by Brian Turrel
Sporting Kansas City delighted a full crowd of fans at their home opener, winning 1-0 over the Houston Dynamo. Midfielder Remi Walter scored the game winner in the 60th minute, his second MLS goal.
Sporting had the better of the first half, holding the ball 64 percent of the time and recovering quickly after any change in possession. Content to play back, Houston got off only one shot in the period and didn’t test Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia.
After the break, Kansas City continued to press forward. Walter, playing as a defensive midfielder due to the injury to Uri Rosell, earned a shot in the 48th minute but hit it wide.
He got a redemptive opportunity in the 60th minute when a close-range Daniel Salloi was blocked by defender Zarek Valentin. The rebound came to Walter, charging up the center at the edge of the 18-yard box. His strike slipped low and just inside the left post.
With the change on the scoreboard, the roles on the field reversed — Kansas City now content to play lower while Houston pressed forward.
The Dynamo had an opportunity for an equalizer on a giveaway on a distribution from Melia in the 80th minute, but Darwin Quintero’s shot sailed wide and into the seats.
Marinos Tzionis made his Children’s Mercy Park debut, coming on late for Khiry Shelton. He showcased his speed on a couple of breakaways and earned Kansas City a free kick just outside the penalty area.
Johnny Russell and Salloi nearly doubled the advantage in the 86th minute, but Houston goalkeeper Steve Clark knocked away Salloi’s effort.
After the game, defender Graham Zusi analyzed the team’s performance.
“We lacked maybe a little bit of the final pass movements or finish,” the 14-year Sporting veteran said, “but I think that possession made them a bit tired and opened up things in the second half. I thought we continued to be patient in the second half. When you do that, eventually spaces are going to open and they did.”
Kansas City’s next game will be on the road against the Colorado Rapids next Saturday at 8 p.m. The next home match is March 26 against Real Salt Lake.
