Prior to that, El Naranja played out a goalless stalemate against St. Louis City and sit eighth in the Western Conference standings, three points clear of their next opponents.
With their four away league games so far split evenly into two wins and two losses, Sunday’s visitors will be keen to carry the day and avoid a third defeat in four outings on the road.
Sporting Kansas City Major League Soccer form:
Houston Dynamo Major League Soccer form:
Team News
Houston’s Nelson Quinones is still battling with a knee problem which he picked up on international duty and has kept him out of action since February.
Franco Escobar is also out of contention for the away side through injury, but the defender is closing in on a return to full fitness.
Kortne Ford continues to face a long spell on the sidelines due to an achilles tendon injury, while Logan Ndenbe is yet to recover from a damaged knee.
Alan Pulido found the back of the net for the third time in four games last time out and the 33-year-old is one to keep an eye on here.
Sporting Kansas City possible starting lineup:
Pulskamp; Leibold, Voloder, Fontas, Davis; Thommy, Rodriguez, Tzionis; Salloi, Pulido, Russell
Houston Dynamo possible starting lineup:
Clark; Steres, Sviatchenko, Micael, Schmitt; Herrera, Artur; Ibrahim, Bassi, Carrasquilla; Kowalczyk
We say: Sporting Kansas City 2-1 Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo have struggled in front of goal recently but we can see them getting on the score sheet in this one. That said, we are also backing the home side to get the job done, albeit by only a narrow margin.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.