Full Time: Sporting KC Edges Houston Out Of U.S. Open Cup Qualification With Extra Time Goal

Sometimes when looking at the stats the morning after a game, I think, "Man, those stats don't reflect the game at all."  Other days, they very much do.  The statistics from the U.S. Open Cup play-in between the Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City show that a fairly even game, filled with fouls, and reflect a Dynamo team that is finally taking shots on goal.  Unfortunately, they all show the most important number, the scoreline, and that still reflects a Dynamo loss and subsequent elimination from the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. 

Sporting Kansas City vs. Houston Dynamo
April 06, 2011 -- Aggie Soccer Stadium, College Station TX
Attendance: 2,383

Scoring Summary:
KC -- C.J. Sapong (Teal Bunbury) 92

Sporting Kansas City -- Eric Kronberg, Michael Harrington, Matt Besler, Shavar Thomas, Roger Espinoza, Luke Sassano (Davy Arnaud 91), Craig Rocastle (Birahim Diop 76), Milos Stojcev, Kei Kamara, Omar Bravo (C.J. Sapong 46), Teal Bunbury.
Substitutes Not Used: Kevin Ellis, Mike Jones, Scott Lorenz, Jon Kempin.

TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Kei Kamara 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Kei Kamara 3); FOULS: 18 (Kei Kamara 4); OFFSIDES: 5 (Teal Bunbury 3); CORNER KICKS: 7 (Milos Stojcev 5); SAVES: 6 (Eric Kronberg 6)

Houston Dynamo -- Tyler Deric, Kofi Sarkodie, Bobby Boswell, Eddie Robinson (Jordan Graye 86), Mike Chabala, Danny Cruz, Alex Dixon, Lovel Palmer, Colin Clark (Corey Ashe 76), Cam Weaver (Will Bruin 83), Jason Garey.
Substitutes Not Used: Hunter Freeman, Francisco Navas Cobo, Josue Soto, Tally Hall.

TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Danny Cruz 4, Jason Garey 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Jason Garey 3); FOULS: 14 (Lovel Palmer 3, Kofi Sarkodie 3); OFFSIDES: 1 (Cam Weaver 1); CORNER KICKS: 5 (Colin Clark 2, Danny Cruz 2); SAVES: 4 (Tyler Deric 4)

The Dynamo played without forwards Calen Carr (concussion) and Brian Ching (rib separation); midfielder Brad Davis (hamstring); and defender Jermaine Taylor (foot sprain). Additionally, midfielder Geoff Cameron and defender Andre Hainault were rested.

Next Match: Sunday, April 10, 6 p.m., Dynamo vs. Vancouver Whitecaps, Robertson Stadium

The Houston Dynamo fell 1-0 to Sporting Kansas City in the U.S. Open Cup play-in on Wednesday night off of a C.J. Sapong goal.

The game went beyond 90 minutes after a scoreless two halves, but C.J. Sapong struck quick in the first half of extra time, giving SKC the lead. The Dynamo nearly equalized on a number of occasions late in the games, but were unable to convert any chances.

While some may debate the importance of the Open Cup, it is a tournament, like tonight’s game, that gives playing time to younger players and fringe players, building confidence and experience.

With Houston now out of Open Cup contention, the team can now focus on the Major League Soccer season. The Dynamo will have to shift focus quickly ahead of their game against new expansion team, the Vancouver Whitecaps, on Sunday night at 6pm at Robertson Stadium.

Once stats and highlights are available from tonight’s match, they will be posted here.

C.J. Sapong gave Sporting Kansas City the lead early into the first half of extra time after curling an effort past Tyler Deric. The Dynamo defense gave Sapong too much space and the forward was quick to capitalize and convert the scoring opportunity.

After 90 minutes, a winning goal could not be found in the U.S. Open Cup play-in between Sporting Kansas City and the Houston Dynamo.

While Sporting KC had the better chances of the first half, the Dynamo made the most with a group of substitutes in the second half, creating a number of scoring chances.

Since the game is tied after 90 minutes, we will go on to extra time. After two, fifteen-minute halves, if there is not a winner, the game will go to penalty kicks.

In the 90th minute, Dynamo rookie and second-half substitute Will Bruin saw his effort from almost 30 yards out of goal tipped over the bar. Bruin has been active since being brought on late in the second half.

Jordan Graye will see his first minutes for the Dynamo after being substituted on for Eddie Robinson late in the match.

This was Houston’s final substitution.

If the game remains scoreless at the end of regulation time, it will go to extra time and then penalty kicks if needed.

The Dynamo made two substitutions late in the second half in an attempt to finish this game off before extra time when they brought on Will Bruin for Cam Weaver and Corey Ashe for Colin Clark.

The moves both proved effective as Will Bruin opened up the ball to Danny Cruz who had a solid effort on goal.

Dynamo defender Bobby Boswell received a yellow card for taking down C.J. Sapong about 30 yards outside of Houston’s goal in the 74th minute.

Defender Mike Chabala picked up Houston’s third team yellow card in the 65th minute.

There’s no score at the half in the U.S. Open Cup play-in between the Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City. The game has been end-to-end, but SKC has had the better of the chances. Tyler Deric, who normally backs up starting goalkeeper Tally Hall, has been stonewalled SKC, keeping the game level at 0-0.

This stream is being brought to you by old school, since we are covering by radio, like the writers of decades past.

Dynamo center-defensive midfielder Lovel Palmer saw Houston’s second yellow card of the match after bringing down Milos Stojcev from behind in the center of the pitch. Defender Kofi Sarkodie has the team’s other yellow card.

After thirty five minutes of action, it is still scoreless in the U.S. Open Cup play-in between Sporting KC and the Houston Dynamo. So far, Sporting KC has had the better chances, forcing a few good saves from back-up Dynamo goalkeeper, Tyler Deric. The Dynamo have played well in this end-to-end game, forcing Sporting’s goalkeeper into action.

Here’s Sporting Kansas City’s starting line-up for the U.S. Open Cup play-in against the Houston Dynamo.

GK: Kronberg
D: Espinoza
D: Thomas
D: Besler
D: Harrington
M: Rocastle
M: Sassano
M: Stojcev
M: Bravo
F: Bunbury
F: Kamara

Here’s your starting XI for the Houston Dynamo:

F: Cam Weaver
F: Jason Garey
LM: Colin Clark
CAM: Alex Dixon
CDM: Lovel Palmer
RM: Danny Cruz
LB: Kofi Sarkodie
CB: Eddie Robinson
CB: Bobby Boswell
RB: Mike Chabala
GK: Tyler Deric

Subs: Tally Hall, Corey Ashe, Will Bruin, Hunter Freeman, Jordan Graye, Francisco Navas Cobo, Josue Soto

The big news for the Houston Dynamo is that Colin Clark has returned from his knee injury and is getting his first start and first minutes for the club. After picking up his first minutes in last week’s game, Alex Dixon gets his first Houston Dynamo start.

Sporting Kansas City’s line-up to follow soon.

Hey everyone, sorry for the late start. We are battling technical difficulties on a few fronts. The video streams from Sporting Kansas City and the Dynamo has not been working. However, this is a radio stream available, though that has been a bit shaky.

Despite all of this, I will do my best to keep you updated on the match and any action as it occurs.