Let's take a closer look at a few storylines to keep an eye on ahead of Saturday’s 6:30 PM match against Sporting KC.
Red Bulls look to take over the No. 1 spot in the East
Thanks to Dax McCarty’s last-minute heroics against Real Salt Lake, the Red Bulls are now just one point out of first place in the Eastern. Following Saturday’s thriller at Red Bulls Arena, the Red Bulls will look to snap a winless streak against Sporting KC that dates back to 2011, something we will touch upon a bit more below. Saturday’s showdown for first place is sure to be a tight defensive battle, as both teams will look to limit mistakes and take three points.
Winless in Five vs. KC
New York has struggled against Sporting KC in recent history. The Red Bulls are winless in their last five against KC, a streak that dates back to October 15, 2011. In five games the Red Bulls have scored just one goal against SKC, a goal that came in a 1-1 draw on August 26, 2012 off a Kei Kamara own goal. Can New York take the momentum from Saturday’s win and apply it to this weekend’s match at SKC?
Riding High Off Victory Over RSL
Coming off their 4-3 victory over the number one in the West, the Red Bulls will face the top seed in the East Saturday at Sporting Park. New York played a dominant first half against RSL to take the 2-0 lead, but watched RSL play its way back into the game off an Alvaro Saborio hat trick. Of course, New York didn’t just roll over after RSL took the lead. They battled their way back into it when Fabian Espindola converted a PK in the 89th minute, and ultimately took the lead (and the win) five minutes later when McCarty headed home Barklage’s cross.
Where to Watch
Looking for a place to watch the Red Bulls when they take on Sporting KC? Head over to Lilly O' Brien's in New York City Saturday at 6:30 PM to cheer on the Red Bulls! Food and drink specials will be available to any fan wearing a Red Bulls jersey. For more information, please visit //www.newyorkredbulls.com/pubpartners.
The Red Bulls return home to Red Bull Arena Saturday, August 17th against the Philadelphia Union. Don’t miss out on what’s set to be a great match between two Eastern Conference sides. For tickets, visit Red Bulls Ticket Central or call 877.RB.SOCCER.
