Ivan Franco’s late goal draws Dynamo against Sporting KC

(Photo credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports)

The Houston Dynamo’s visit to Sporting Kansas City on Saturday saw Ivan Franco score a goal in the eighth minute of stoppage time in the second half to tie it to a frenetic 2-2 draw.

Franco’s goal came as Dynamo (8-9-4, 28 points) went into extra time to try and equalize. Torleifer Urfarsson provided the assist for a header pass to Franco, who came on as a substitute in the 78th minute.

Two goals, including Alain Pulido’s penalty kick in the middle of the second half, gave Sporting the lead and paved the way for Alain Pulido’s first road win in two months. But Dynamo did enough to avoid a second home defeat of the season.

Pulido’s goals have scored nine points in his last seven games, helping Kansas City (6-10-7, 25 points) earn points in one of the toughest spots for MLS visitors.

Sporting took the lead in the 25th minute when Pulido took a one-touch backheel pass from Gadi Kinda and calmly shot past Houston goalkeeper Steve Clark into the center of the goal. The scoring play began when Andrew Fontas beat the Houston midfielder with a pass from the back end and fed Kinda on the top line of the penalty area.

Houston tried to equalize in the closing minutes of the first half, but Kansas City keeper Kendall McIntosh saved an easy save from Hector Herrera’s shot from outside the box in the 44th minute.

Dynamo equalized three minutes later when Ibrahim Aliyu scored from the mouth to the bottom left corner. Herrera played a fair amount of give-and-gos to area top Corey Baird, received the return pass from Baird, pulled McIntosh off the line and then passed to Aliyu for his first MLS goal.

Pulido scored a penalty in the 62nd minute after Kinda was fouled inside the area by Dinamo’s José Arthur de Lima Junior. After Clarke moved to the right, Pulido slammed Clarke into the center right of the net.

–Field level media