Rémi Walter scored a 60th-minute goal for Sporting Kansas City to break a stifling deadlock, and that was enough for the hosts to dispatch Houston Dynamo FC, 1-0, at Children's Mercy Park on Saturday afternoon.
The two Western Conference sides combined for just 0.3 xG and one shot on goal in the first half of a match that saw most of its action between the boxes.
But the contest gained momentum out of the break. In a 60th-minute sequence started from a Daniel Salloi blocked shot, Walter was the lucky recipient, controlling the rebound near the penalty spot before firing home a left-footed shot that grazed by Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark.
As they did through much of the 2021 season, the Dynamo looked to counter with Darwin Quintero in a super-sub role. The move very nearly paid off in the 78th minute when Tim Melia turned the ball over off his line directly into the Colombian's path. However, Quintero squandered the chance as his attempted chip went wide.
Salloi had a few chances to add to the lead, including an 89th-minute attempt that came within the six-yard box following a set-piece play from Johnny Russell. In the end, Walter's goal created all the margin of difference needed and provided Sporting KC their first win of the 2022 season.
Goals
- 60' – SKC – Rémi Walter | WATCH
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: Sporting KC got into the win column in their home opener after an opening-day defeat at Atlanta. Maybe there wasn’t enough excitement generated to put fans entirely at ease about SKC’s playoff prospects, but it was a solid, workmanlike three points to get the season moving. The Dynamo, by contrast, are scoreless in their first two matches of the season as the Paulo Nagamura era begins. Their latest road defeat comes after news of Mexico star Hector Herrera's summertime arrival from Atletico Madrid.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: When it’s a match like this one, your only goal is clearly going to get the spotlight.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: Walter had a solid all-around match that would have put him in contention here even if it finished as a scoreless draw – but certainly to the relief of the home faithful, the points weren't shared.
Next Up
- SKC: Saturday, March 12 at Colorado Rapids | 9 pm ET (MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, on DAZN in Canada)
- HOU: Saturday, March 12 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 6:30 pm ET (MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, on DAZN in Canada)
