Sporting Kansas City starts well, ends dramatically in Houston

Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports First meeting – Kansas City by four. Second meeting – Houston by three. What would the third meeting between Sporting Kansas City (5-2-2) and Houston Dynamo (2-2-4) (their first at home in the series) bring? Goals by each side either side of halftime highlighted a tactical, tight battle before the decisive blow was dealt Saturday night as Houston enjoyed the first in the series of matches in their home BBVA Stadium.

Perhaps Mission one against Houston was to avoid embarrassment. A 5-2 home defeat at the feet of the near-audacious, free-wheeling Dynamo was the result less than two weeks ago. Then, Sporting’s wide backs and a debutant holding midfielder were…