Houston Dynamo vs. Sporting Kansas City | 2018 US Open Cup Match Preview

Houston Dynamo vs. Sporting Kansas City
U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals
BBVA Compass Stadum — Houston
July 18 - 8:30 pm ET
WATCH: USSoccer.com

For the fourth year in a row, the Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City will meet in the U.S. Open Cup, with a berth in the semifinals on the line Wednesday night at BBVA Compass Stadium.

A year ago, ike Opara and Gerso Fernandes scored second-half goals to lift eventual champion Sporting KC to a 2-0 win over Houston in the Round of 16.

In 2016, the Dynamo won, 3-1, in the Round of 16 on the strength of a Mauro Manotas brace after SKC were victorious, 3-1, in the 2015 quarterfinals.

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Houston Dynamo    

The Dynamo reached the quarterfinals for the third time in four years by defeating Minnesota United FC, 1-0, in the Round of 16. Manotas scored the lone goal two minutes into the second half, heading in an Adam Lundqvist corner kick.

In league play on Saturday, Houston played the Colorado Rapids to a 0-0 draw at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park with Joe Willis making three saves to earn the clean sheet.

“When you go away and get the zero in the back and you’re solid, I think it’s important for the mentality of this group, understanding that we have a game on Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday,” Wilmer Cabrera said. “It’s a good beginning of these five games in two weeks, but we now have to focus on the next game.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: D - A.J. DeLaGarza (torn left ACL), M - Juan David Cabezas (left quad injury), M/D - Andrew Wenger (left calf injury), M - Arturo Alvarez (right hip injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Joe Willis — Adolfo Machado, Alejandro Fuenmayor, Philippe Senderos, DaMarcus Beasley — Eric Alexander, Darwin Ceren, Tomas Martinez — Alberth Elis, Mauro Manotas, Romell Quioto

Sporting Kansas City

Sporting booked their spot in the quarterfinals in dramatic fashion as Yohan Croizet struck for the winner in the 89th minute in a 3-2 victory over FC Dallas in the Round of 16.

SKC look to bounce back from a league loss to the New York Red Bulls by the same scorelineSaturday night at Red Bull Arena. Johnny Russell leveled four minutes after Bradley Wright-Phillips gave the Red Bulls an early lead and Roger Espinoza gave Sporting a 2-1 lead in the 51st minute. But Marc Rzatkowski came off the bench to score a pair of goals seven minutes apart late, as SKC lost for the third time in four games.

“I just think that we have to be much more difficult to play against,” Peter Vermes said. “I think we gave them too much time and space on the field. They were able to break through us on the lines, and they caused us a lot of problems with movement only because I think that we were reactionary, not anticipating.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: D - Jimmy Medranda (knee injury), M/D - Cristian Lobato (knee injury), F - Khiry Shelton (right MCL tear, lateral meniscus tear), D/M - Brad Evans (Achilles injury); QUESTIONABLE: M - Felipe Gutierrez (sports hernia surgery), D - Ike Opara (hamstring injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Tim Melia — Graham Zusi, Graham Smith, Emiliano Amor, Jaylin Lindsey — Roger Espinoza, Ilie Sanchez, Yohan Croizet — Johnny Russell, Daniel Salloi, Gerso Fernandes

All-Time in U.S. Open Cup

• Overall: Houston Dynamo 14 wins, 42 goals … Sporting Kansas City SC 35 wins, 106 goals
• This is the fourth consecutive year the Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City are meeting in the U.S. Open Cup. SKC has won two of the previous three encounters, including, 2-0, in the Round of 16 on June 28, 2017