Sporting Kansas City exit Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tourney with loss at Houston Dynamo
Sporting Kansas City hit the post multiple times during Wednesday night’s fourth-round Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match against the Dynamo in Houston.
Sporting KC controlled the shot counter, 15-2. They played up a man for 55 minutes. Yet they dropped a 1-0 result at Shell Energy Stadium.
It was another frustrating night in front of goal for Sporting (1-7-3 in MLS play). In the opening minutes, newcomer Stephen Afrifa skied a chance from the top of the six-yard box with only the Houston keeper to beat.
That was just the start of numerous opportunities for Sporting to put the ball in the net.
“It’s a simple thing,” frustrated manager Peter Vermes said after the loss. “You have to score. I don’t know what you want me to tell you about it. I mean, I can’t shoot the ball.”
“There’s probably at least four just unbelievable (missed) opportunities.”
Sporting made a total of 10 changes to the starting lineup that won 2-1 in Seattle last weekend. Johnny Russell, Alan Pulido and Erik Thommy did not make the trip, and the majority of Sporting’s starting defense stayed home, too.
Despite having just two days between two road matches, Vermes said he didn’t want that to be an excuse. The team had enough quality on the field and on the bench to get a result.
“I think we put a group of guys on the field that all had energy,” Vermes said. “They had a real opportunity, but unfortunately we didn’t get it done.”
After Afrifa’s missed chance, Thor Ulfarsson scored a magnificent volley in the 11th minute to put Houston up 1-0.
Sporting was still the dominant side in possession after conceding, and Marinos Tzinois spent most of the first half carving up the Dynamo left-back Chase Gaspar. In the 35th minute, Tzionis got in behind Gaspar and was taken down just outside the box.
The head referee ruled it denial of a goal-scoring opportunity and gave Gaspar a straight red card. From there, Sporting was the only team to create real chances. But as has been customary in 2023, none of those opportunities found the back of the net. Chris Rindov’s header off the bar was Sporting’s next-best chance of the first half.
In the second half, Khiry Shelton was gifted a one-on-one opportunity with the Dynamo keeper, but his shot clanged off the post and went wide. Daniel Salloi was subbed on at half-time for Afrifa, as was Ethan Bryant. He would soon after put a wide-open header over the bar.
Later in the match, Salloi provided a wonderful cross to Remi Walter. But like Salloi earlier, Walter sent his header over the bar. Just four of Sporting KC’s 15 shots were on target.
Despite the lack of shots on frame, Roger Espinoza (who captained Sporting KC while playing at left-back) said creating quality chances was a good sign.
“I’m a positive guy,” Espinoza said. “I’ll live with the chances. If we keep creating chances like that we’ll be in a good spot.”
Sporting KC’s busy week remains hectic as the team heads home to play host to Minnesota United on Saturday night at Children’s Mercy Park.
