MLS

Houston Dynamo FC vs Sporting Kansas City, 2023 Major League Soccer, Western Conference Playoffs - Semifinals

· MLS
Houston Dynamo FC
  • 39': Franco Escobar
FT
1 - 0
Sporting Kansas City

    Houston Dynamo edge Sporting KC to reach West final

    Franco Escobar scored on a corner-kick header late in the first half to lift the Houston Dynamo to a 1-0 victory over visiting Sporting Kansas City in Sunday's Western Conference semifinal.

    Match Timeline

    • 0': Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
    • 0': First Half begins.
    • 3': Attempt saved. Johnny Russell (Sporting Kansas City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
    • 5': Attempt missed. Nelson Quiñónes (Houston Dynamo FC) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Artur.
    • 7': Corner, Houston Dynamo FC. Conceded by Tim Leibold.
    • 8': Foul by Tim Leibold (Sporting Kansas City).
    • 8': Griffin Dorsey (Houston Dynamo FC) wins a free kick on the right wing.
    • 10': Attempt saved. Nelson Quiñónes (Houston Dynamo FC) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Franco Escobar.
    • 10': Attempt blocked. Corey Baird (Houston Dynamo FC) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
    • 15': Foul by Erik Sviatchenko (Houston Dynamo FC).
    • 15': Gadi Kinda (Sporting Kansas City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 18': Foul by Tim Leibold (Sporting Kansas City).
    • 18': Griffin Dorsey (Houston Dynamo FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 18': Attempt missed. Nelson Quiñónes (Houston Dynamo FC) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right.
    • 19': Foul by Artur (Houston Dynamo FC).
    • 19': Gadi Kinda (Sporting Kansas City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 19': Attempt blocked. Gadi Kinda (Sporting Kansas City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
    • 20': Corner, Sporting Kansas City. Conceded by Héctor Herrera.
    • 20': Foul by Héctor Herrera (Houston Dynamo FC).
    • 20': Tim Leibold (Sporting Kansas City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 21': Offside, Houston Dynamo FC. Micael is caught offside.
    • 22': Foul by Héctor Herrera (Houston Dynamo FC).
    • 22': Nemanja Radoja (Sporting Kansas City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 23': Hand ball by Artur (Houston Dynamo FC).
    • 24': Foul by Adalberto Carrasquilla (Houston Dynamo FC).
    • 24': Tim Leibold (Sporting Kansas City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
    • 25': Amine Bassi (Houston Dynamo FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 25': Foul by Nemanja Radoja (Sporting Kansas City).
    • 25': Attempt missed. Dániel Sallói (Sporting Kansas City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
    • 26': Foul by Johnny Russell (Sporting Kansas City).
    • 26': Franco Escobar (Houston Dynamo FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 27': Foul by Héctor Herrera (Houston Dynamo FC).
    • 27': Nemanja Radoja (Sporting Kansas City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 28': Foul by Gadi Kinda (Sporting Kansas City).
    • 28': Héctor Herrera (Houston Dynamo FC) wins a free kick on the left wing.
    • 31': Corner, Sporting Kansas City. Conceded by Erik Sviatchenko.
    • 33': Attempt blocked. Griffin Dorsey (Houston Dynamo FC) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Adalberto Carrasquilla.
    • 33': Attempt missed. Héctor Herrera (Houston Dynamo FC) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Adalberto Carrasquilla.
    • 35': Foul by Gadi Kinda (Sporting Kansas City).
    • 35': Griffin Dorsey (Houston Dynamo FC) wins a free kick on the right wing.
    • 35': Attempt missed. Adalberto Carrasquilla (Houston Dynamo FC) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Héctor Herrera with a cross following a set piece situation.
    • 38': Corner, Houston Dynamo FC. Conceded by Nemanja Radoja.
    • 39': Goal! Houston Dynamo FC 1, Sporting Kansas City 0. Franco Escobar (Houston Dynamo FC) header from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Héctor Herrera with a cross following a corner.
    • 41': Attempt saved. Alan Pulido (Sporting Kansas City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Gadi Kinda.
    • 41': Attempt blocked. Dániel Sallói (Sporting Kansas City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
    • 44': Attempt missed. Erik Sviatchenko (Houston Dynamo FC) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Héctor Herrera.
    • 45'+1': Attempt missed. Amine Bassi (Houston Dynamo FC) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Griffin Dorsey.
    • 45'+2': Attempt missed. Adalberto Carrasquilla (Houston Dynamo FC) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Amine Bassi.
    • 45'+3': First Half ends, Houston Dynamo FC 1, Sporting Kansas City 0.
    • 45': Second Half begins Houston Dynamo FC 1, Sporting Kansas City 0.
    • 48': Delay in match because of an injury Corey Baird (Houston Dynamo FC).
    • 48': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
    • 48': Andreu Fontàs (Sporting Kansas City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 48': Foul by Corey Baird (Houston Dynamo FC).
    • 49': Amine Bassi (Houston Dynamo FC) wins a free kick on the left wing.
    • 49': Foul by Dany Rosero (Sporting Kansas City).
    • 52': Amine Bassi (Houston Dynamo FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 52': Foul by Alan Pulido (Sporting Kansas City).
    • 53': Foul by Héctor Herrera (Houston Dynamo FC).
    • 53': Gadi Kinda (Sporting Kansas City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 56': Alan Pulido (Sporting Kansas City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 56': Foul by Micael (Houston Dynamo FC).
    • 57': Foul by Franco Escobar (Houston Dynamo FC).
    • 57': Johnny Russell (Sporting Kansas City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 59': Attempt blocked. Héctor Herrera (Houston Dynamo FC) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
    • 60': Attempt missed. Alan Pulido (Sporting Kansas City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Tim Leibold.
    • 61': Alan Pulido (Sporting Kansas City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
    • 61': Foul by Héctor Herrera (Houston Dynamo FC).
    • 62': Foul by Artur (Houston Dynamo FC).
    • 62': Gadi Kinda (Sporting Kansas City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
    • 64': Attempt blocked. Dániel Sallói (Sporting Kansas City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Nemanja Radoja.
    • 64': Corner, Sporting Kansas City. Conceded by Erik Sviatchenko.
    • 65': Amine Bassi (Houston Dynamo FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 65': Foul by Tim Leibold (Sporting Kansas City).
    • 68': Foul by Adalberto Carrasquilla (Houston Dynamo FC).
    • 68': Tim Leibold (Sporting Kansas City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
    • 68': Adalberto Carrasquilla (Houston Dynamo FC) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
    • 69': Attempt saved. Dániel Sallói (Sporting Kansas City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Johnny Russell.
    • 69': Corner, Sporting Kansas City. Conceded by Erik Sviatchenko.
    • 70': Substitution, Sporting Kansas City. Erik Thommy replaces Gadi Kinda.
    • 70': Offside, Sporting Kansas City. Nemanja Radoja is caught offside.
    • 72': Adalberto Carrasquilla (Houston Dynamo FC) wins a free kick on the right wing.
    • 72': Foul by Tim Leibold (Sporting Kansas City).
    • 74': Attempt blocked. Griffin Dorsey (Houston Dynamo FC) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Corey Baird.
    • 74': Artur (Houston Dynamo FC) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
    • 74': Foul by Dániel Sallói (Sporting Kansas City).
    • 75': Andreu Fontàs (Sporting Kansas City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 75': Foul by Adalberto Carrasquilla (Houston Dynamo FC).
    • 77': Substitution, Houston Dynamo FC. Brad Smith replaces Nelson Quiñónes.
    • 77': Substitution, Houston Dynamo FC. Aliyu Ibrahim replaces Corey Baird.
    • 78': Foul by Tim Leibold (Sporting Kansas City).
    • 78': Griffin Dorsey (Houston Dynamo FC) wins a free kick on the right wing.
    • 78': Tim Leibold (Sporting Kansas City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
    • 79': Corner, Houston Dynamo FC. Conceded by Dany Rosero.
    • 79': Attempt missed. Erik Sviatchenko (Houston Dynamo FC) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Adalberto Carrasquilla with a headed pass.
    • 80': Delay in match because of an injury Adalberto Carrasquilla (Houston Dynamo FC).
    • 82': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
    • 83': Foul by Alan Pulido (Sporting Kansas City).
    • 83': Micael (Houston Dynamo FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 84': Substitution, Sporting Kansas City. Graham Zusi replaces Jake Davis.
    • 84': Substitution, Sporting Kansas City. William Agada replaces Rémi Walter.
    • 85': Substitution, Houston Dynamo FC. Luís Caicedo replaces Amine Bassi.
    • 87': Offside, Houston Dynamo FC. Adalberto Carrasquilla is caught offside.
    • 87': Attempt missed. Alan Pulido (Sporting Kansas City) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Dániel Sallói with a cross.
    • 88': Alan Pulido (Sporting Kansas City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
    • 88': Foul by Micael (Houston Dynamo FC).
    • 88': Foul by Andreu Fontàs (Sporting Kansas City).
    • 88': Luís Caicedo (Houston Dynamo FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 89': Substitution, Sporting Kansas City. Roger Espinoza replaces Tim Leibold.
    • 90'+1': Attempt blocked. Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
    • 90'+2': Attempt missed. William Agada (Sporting Kansas City) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Roger Espinoza with a cross.
    • 90'+4': Attempt blocked. William Agada (Sporting Kansas City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Dániel Sallói with a cross.
    • 90'+5': Attempt saved. Aliyu Ibrahim (Houston Dynamo FC) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Griffin Dorsey.
    • 90'+6': Corner, Houston Dynamo FC. Conceded by Erik Thommy.
    • 90'+7': Second Half ends, Houston Dynamo FC 1, Sporting Kansas City 0.
    • 0': Match ends, Houston Dynamo FC 1, Sporting Kansas City 0.

    Statistics

    https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/soccer/500/186.png&h=25&scale=crop&w=25&location=originSKC HOUhttps://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/soccer/500/6077.png&h=25&scale=crop&w=25&location=origin
    14 Fouls 16
    1 Yellow Cards 1
    0 Red Cards 0
    1 Offsides 2
    4 Corner Kicks 4
    2 Saves 3
    36.4 Possession 63.6
    12 SHOTS 15
    4 ON GOAL 4
    0.3 On Target % 0.3
    0 Penalty Goals 0
    0 Penalty Kicks Taken 0
    272 Accurate Passes 558
    361 Passes 651
    0.8 Pass Completion % 0.9
    5 Accurate Crosses 8
    16 Crosses 14
    0.3 Cross % 0.6
    58 Long Balls 54
    22 Accurate Long Balls 30
    0.4 Long Balls % 0.6
    4 Blocked Shots 3
    8 Effective Tackles 11
    14 Tackles 19
    0.6 Tackle % 0.6
    13 Interceptions 4
    15 Effective Clearances 23
    15 Clearances 23

    Game Information

    Competition: MLS

    Venue: Shell Energy Stadium
    Location: Houston, Texas, USA
    Attendance: 20,319

    Line-Ups

    HOU Houston Dynamo FC (4-2-3-1)

    No. Name
    12 Steve Clark (GK)
    31 Micael
    28 Erik Sviatchenko
    2 Franco Escobar
    25 Griffin Dorsey
    8 Amine Bassi
    16 Héctor Herrera
    6 Artur
    11 Corey Baird
    21 Nelson Quiñones
    20 Adalberto Carrasquilla Yellow Card
    Houston Dynamo FC Substitutes:
    Ivan Franco, Sebastian Kowalczyk, Teenage Hadebe, Daniel Steres, Thorleifur Úlfarsson, Andrew Tarbell, Luis Caicedo, Brad Smith, Ibrahim Aliyu.

    SKC Sporting Kansas City (4-3-3)

    No. Name
    29 Tim Melia (GK)
    3 Andreu Fontàs
    5 Daniel Rosero Valencia
    14 Tim Leibold Yellow Card
    17 Jacob Davis
    6 Nemanja Radoja
    10 Gadi Kinda
    54 Rémi Walter
    9 Alan Pulido
    20 Dániel Sallói
    7 Johnny Russell
    Sporting Kansas City Substitutes:
    Khiry Shelton, William Agada, Felipe Hernàndez, Erik Thommy, Graham Zusi, Marinos Tzionis, Robert Castellanos, John Pulskamp, Roger Espinoza.

    MLS News

    Lionel Messi, Inter Miami stars watch Miami Heat NBA game
    Lionel Messi, Inter Miami stars watch Miami Heat NBA game

    Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi took a night off to watch the Miami Heat.

    Messi, Suarez, Alba and Busquets arrive for Celtics-Heat
    Messi, Suarez, Alba and Busquets arrive for Celtics-Heat

    Inter Miami's Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets are in attendance to see the Heat take on the Celtics in Game 4.

    Sounders, Union set to resume suspended match
    Sounders, Union set to resume suspended match

    The Philadelphia Union and Seattle Sounders both will hope to rebound from close defeats when they meet in Chester, Pa., on Tuesday night to resume a suspended match.

    Austin finalizing plans for 2025 MLS All-Star Game - sources
    Austin finalizing plans for 2025 MLS All-Star Game - sources

    Austin FC is finalizing a deal to host the 2025 Major League Soccer All-Star Game at Q2 Stadium next summer, sources have told ESPN.

    MLS Power Rankings: Messi takes Miami to top, Chicago Fire languish
    MLS Power Rankings: Messi takes Miami to top, Chicago Fire languish

    Lionel Messi and Inter Miami continue their hot start to the season, while the Chicago Fire struggle in this week's MLS Power Rankings.