The Houston Dynamo list Philippe Senderos, Juan David Cabezas, Alex DeLa Garza and Mac Steeves as injured while Darwin Ceren and Alejandro Fuenmayor are back from suspension.
Sporting Kansas City lists Jimmy Medranda, Khiry Shelton, Cristian Lobato and Brad Evans as injured with Ike Opara as questionable. Roger Espinoza is suspended.
Houston Dynamo
Suspended: None
Doubtful: None
Injured/unavailable: Alex DeLaGarza (knee); Juan David Cabezas, Philippe Senderos (both quadriceps); Mac Steeves (hip)
Sporting Kansas City
Suspended: Roger Espinoza
Doubtful: Ike Opara (hamstring)
Injured/unavailable: Jimmy Medranda, Khiry Shelton, Cristian Lobato (all knee); Brad Evans (Achilles)
MATCH PREVIEW
MAIN PREDICTION: DRAW
The Houston Dynamo were edged 2-1 in Portland last Saturday for their second straight loss and fourth consecutive without a win at two draws and two losses. It definitely didn’t help their chances of making the playoffs as they are stuck in ninth place in the West with 27 points, which places them four back of sixth place Real Salt Lake. Houston fell behind after just seven minutes, but Romell Quioto levelled things up only five minutes later. The Dynamo failed to hang on though and conceded the winner with ten minutes to go. Houston is steady, but not rock solid at home with 20 points from six wins, two draws and three losses. They have won just one of the last four at home with two draws and a loss.
Sporting Kansas City were downed 3-2 at home by FC Dallas last weekend for their second straight 3-2 defeat in the league. They have just one win in their past six MLS outings with two draws and four losses and have allowed two or more goals in all of those matches. Gerso Fernandes scored for Sporting in the 19th minute last time out, but they were trailing 3-1 when Daniel Salloi made it close just before the final whistle. Sporting has lost just five of their last 20 league contests (six draws, nine wins), but are definitely in a slump. They remain in a playoff spot in the West though with 33 points, but are only four up on the seventh place Vancouver Whitecaps. Sporting is ranked seventh on the road with three wins, three draws and four losses, but have lost three straight and are winless in five, with the other two games ending in draws.
Houston has just one home win in the past four and Sporting has not won on the road since mid-May. I’m not expecting either to win here, so am going with a draw.
SECOND PREDICTION: HILO – HIGH
These two teams have already combined for 11 goals in two games this year. Also, 76% of the Houston Dynamo’s and 52% of Sporting Kansas City’s league matches this year have seen three or more total goals scored. Therefore, don’t be surprised to see a relatively high-scoring match.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Houston Dynamo doubled Sporting Kansas City 4-2 at home in the U.S. Open Cup on July 19th, but Kansas were 3-2 winners at home in league action on June 24th. Houston also won 2-1 at home and drew 0-0 away last season. They also met in the 2017 playoffs with Houston winning 1-0 at home in extra time. The Dynamo has five wins, two defeats and two draws in the last nine meetings in all competitions.