Sporting Kansas City vs. Houston Dynamo | 2020 MLS Match Preview

Dynamo search for elusive first win continues at first-place SKC

SKC-HOU Week 7

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 7
Sporting Kansas City vs. Houston Dynamo
Children's Mercy Park – Kansas City
August 26 – 8:30 PM ET


STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada


LOCAL TV: QuestTEXAS Ch. 55, FOX Sports KC Plus


Sitting top of the table in the West after defeating Minnesota United, Sporting KC look to extend their lead when they host a Houston Dynamo team last in the West and still seeking win No. 1 of the 2020 season.  


This is the rare second meeting between the teams at Children's Mercy Park with Alan Pulido leading the way to a comfortable 4-0 win back in March.


Sporting Kansas City


What is Gianluca Busio's best role for Sporting KC? The 18-year-old normally plays further up the field, but was instead deployed as a deep-lying midfielder against Minnesota United and shined in that role. It's not a position Busio has trained in a lot, but the Homegrown star impressed coach Peter Vermes with his play against the Loons.


"I thought actually [he] was excellent today," Kansas City head coach Peter Vermes said after the match. "He gave us something a little different in the game. His work ethic, his ability to win balls. He got out of a lot of stuff."

Sporting Kansas City vs. Houston Dynamo | 2020 MLS Match Preview - Project Starting XI
  • Updated team roster
  • Injury Report:
    • OUT: Felipe Gutierrez (M) - knee injury
  • Suspended: None
  • Suspended after next caution:None
  • International duty: None


Houston Dynamo


The Dynamo registered their first clean sheet of the season. That's the good news. The bad news is three points weren't attached as Houston battled FC Dallas to a 0-0 draw in the latest edition of the Texas Derby Friday at BBVA Stadium. The chances were there, though, with the Dynamo holding FC Dallas without a shot in the first half and outshooting their rivals 17-7 for the game. 


“I think we did exactly what we wanted to do, which was to take possession away from them. Dallas is a team that usually has possession every game, and we wanted to make sure that we were the ones dictating the game,” Tab Ramos said after the game. “I liked the way the team looked today. I liked how organized the team was defensively, so we solved some issues there. Attacking wise, we spread the field and we made Dallas work for 90 minutes, chasing the ball. So I felt that we’re in a good spot."

Sporting Kansas City vs. Houston Dynamo | 2020 MLS Match Preview - Project Starting XI
  • Updated team roster
  • Injury Report:
    • OUT: Michael Salazar(M) - right knee injury
    • QUESTIONABLE: Victor Cabrera (D) - thigh injury
    • QUESTIONABLE: Boniek Garcia (M) - thigh injury
    • QUESTIONABLE: Mauro Manotas (F) - thigh injury
  • Suspended: None
  • Suspended after next caution: None
  • International duty: None


Series Matchup at Sporting KC


  • Sporting KC: 2 wins, 5 goals
  • Dynamo: 2 wins, 7 goals
  • 0 draws


Officials


  • Referee: Joseph Dickerson
  • Assistant Referees: Jason White, Diego Blas
  • 4th Official: Lukasz Szpala
  • VAR: Jon Freemon