Houston Dynamo Defeat Sporting KC, Advance to Semis in US Open Cup

Dynamo Defeat Sporting KC 4-2 in USOC

Sporting KC got off to a very quick start. Gerso Fernandes found Johnny Russell all alone, who then proceeded to make a 60 yard run unchallenged, and slotted the ball home to give Sporting KC a 1-0 inside two minutes.

That lead lasted for 33 minutes, until Romell Quioto notched the first of his brace on the night. He picked out the top corner with a free kick from roughly 20 yards out.

Houston ended up dominating on the night. They had more shots, more duels won, more posession, more everything, including the goals.

Quioto grabbed the “winner” in the 66th minute on a well weighted ball over the top of Graham Zusi. Quioto took it off his chest and slotted it home to give Houston the 2-1 advantage. They never looked back.

Mauro Manotas added a brace of his own with goals in the 69th minute and the 88th to round out the scoring for Houston. Sporting KC added an own goal for consolation in stoppage time.

Three Things

Sporting KC’s backline is a mess right now. It didn’t help that they started the match without Matt Besler OR reigning defender of the year, Ike Opara. Even when they’ve been in Sporting have had defensive struggles since starting left back, Jimmy Medranda has been out with injury. Sporting have only surrendered 4 goals with Medranda at left back this year, and 27 without him at that position.

Houston have a team that really is setup to perform well in knockout tournaments. They play on the counter well, and create a ton of pressure on opposing backlines with their speed. Tonight, they added the possession game to it, and out shot/chanced Sporting KC by an incredibly wide margin.

Mauro Manotas might be feeling some pressure for his starting spot with Houston’s recent DP Striker signing, Ronaldo Peña. His performance tonight, along with Romell Quioto’s was fantastic. Alberth Elis was his ever present dangerous self. But, Manotas put an incredible amount of pressure onto Sporting KC’s young and inexperienced center back duo. Quioto being up for the challenge allowed for Houston to run right at the backline, causing all sorts of havoc for the makeshift Sporting defense. If Manotas and Quioto are feeling it, Houston have one of the most dangerous attacks in the league.