Sporting KC v Houston Dynamo: Matchday 16 Preview

Sporting KC @ Houston Dynamo

When: Saturday, May 31, 2025, at 7:30 PM CT

Where: Shell Energy Stadium

How to Watch/Stream: Apple MLS Season Pass

Before St. Louis City SC, there was Real Salt Lake, but before RSL, there was the Houston Dynamo, who played the role of main foe for Sporting Kansas City. And for the first time in 2025, the two foes go head-to-head on matchday 16 for Sporting KC. And that is after Houston plays a midweek game, something Sporting KC avoided when their matchup with LAFC was rescheduled. 

That short rest is good news for an SKC team that has been on the rise in recent weeks playing good soccer and will get a full week of rest after a 3-3 thriller against New England at home last time out. 

Sporting KC does not come in at full force, as center back Robert Voloder broke his collarbone last Saturday.

Robert Voloder broke his collar bone. Unfortunate as he was really flying. Having surgery today. #SportingKC

— Daniel Sperry (@danielsperrykc.bsky.social) 2025-05-27T14:56:53.644Z

Voloder has played a vital role in SKC trying to get back where they belong, the playoff race, receiving the team of the matchday honors multiple times. As for the rest of Sporting KC, they will have to regroup with either Dany Rosero or Joaquin Fernandez, who will be paired with rookie Jansen Miller. 

As for the Dynamo, they come off a midweek road match against New York City FC as they sit just two points out of the Western Conference Playoffs. The Dynamo have only one loss in their last four MLS matches, falling to none other than the Seattle Sounders, who sit fifth in the Western Conference. 

For these foes, SKC and the Dynamo, the stakes are just as high as usual. This game could be a make-or-break game for SKC. A win versus one of their main rivals on the road could be the push SKC need in a vital “six point” game as they chase Houston for a playoff spot. 

History Between the Clubs 

A rivalry between these two clubs goes back to their days in the Eastern Conference, where the Dynamo and SKC met up in the playoffs quite a bit. Some might remember the days Jimmy Neilsen and Tally Hall went toe-to-toe in the early 2010s, when Houston was in the MLS Cup in 2011, 2012, and SKC in the 2013 MLS Cup.  

But since the switch to the West, the SKC and Houston rivalry has died down some. Both teams have gone head-to-head with one another in matches during the US Open Cup. In 2022, it was a round of 16 match and in 2023 it was a round of 32 match. The clubs split the wins with a SKC winning in 2022 but coming up short in the semifinals against the Sacramento Republic in PKs. Houston would get the win in 2023 on the way to eventually lifting the trophy.

Even more recently, it was the high stakes matchup in the Conference Semifinals which Houston won 1-0 in 2023 on the back of a controversial no call for a handball in the box. 

Then in the last four meetings, Sporting KC are just 1-2-1 against the Dynamo. The draw came last year at Shell Energy Stadium and then KC fell to the Dynamo last year at Children’s Mercy Park 2-1.  

What Will it Take for a SKC Win?

By no means are Sporting KC in the same seat they were in the last time they went to Texas to play FC Dallas, but without Voloder it might be an uphill battle. If Sporting Kansas City want to walk out of Shell Energy Stadium with any points, they are going to need a defensive stand. My prediction would be that Rosero will be the one to step in with the absence of Voloder, who has only played 16 minutes since April 6th. Jansen Miller will be called upon to step up in an even bigger way in his rookie season. 

With changes to the backlines, SKC is going to need at least two goals to win this game, as keeping the Dynamo out of the back of the net is going to be a challenging task. After SKC showed fight last time out, it could be hard to keep Dejan Joveljic and Daniel Salloi quiet for 90 minutes.   

Kansas City has shown they are able to come back from behind with results against St. Louis and the New England Revolution after going down 2-0 in both games. That said, history for SKC in Houston may not be on their side as the Dynamo have improved at home. A goal in the first half to take the lead could get them over the edge at the end of the night.  

Predictions 

When it comes to how Sporting KC will line-up against the Dynamo, here is the predicted line-up: goal Pulskamp, leading the backline of Davis if healthy, Rosero, Miller, Ndenbe. With performances last time out, it would not be shocking for Logan Ndenbe to get the start at left back in this one. As for the midfield no need for changes Bartlett, Bassong, Manu with the front three of Salloi, Shapi, all rounded out by SKC DP 9 in Joveljic.  

With Houston playing midweek, it would not come as a surprise if the Dynamo were rotated on Saturday, as they will play game number nine of the month of May. Even with the rotations to the Dynamo, SKC will have a lot of problems to deal with, as many Dynamo players are in shape. 

Score Prediction: SKC will grab their fourth straight draw, as they tie the Dynamo 1-1. With goals provided by Salloi and McGlynn.