After 37 games, 445,410 minutes played, 2,674 miles covered, 41 stiches; after 309 days it all comes down to one game, 90 minutes. Once again Sporting Kansas City faced off against their hated rival the Houston Dynamo. The Dynamo stood as the only object in Kansas City’s way to fulfilling their dream and hosting the MLS Cup.
After the ups and downs of a long, emotional season, this is what it came down to. If I was told at the beginning of the season that this would be the final matchup to host the cup, I would have been absolutely thrilled.
And that’s exactly what everyone at Sporting Park on Saturday night was, thrilled. After a two-week wait, the game finally arrived and the atmosphere was rocking. Minutes before the game began, the Sporting faithful got to witness one of the best pre games I’ve ever seen at any sporting event.
The lights went off, the spotlight was shining, and the Sporting ownership continued to show why they were the best, with a multitude of phenomenal pre game videos. Next, Kansas City native and famous rapper, Tech N9ne performed his new song “Loud” with a special twist. The song was remixed and included multiple Sporting KC references throughout.
The atmosphere was set. Sporting Kansas City had the largest crowd in Sporting Club history out on a freezing night where the temperature topped out at 20 degrees. Kansas City was ready to get revenge on Houston, and that’s exactly what they did.
After a rough start of giving up a goal in the third minute, Sporting fought back and controlled the rest of the game. CJ Sapong put away the first goal for KC in the 14th minute to tie it up and from there on it was all Sporting. Finishing off the Dynamo was the British youngster and future star, Dom Dwyer in the 63rd minute.
The final whistle blew and Sporting was finally past the Dynamo. There was not orange confetti flying around at Sporting Park. For the first time in three years, it was Sporting blue. After a long, emotional season; after three long and emotional seasons, Sporting can finally say that they are Eastern Conference champions. Now it’s time to become MLS Cup champions.