KANSAS CITY -- The 100th match in the history of Children's Mercy Park could prove historic for Sporting Kansas City.
Sporting (11-12-5, 38 points) hosts the rival Houston Dynamo (5-11-10, 25 points) Friday night heading into the stretch run of the regular season.
Sporting KC has earned six consecutive regular-season home wins, one shy of tying the team record set in 1998 and 2000. Sporting also has posted three straight shutouts at home, holding visitors without a goal for 346 minutes dating back to July 10.
Despite its excellent work at home, SKC remains a game below .500 due to a road winless streak that stretches back to April. The streak extended to 12 games Aug. 27 when Roger Espinoza and Jimmy Medranda were sent off in the second half of a 2-0 defeat at the Philadelphia Union. Medranda must serve a one-game suspension on Friday. However, Espinoza saw his red card rescinded last week by Major League Soccer's Independent Review Panel and will be available.
Houston has struggled at home and on the road, but the road has been far tougher. The 25 points have the Dynamo in last place in the Western Conference, largely because of a 1-9-3 record away from home, with a minus-9 goal differential.
Coming off a 3-1 home loss to FC Dallas, the Dynamo could be without several key contributors on Friday. Standout goalkeeper Tyler Deric (elbow sprain) and defenders Agus Garcia (knee sprain) and Abdoulie Mansally (quad strain) are sidelined indefinitely.
Forward Andrew Wenger leads the team with five goals, including one in Houston's 2-0 home win over Sporting KC on May 7. However, Wenger is doubtful with a calf strain, while two regular Dynamo starters, forward Will Bruin (knee) and defender David Horst (hamstring), are listed as questionable.
