Sporting KC 3 - Houston Dynamo 2: Sallói sparks dramatic comeback | OneFootball

Sporting Kansas City’s 2018 breakout player Dániel Sallói scored a goal and assisted two others in an impressive second half turn-around.

Mauro Manotas scored in just the second minute at Children’s Mercy Park. The 22-year old Colombian forward capitalized on a poor giveaway from Ike Opara and hit a strong left-footed shot just inside the area.

Just before halftime, Manotas doubled his goal-haul and his team’s lead. Alberth Elis slipped a great through ball into the path of DaMarcus Beasley pushing forward. As Sporting goalkeeper Tim Melia came off his line to close down Beasley, the veteran left-sided player squared a pass for Manotas who finished into the empty net for his 8th of the year.

It would turn out to be a game of two very different halves and Sallói was at the center of the action.

18-year old left back Jaylin Lindsey started a goal-mouth scramble with a decent cross into the box towards Johnny Russell, who didn’t make good contact. The scuffed ball fell to Gerso Fernandes whose powerful shot was blocked by Houston goalkeeper Joe Willis.

Russell got a second bite at the apple on the rebound but only directed the ball into space to his left where Dániel Sallói was on hand to to bury the chance in the bottom corner in the 59th minute to halve the lead.

The Hungarian under-21 forward then turned provider for second half substitute Diego Rubio. Rubio lifted a shot to the far post over Willis less than a minute after entering the field.

The match quickly slipped through Houston’s fingers as midfielder Eric Alexander was dismissed after two bookings and Sallói hurt them on the break again.

The youngster raced up the left flank and played a delightful cross for Khiry Shelton. Willis dove to his left but Shelton put too much power into his right-footed in-step shot to complete his side’s turnover.

Sallói now has three game-winning goals and three game-winning assists.