Sporting Kansas City's Teal Bunbury, left, carries the ball past Vancouver Whitecaps' Michael Boxall during the first half of an MLS soccer game in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Saturday, April 2, 2011.

One year ago, the Kansas City Wizards came back from two goals down to beat the Houston Dynamo 4-3. The final, game-winning goal came in the final minute of second half stoppage time. Fans who saw it should remember it well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VM_9wfIRlM

This year, with a new team name, Sporting KC will hope for the same result, though maybe in less dramatic fashion. If current form and records say anything, that’s exactly what will happen at 7 p.m. tonight.

Sporting KC is looking to secure a spot in the 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Wednesday’s match serves as the first phase of qualifying action. The tournament has been held annually since 1914, with Kansas City taking home the trophy back in 2004. Apart from the excitement of tournament-style play, the winning team will also earn $100,000 with the runner-up earning half that total.

Houston currently sits in last place in the Eastern Conference, winless after three matches. The Dynamo have scored only two goals in those contests, allowing three to reach their 0-2-1 record. Tonight’s game will be played at College Station, as close to a home game as Houston could hope for.

It will be interesting to see how Sporting KC bounces back from a disappointing draw in its Saturday game. The late meltdown will likely be a nagging thought on players’ minds all season, whether they’d admit to it or not. After allowing two goals to the Vancouver Whitecaps in the final minutes of stoppage time, both players and coach for KC sited leg cramps and thick turf rubber as reasons for late-game substitutions. For a team saying it’s not making excuses for the draw, it sure sounds like it is.

Cramping usually results from a deficiency in fitness or a lack of proper hydration. It appears that not all the players for Sporting KC are game fit yet. There’s really no excuse for professional athletes to cramp up during the course of one game, especially in the absence of high temperatures. Captain Davy Arnaud said he hasn’t cramped up like that since he was probably 14 years old. Why would it happen now?

The focus tonight for Kansas City will likely be on the defensive end, and don’t be surprised if Vermes once again changes the starting lineup. Striker Omar Bravo should be back in action up top, joining team leading goal scorer Teal Bunbury. Kei Kamara will likely work out of the attacking midfield to compliment the talent on the front line.

Look for KC’s defense to play well tonight against a sub-par scoring threat from Houston. This game should be a confidence builder for Sporting heading into its regular season match against Columbus on Saturday.

Prediction: Sporting KC will feel the need to prove itself tonight and will do so, for the first time this season, on both sides of the ball. The attacking trifecta of Kamara, Bunbury and Bravo will find ways to break down a stingy defense allowing only one goal per game. Kansas City wins this one, 2-0.

Game: Sporting KC vs. Houston Dynamo

Time: 7 p.m.

Watch, listen: A live stream of this game is available starting at 6:30 p.m. HERE. You can also listen to the game live HERE.