THE RESULT:
- Clinched a spot in the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs for the Dynamo.
- Earned the Dynamo their first playoff appearance since 2013 and the eighth in club history.
- Extended Houston’s unbeaten streak to five consecutive games dating back to Sept. 23 at New York City FC.
- Gave the Dynamo a result in six of their last eight games played away from home, dating back to a 0-0 draw at Minnesota United FC on July 19.
- Improved the Dynamo’s record on the season to 12-10-11 overall and 1-9-7 on the road.
- Improved Houston’s record against Sporting Kansas City to 1-0-1 this season.
- Improved Houston’s record against Sporting Kansas City to 10-5-12 all-time and 4-2-7 in Kansas City.
DYNAMO STARTING XI (4-3-3):
- Tyler Deric; A.J. DeLaGarza, Adolfo Machado, Leonardo, DaMarcus Beasley; Ricardo Clark ©, Tomás MartÃnez, Juan David Cabezas; Alberth Elis, Erick Torres, Alex
TEAM NOTES:
- The Dynamo used their 31st different starting lineup in 33 matches this season.
- The Dynamo were tied at halftime for the 11th time this season. Houston is now 1-4-6 this season when tied at intermission.
- Sporting Kansas City had better of possession, holding the ball for 68.7 percent of the game. It marked the 27th time this season that Houston had less possession than its opponent, and the Dynamo moved to 12-5-10 in those games.
- Sporting Kansas City outshot the Dynamo, 27-14. It marked the 13th time this season that the Dynamo were outshot by their opponent, and they improved to 3-4-6 in those games.
INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS NOTES:
- GK Tyler Deric recorded a career-high nine saves in the game, surpassing his previous best of eight saves set earlier this year vs. Real Salt Lake on May 31.
- Deric kept his fifth clean sheet of the season and the 20th of his career with a shutout tonight.
- Deric improved his record as a starter to 26-27-24 with the draw.
- Deric made his 79th career start tonight and his 25th of the season.
- FW Alex set a new career-high with his 31st appearance of the season, and made his 27th start of the year.
- DF DaMarcus Beasley played in his 184th career MLS game tonight. He be made his 22nd start of the season and the 172nd of his career.
- MF Juan David Cabezas returned to the Starting XI for the first time since September 27 vs. LA Galaxy where he suffered an injury to his right hamstring.
- Cabezas made his 25th start of the year and his 26th MLS appearance.
- MF Ricardo Clark started his 317th career game in MLS regular-season play tonight. That will move him into sole possession of ninth place in league history, surpassing current Dynamo assistant coach Davy Arnaud and former Colorado Rapids midfielder Pablo Mastroeni.
- DF A.J. DeLaGarza started his 29th game of the season and the 225th of his MLS career tonight.
- FW Alberth Elis started his 18th game of the season and made his 25th MLS appearance.
- DF Leonardo started in his 28th game of the season and 107th of his MLS career tonight.
- Leonardo surpassed 2,500 minutes played in a season for the first time in his career. He reached the milestone in the 64th minute tonight.
- DF Adolfo Machado returned to the Starting XI after being called-up for international duty for Panama during the FIFA break; Machado helped Panama qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup for the first time in history.
- Machado made his 32nd start of the season and 32nd in MLS.
- FW Mauro Manotas made his 32nd career appearance when he came into the game for FW Erick Torres in the 90th minute.
- MF Tomás MartÃnez made his fifth start of the year and his ninth appearance of the year.
- FW Romell Quioto made his 21st career appearance when came into tonight’s game for midfielder Alex in the 66th minute.
- FW Vicente Sánchez made his 75th career appearance and his 20th with the Dynamo when he came into tonight’s game for midfielder Tomás MartÃnez in the 72nd minute.
- FW Erick Torres started his 23rd game of the season and the 74th of his MLS career tonight.
- Torres received a yellow card caution in the 67th minute. It was his sixth of the season and the 15th of his career.
