The game in 100 words (or less): We may be living in the age of “the new MLS,” where flashy, cohesive attacking play is prominent and effective, but you can certainly still find success in this league by being organized defensively, perfecting attacking set pieces and minimizing mistakes by keeping the game in front of you. So, that’s what I had written about the Houston Dynamo at the 73-minute mark. It’s still all true, in theory, but it doesn’t apply to this game anymore. Let’s just say both teams imploded — multiple times — in this one, and I honestly have no idea what just happened in the final 20 minutes of this game. Four goals scored after the 74-minute mark, to match the four goals already on the board. There were 8 shots on target; there were 8 goals. Was it the MLS Game of the Year? Probably.
[ RECAPS: Two games on Friday night ]
Three moments that mattered
79′ — Handball on the line, Taylor sent off — Jermaine Taylor either did or didn’t block the ball with his arm as it was about to cross the goal line (You be the judge below). Regardless, he was sent off, Sporting were awarded a penalty and Benny Feilhaber converted. Game tied, 3-3, after Sporting were down 3-1 with 15 minutes to play.
83′ — More set-piece beauty, Rodriguez wins it — Brad Davis could, if he wants to, provide perfect set-piece service to tall men in orange shirts until he’s 65 years old. That’s all he did for the Dynamo’s fourth goal of the night, which came off the head of Raul Rodriguez. Sporting’s poor marking made both of their jobs rather easy.
95′ — Feilhaber’s Goal of the Week makes my brain melt — Benny Feilhaber has been one of the best players in the entire league, going back to the start of the 2014 season. I don’t know, guys. He scored this amazing goal to tie the game in, like, the 9 billionth minute. Just watch it and enjoy, OK?
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Man of the match: LOL U SERIOUS?!?! — Remembering what planet I’m on after that game is difficult enough. Giles Barnes? Benny Feilhaber? They both scored twice, and at least one from each was a really great goal.
LINEUPS
Houston Dynamo: Deric, Beasley, Taylor, Rodriguez, Sarkodie, Davis, Sturgis (Garrido 84′), Clark, Lopez (Horst 80′), Bruin (Hoffman 70′), Barnes
Goals: Barnes (11′, 46′), Bruin (45+1′), Rodriguez (83′)
Sporting Kansas City: Marin, De Jong (Dia 63′), Besler, Ellis (Hallisey 92′), Anibaba, Carrasco (Mustivar 55′), Espinoza, Feilhaber, Nemeth, Dwyer, Zusi
Goals: Nemeth (2′), Dwyer (74′), Feilhaber (80′, 95′)
