Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Sporting Kansas City wasted an opportunity to clinch a playoff berth on Wednesday as the club was forced to settle for a scoreless draw with the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium.
Sporting entered the match in second place in the Eastern Conference on 51 points and needed a win to assure themselves a place in the postseason party.
But it was the home-standing Dynamo that came out on the front foot creating several chances and forcing Sporting goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen to make a pair of spectacular saves in the first 10 minutes.
Houston had the last great chance of the opening 45 minutes when Brad Davis lined up a free kick on the edge of the area, but rang it off the near post and the sides went into the break level.
Sporting went for a winner in the second half, replacing the misfiring Dominic Dwyer with Teal Bunbury late on, but neither side could find a goal and were forced to share the spoils.
Sporting improves to 52 points, and can clinch a playoff spot on Saturday if New England fail to defeat the Montreal Impact or Philadelphia falls to D.C. United.
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