Final
Bunbury's brace leads Kansas City over Houston
Sep 10, 2011 - 10:40 PM Kansas City, KS (Sports Network) - Sporting Kansas City ended a record nine- match homestand with a needed win, and moved closer to its first playoff berth since 2008 in the process.Teal Bunbury scored twice and C.J. Sapong added a goal, and Kansas City downed the Houston Dynamo, 3-0, on Saturday at Livestrong Sporting Park in an Eastern Conference clash to wrap up its homestand with 17 of a possible 27 points.
Kansas City (10-8-10) opened a five-point lead over Houston (8-9-11), and also moved into a tie for first with the Philadelphia Union, who host the Portland Timbers later Saturday.
With just the top three clubs in each division earning automatic playoff spots this season, Kansas City opened a needed cushion over a pack of six squads all within nine points of first place entering the weekend.
Bunbury opened the scoring in the ninth minute when he ran onto a long pass by Graham Zusi and converted for his sixth goal of the season.
Carlos Costly hit the post in the 30th as Houston nearly leveled the match and then the Honduran headed just wide of the upper-left corner in the 38th.
But Costly made a costly mistake early in the second half, as he was sent off for a bad foul, and K.C. added two more goals to seal the win and keep Houston winless on the road this season in 14 matches.
Bunbury scored his second goal after a long pass from Julio Cesar, as he fired back to the far post to complete his double in the 73rd minute.
Sapong ran onto a square pass from Kei Kamara to slot home from six yards in the 79th as Sporting won for the third time in its last five and for the fifth time during the homestand.
Sporting visits Real Salt Lake on Sept. 17, and Houston will try to end a two- game losing streak Wednesday at the Columbus Crew.
- HOUSTON: 0
SPORTING KANSAS CITY: 3
Final
Sep 10 5:54 PM - HOUSTON: 0
SPORTING KANSAS CITY: 1
Halftime
Sep 10 4:52 PM - HOUSTON: 0
SPORTING KANSAS CITY: 0
1st Half - 44'
Sep 10 4:06 PM
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