Houston Dynamo 0, Sporting Kansas City 1 | 2018 MLS Match Recap

Dave Zeitlin

Sporting Kansas City snapped a five-game winless streak, thanks in large part to a 16-year-old.

Gianluca Busio, the third-youngest player to start an MLS game, assisted on the game’s only goal from Diego Rubio as SKC picked up a 1-0 road win over the shorthanded Houston Dynamo in a chippy Western Conference matchup between slumping sides Saturday at BBVA Compass Stadium.

The Dynamo played down one man for most of the game after Alejandro Fuenmayor was shown a straight red card in the 14th minute for a clattering hit on Busio’s head. Houston manager Wilmer Cabrera was then ejected at halftime for arguing with referee Chris Penso in the tunnel, and the Dynamo went down two more men deep in stoppage time when Darwin Ceren and Alberth Elis were both shown red cards.

The Dynamo still had chances, particularly on a 62nd-minute look from Elis, but saw their own winless streak extend to five.

Goals

74' – SKC – Diego Rubio Watch

Three Things

THE BIG PICTURE: It probably took SKC longer than they would have liked to take advantage of playing up a man but any road win against a Western Conference foe is a good one. The Dynamo, meanwhile, will not only have to deal with their third straight loss but also the fallout with so many ejections for the next MLS game — which, perhaps, makes their upcoming U.S. Open Cup semifinal match vs. LAFC even bigger.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH
: It looked like the Dynamo might be able to escape with a point, until Busio had a nice little flick of
Graham Zusi
's pass right to a streaking Rubio, who put it away for his fourth goal of the year.

Gianluca Busio on his first start for #SportingKC: "On my first MLS start, getting a game winning assist is really a big step for me, and it's a great feeling to help the team win." #HOUvSKC pic.twitter.com/rwcQF1DIKE
— FOX Sports Kansas City (@FSKansasCity) August 5, 2018

MAN OF THE MATCH
:
Ilie Sanchez
and
Matt Besler
put in strong shifts to help preserve the shutout but let’s give this to the kid, huh? On top of his assist, Busio also had a screaming shot glance off the post and provided a lot of youthful energy for a team that needed a boost.