Sporting Kansas City’s run through the MLS playoffs ends in Houston against the Dynamo

Sporting Kansas City’s magical run through the Major League Soccer playoffs came to a disappointing close with a 1-0 loss at Shell Energy Field in Houston on Sunday night.

Having qualified for the postseason on the last possible day, Sporting KC held the No. 8 seed in the West. It was a grind just to that point after the club went winless in the first 10 matches of the season.

But they righted the ship and played some dominant soccer en route to that last-gasp playoff berth, even crushing their newfound league rivals, top-seeded expansion side St. Louis City SC, in the first round.

On Sunday, they looked nothing like the team that owned MLS’ best record since May.

“We didn’t give the greatest version of ourselves,” Sporting KC captain Johnny Russell said. “If you do that and go out, then you can live with it. But I think we fell short tonight.”

The host Dynamo were dominant throughout the first half and scored the only goal they needed via defender Franco Escobar’s header past Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia in the 39th minute.

Moments later, Sporting KC striker Alan Pulido found himself nearly alone in acres of space. But instead of taking a shot, he elected to cut back in hopes of beating another Dynamo defender on the dribble.

The ball deflected to Sporting KC winger Daniel Salloi, whose own subsequent shot attempt seemed destined to find the back of the net before caroming harmlessly off Houston defender Erik Sviatchenko.

Salloi and Pulido argued Sviatchenko had committed a handball, but the MLS Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was less convinced and never recommended a review to head referee Guido Gonzalez.

“There’s no doubt in my mind it’s a handball,” Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes said. “It’s actually a handball and a red card.”

Russell agreed

“I’m not gonna sit here and be a sore loser and say that’s why we lost the game,” Russell said. “For me? Penalty … We’ll get some form of apology as usual during the week.”

Sporting KC had other chances but never found much of a rhythm. That was in stark contrast to the play KC exhibited in beating the San Jose Earthquakes in the MLS Wild Card Round and then sweeping St. Louis.

Sporting KC’s players were inconsistent in their control and general urgency, and that spelled elimination from the postseason one win shy of the Western Conference Finals.

“I think when you look at the chances, the opportunities that we had,” Vermes said, “we just didn’t finish, unfortunately.”

While it was a frustrating end to the 2023 season, Sporting KC’s players and manager pointed to some positives they can take into 2024.

“The guys didn’t ever give up,” Vermes said. “They truly fought for everything. They accomplished an incredible turnaround.

“But they’re competitors, and they want more,” Vermes continued. “And I’m sure that they’re gonna feel like they missed out on an opportunity here tonight.”

Daniel Sperry covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at sperry.danielkc@gmail.com.