Dynamo generate victory over Sporting KC in extra time, will battle Timbers

The Houston Dynamo refused to be stopped by Sporting Kansas City.

On Thursday night, in the Knockout Round of the MLS Cup Playoffs, the Dynamo beat Sporting KC 1-0 in extra time, as Alberth Elis tallied the game's lone goal in the 94th minute. Following two halves of football in which a tactical battle produced little in the way of chances, the Honduran winger collected a cut-back pass by Vicente Sanchez and used three touches to slot the ball past Andrew Dykstra.

The game, the seventh meeting between the Dynamo and Sporting KC in the postseason and fourth meeting this season across all competitions, played out as many expected. Houston scored more goals than all but one club in the Western Conference during the regular season, while its opponent allowed just 29 goals, a league best. In other words, it was always going to be a game that pitted one of the strongest offenses against the best defense.

The Portland Timbers await the Dynamo in the Western Conference Semifinals.