Postgame Notes: Houston Dynamo 2, Sporting Kansas City 1

THE WIN:

• Improved the Dynamo’s record on the season to 12-10-10 overall and 11-1-4 at home.
• Puts the Dynamo three points away from clinching a spot in the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs. The last time the Dynamo reached the playoffs was in 2013.
• Gave the Dynamo 11 wins at home, which ties the club single-season record set in 2012, the team’s first season in BBVA Compass Stadium. Houston went 11-0-6 that season.
• Gave the Dynamo 12 wins on the year, which is the most in a season since they won 14 in 2013.
• Improved Houston’s record against Sporting Kansas City to 1-0-0 this season.
• Improved Houston’s record against Sporting Kansas City to 10-5-11 all-time and 6-3-5 in Houston.

DYNAMO STARTING XI (4-3-3):

• Tyler Deric; A.J. DeLaGarza, Philippe Senderos, Leonardo, Dylan Remick; Ricardo Clark (C), Eric Alexander, Tomás Martínez; Vicente Sánchez, Mauro Manotas, Andrew Wenger

TEAM NOTES:

• The Dynamo’s game-winning goal came from an own goal by Sporting Kansas City defender Erik Palmer-Brown. A Dynamo opponent has scored an own goal twice this season, and Houston is now 2-0-0 when that happens. The previous own goal came in a 5-1 win against Real Salt Lake on May 31st.
• The Dynamo won while trailing at halftime for the first time this season. It was the ninth time this year that the team was down at the break, and Houston is now 1-6-2 in those games.
• The Dynamo had a season high of five offside calls against them tonight. That was the most for the team since May 16, 2015 against Portland.
• Sporting Kansas City had the better of possession, holding the ball for 56.2 percent of the game. It marked the 26th time this season that Houston had less possession than its opponent, and the Dynamo moved to 12-5-9 in those games.
• Sporting Kansas City outshot the Dynamo, 15-9. It marked the 12th time this season that the Dynamo were outshot by their opponent, and they improved to 3-4-5 in those games.
• The Dynamo used their 30th different starting lineup in 32 matches this season.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS NOTES:

• MF Ricardo Clark made his 316th career start in MLS regular-season play tonight. That moved him into a tie for ninth in league history along with current Dynamo assistant coach Davy Arnaud and former Colorado Rapids midfielder Pablo Mastroeni.
• MF Tomás Martínez scored his second goal of the season when he took a shot from inside the 18-yard box to tie the game in the 63rd minute.
• Martínez led the team in tackles, with five on the night. He also tied for the team lead with four fouls won.
• Martínez made his fourth start of the year and his eighth appearance of the year.
• GK Tyler Deric made his 78th career start tonight and his 24th of the season.
• With the win, Deric improved his record as a starter to 26-27-23.
• DF A.J. DeLaGarza made his 28th start of the season and the 224th of his MLS career tonight.
• DF Philippe Senderos returned to the Starting XI for the first time since Sep. 9 vs. the Colorado Rapids. He made his second start of the season and his second in MLS.
• DF Leonardo made his 27th start of the season and the 106th of his MLS career tonight.
• DF Dylan Remick played in his 57th career MLS game tonight. He made his 12th start of the season and the 44th of his career.
• MF Eric Alexander made his 10th start of the year and the 140th of his MLS career.
• Alexander led the team in total touches, with 56, and passes attempted, with 42. His 83.3 percent pass completion rate was tied for second-highest among the team’s starters.
• FW Vicente Sánchez made his 19th appearance of the season and his third start of the season.
• Sánchez led the team with three chances created tonight, including the pass that helped set up MF Tomás Martínez’s goal in the 63rd minute.
• FW Mauro Manotas made his 23rd start of the season and his 31st appearance of the year tonight.
• FW Andrew Wenger made his 21st appearance of the season and his 53rd with the Dynamo in his 11th start of the year.
• Wenger played all 90 minutes tonight and in doing so, surpassed 1,000 minutes played in a season for the fourth year in a row. He reached the milestone in the 70th minute tonight.
• FW Erick Torres made his 26th appearance of the season and the 92nd of his career when he came into the game tonight for forward Vicente Sánchez in the 73rd minute.
• MF Alex made his 150th career appearance and his 75th with the Dynamo when came into tonight’s game for midfielder Eric Alexander in the 78th minute.
• Alex played in his 30th game of the season tonight, which ties his career single-season high. He also played in 30 games in 2013 with Chicago and last season with Houston.
• DF Jalil Anibaba made his 165th career appearance and his 37th with the Dynamo when he came into tonight’s game in the 94th minute for defender Dylan Remick.