by Brian Turrel
On Saturday evening, Children’s Mercy Park was packed and roaring for the first time since March 2020, and Sporting Kansas City treated its 20,086 returning fans to a thrilling 3-2 comeback win over the Houston Dynamo.
Houston scored first, in the 14th minute, setting up Kansas City’s fourth comeback win of the year. The Dynamo had trouble breaking through Kansas City’s midfield defense, but building up a lengthy attack wasn’t necessary when Fafa Picault stripped the ball from Luis Martins near the Kansas City endline.
Picault crossed the ball to Maxi Urruti in the center of the suddenly scrambling Kansas City defense. Urruti laid the ball off to Matias Vera who put it home for the early Houston lead. It was Houston’s only shot of the first half.
Kansas City continued undaunted to control the ball and generate scoring chances. Though none paid off before halftime, Kansas City scored three times in 15 minutes soon after the break.
In the 51st minute, Gianluca Busio provided the highlight of the match on a direct kick earned by Gadi Kinda about 30 yards from the Houston goal. Busio beautifully bent the ball over the wall of defenders and into the upper left corner of the goal. Houston goalkeeper Marko Maric could only watch in amazement.
Alan Pulido scored the go-ahead goal in the 61st minute on a penalty kick he earned when he was brought down by Boniek Garcia in the box.
In the 65th minute, Kansas City broke out on a counterattack with a 5-on-3 advantage. Busio in the center played the ball out left to Kinda, who belted the ball inside the near post for the score.
The crowd noise intensified with each score, and the fast-paced action on the field kept the energy in the stadium high through the end of the match.
In stoppage time, Houston scored an inconsequential goal on a counterattack for the final margin.
After the game, head coach Peter Vermes praised the fans. “They were great,” said the coach. “They were loud. They were so energetic. They haven’t lost their connection to the team. It was just rekindled tonight.”
The win keeps Sporting in second place, just one point behind conference-leading Seattle.
MLS will take a two-week break for international play. Pulido has been called up to the Mexican national team, and will compete in the Concacaf Nations League finals in Denver.
Sporting Kansas City will return to action with a home match against Austin FC at 2 p.m. June 12.
