24.11.2013 04:27 h

Football: Dwyer strike lifts Sporting into MLS Cup final

Kei Kamara (Sporting Kansas City) erreicht mit seinem Team das Finale in der MLS
Kei Kamara (Sporting Kansas City) erreicht mit seinem Team das Finale in der MLS

Dominic Dwyer's second-half goal lifted Sporting Kansas City to a 2-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo and into Major League Soccer's MLS Cup final on Saturday.

After a draw without goals in the first leg of their Western Conference playoff final in Houston, Saturday's victory gave Sporting a 2-1 aggregate triumph and their first appearance in Major League Soccer's title match since the 2004 season.

Kansas City will host either Real Salt Lake or the Portland Timbers in the MLS Cup final on December 7.

Real Salt Lake posted a 4-2 home win in the first leg of the Western Conference final and visit Portland on Sunday for the return leg.

Saturday's win was sweet revenge for Sporting, who were knocked out of the post-season by Houston in each of the past two seasons.

The winner came in the 63rd minute as Benny Feilhaber drove to the heart of the Houston defense, drawing three defenders before lofting the ball to an onrushing Dwyer.

Early on it looked like Dynamo again had Sporting's number, the visitors scoring just three minutes in.

Andrew Driver got the scoring play started with a crisp ball from the left into the penalty area.

It was headed by Brad Davis to Boniek Garcia, who worked his way past several Kansas City defenders and fired it past Sporting goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen.

The hosts equalized in the 14th minute when C.J. Sapong pounced on a poor clearance in the penalty area and beat Houston keeper Tally Hall.