KANSAS CITY – Sporting Kansas City continues it’s push back to the top of the Western Conference table with a 4-2 win over the Houston Dynamo. While Johnny Russell had the brace, Daniel Salloi’s goal and assist proved crucial not only to Sunday’s victory but in his MVP push as well.
Daniel Salloi MVP push continues as Sporting KC beat Dynamo
Daniel Salloi won his first Player of the Week nominations during the midweek, and while he probably won’t win player of the week this weekend, he certainly continued to pad his MVP resume with a goal and assist. Sporting got off to a hot start against the Dynamo, and KC captain, Johnny Russell, was the first to really make them pay. Russell was played in behind expertly by Gadi Kinda, and was shoved to the ground in the box. While VAR took a look at it, it wasn’t to determine whether or not it was a penalty, but if it was a send-off for Sam Junqa. He escaped the red with just a yellow and after a delay, Russell slammed the penalty home. His finish from the spot made Sunday’s match his fifth straight with a goal, tying the club record set by Preki.
Salloi struck the post just minutes before doubling Sporting KC’s lead. A nice back and forth between Salloi and Kinda, and a brilliant left-footed finish to the far post.
With Sporting KC rolling they started slowly in the second half. Houston came out and smashed a goal back to make it 2-1, and then nearly made it 2-2. Picault’s header went in, but he was correctly called offside. Almost instantly, Salloi got his assist on the night and slipped Gadi Kinda in for Sporting’s third. Kinda rounded the ‘keeper and slotted home into the empty net. Houston again got one back through Darwin Quintero, and much like earlier in the half had quickly made it 3-3 before Maxi Urruti was called offside and the goal called back. Almost immediately Russell dribbled through the entire Houston backline and slotted home to make it 4-2.
Three Things
- Sporting KC looked a bit loose at the back in the second half and luckily was saved a bit by the offsideflag. On the flip side with some of the chances missed, Sporting KC probably could’ve scored six or seven today. Soccer is a game of inches and the 4-2 scoreline felt fair. A few inches one way and it’s 3-3, and a few inches the other way it’s 6-1.
- Daniel Salloi and Johnny Russell are both red hot at the moment. The goals are flying left and right for them, and Alan Pulido is just getting back healthy. While that loss to Seattle might have hurt them in the standings, what matters is if they’re in form heading into the postseason. It looks like they are, and that will bode well for Sporting KC.
- The Dynamo have some decent things working for them, but ultimately, they still look like a team a long way off from being competitive. One has to wonder how much longer Tab Ramos has at the helm.
