Sporting KC Vs. Houston Dynamo Final Score: Late Goal Earns Sporting KC Tie With Dynamo

Sporting KC forward CJ Sapong came to the rescue in second-half stoppage time, finally getting a shot past Houston Dynamo goalie Tally Hall to end the match in a 1-1 draw.

Hall was unable to complete a shut-out effort for the Dynamo, a bid which included saving eight prior shots from Sapong. Houston took the lead earlier in the game when midfielder Brad Davis took a pass from Boniek Garcia before scoring to put the Dynamo up 1-0.

Sporting KC is 4-0-2 in their last six games and remain atop the MLS Eastern Conference standings with six regular season games remaining before the MLS Cup Playoffs. Houston expects to make the playoffs as they currently have 46 points in the East to share third place with the New York Red Bulls, five points behind Sporting KC.

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Sporting KC's Jacob Peterson Set To Return For Houston Dynamo Match

Kansas City winger Jacob Peterson is set to return to action Friday night, as Sporting KC takes on Houston Dynamo at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. Peterson has missed five matches since spraining his shoulder in Sporting's 2-1 loss to Columbus. He played in the team's reserve game against Real Salt Lake this week. According to the team's website, Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes was positive following Peterson's return performance:

"We wanted to get him some minutes in a regular game," manager Peter Vermes told MLSsoccer.com after the match. "It's good to have him out on the field getting knocked around a little bit and see what he feels like. You have to get a feel for what it's going to be like come Friday's game, and this was a good test. Those guys don't care whether he's hurt or not. They're going to play him hard because they want to win."

Peterson has started 7 games for Sporting KC and appeared in 10 others. He has scored 3 goals and added an assist.

Kansas City sits first in the MLS Eastern Conference, three points clear of Chicago Fire.

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2012 MLS Standings: Kansas City 3 Points Out In Supporter's Shield Race

The Supporter's Shield race in MLS this season has been a two dog race for quite some time between the San Jose Earthquakes and Sporting Kansas City. Both teams are currently in first place of their respective divisions, though the Quakes currently have the overall lead. With seemingly no intentions of slowing down regarding their form, the Earthquakes are starting to look like the all-out favorites to take the trophy given to the league's best team.

Sporting KC is right behind them, though, with 50 points to San Jose's 53. Both teams have seven games left to play on their 2012 schedules, which should keep it a close race all the way until the end when the playoffs begin -- at that point, the two teams can look forward to a hopeful meeting between the two top teams in the league in the MLS Cup Final.

Kansas City will take on the Houston Dynamo on Friday in a matchup between playoff teams as Sporting looks to keep themselves in the race for their second trophy of the season.

For more on Sporting KC, check out The Daily Wiz. For all of your soccer news, notes and insight, keep an eye on SB Nation's dedicated soccer hub.

Sporting KC's Dom Dwyer Wants More Playing Time

Sporting KC's 2012 first-round pick Dom Dwyer is ready to earn more minutes for the club.

After finally debuting in league play last Saturday, Dwyer is ready to take on more of a role as the regular season winds down, as told to sportingkc.com.

"To say it's been tough would be an understatement," Dwyer said after last Saturday's game. "I've been frustrated. You just have to work hard, keep yourself ready mentally and keep yourself prepared physically. It's been tough. I'm happy, but I'm not satisfied yet. I just want to keep working and get as many minutes as I can."

Dwyer expected to come in and contribute immediately to the club but that was not the case. Even with only four minutes played in last Saturday's game, Dwyer sees it as an opportunity to earn respect from his teammates and coaches.

"The reason why he was in was because the work he's been putting in has been showing up in training," said manager Peter Vermes. "That's the reason he gets his shot. But the discouragement was something he had to deal with."

Sporting KC is the top-seed in the Eastern Conference with 50 points and a 15-7-5 record. The New York Red Bulls, Houston Dynamo, Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew make up the rest of the Eastern Conference playoffs if the playoffs were to start today.

For more on Sporting KC, check out The Daily Wiz. For all of your soccer news, notes and insight, keep an eye on SB Nation's dedicated soccer hub.

Bobby Convey Injury: Sporting KC Left Winger 'Coming Along Slowly'

Sporting KC left winger Bobby Convey remains sidelined while tending to a sore hamstring that has forced him to miss the past four games.

The Eastern Conference-leading Sporting KC continues to look ahead to the MLS Cup Playoffs, so manager Pete Vermes is willing to remain patient with Convey to make sure he has enough time to rest his hamstring and finish the season strong.

"We're slowly bringing him along," Vermes told MLSsoccer.com after Thursday's training session, in which Convey did some light running but did not take part in any scrimmages. "He has a good day, then he has a bad day. So we're just trying to manage things and get through to where he can have a week of good and then get through it."

Sporting KC returns to MLS action on September 14th when they host the Houston Dynamo.

For more on Sporting KC, check out The Daily Wiz. For all of your soccer news, notes and insight, keep an eye on SB Nation's dedicated soccer hub.

Sporting KC Vs. Houston Dynamo Game Preview

Sporting KC will try to hang on to the top spot in the MSL's Eastern Conference in a midweek matchup against the fourth-place Houston Dynamo on Sept. 14 in Kansas City.