Red Bulls Drop 2-0 Decision to Sporting KC

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HARRISON, NJ (Sept. 19, 2012) – The New York Red Bulls suffered their first home loss of the season on Wednesday, falling to Sporting Kansas City 2-0 at Red Bull Arena. The loss dropped New York to 14-8-7, 49 points on the season, keeping New York in third place in the Eastern Conference. Sporting, which got goals from C.J. Sapong and Kei Kamara, improved to 16-7-6, 54 points. New York was 10-0-3 at home before Wednesday's defeat.

The Red Bulls return to action on Saturday when they travel to Gillette Stadium for a match with the New England Revolution at 7:30 PM (TV: MSG; Radio: 93.1 FM). New York returns home the following weekend on Saturday, September 29 to face Toronto FC at 7:00 PM. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER or logging on to www.newyorkredbulls.com.

The visitors took the lead in the 12th minute. Graham Zusi took a free kick straight at goal from about 25 yards out and the ball ricocheted off the crossbar and back into the box. Matt Besler was first to it, and sent it in the direction of Sapong. With his back to goal, Sapong turned quickly and took a low shot that snuck inside the near post.

Sporting K.C. doubled its lead just seven minutes later, again pouncing on a set-piece opportunity. Zusi struck an in-swinging corner from the left flag, finding Kamara from six-yards-out. Sporting’s leading scorer snapped a header past Bill Gaudette for his 11th goal of the season.

The Red Bulls nearly pulled one back in the 22nd minute, when Rafa Marquez led an unmarked Thierry Henry into the box, but the Frenchman sailed his sharp-angle shot wide and high. New York’s search for a goal continued into the second half, and in the 57th minute, substitute Kenny Cooper had a great chance off an Henry cross and wasn’t able to keep his header on frame.

In the 78th minute, goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen kept New York off the board when he got down to smother substitute Lloyd Sam’s effort. Later that minute, Gaudette kept it a two-goal game by parrying away a Kamara header.

New York Red Bulls 0, Sporting Kansas City 2
September 19, 2012 – Red Bull Arena – Harrison, NJ
MLS Regular Season


Scoring Summary:
SKC: C.J. Sapong 7 (Matt Besler 2) 12’
SKC: Kei Kamara 11 (Graham Zusi 14) 19’

Disciplinary Summary:
SKC: Roger Espinoza (caution) 37’

New York Red Bulls (14-8-7, 49 points) – Bill Gaudette (GK), Connor Lade, Markus Holgersson, Heath Pearce, Wilman Conde, Teemu Tainio (Sebastien Le Toux 74’), Dax McCarty (Kenny Cooper 46’), Rafa Marquez, Joel Lindpere (Lloyd Sam 69’), Tim Cahill, Thierry Henry

Substitutes Not Used: Luis Robles (GK), Stephen Keel, Brandon Barklage, Jan Gunnar Solli

Sporting Kansas City (16-7-6, 54 points) – Jimmy Nielsen (GK), Seth Sinovic, Matt Besler, Aurelien Collin, Chance Myers, Julio Cesar, Paulo Nagamura (Lawrence Olum 90’), Roger Espinoza (Jacob Peterson 79’), Graham Zusi (Oriol Rosell 92’+), Kei Kamara, C.J. Sapong

Substitutes Not Used: Erik Kronberg (GK), Michael Harrington, Peterson Joseph, Dom Dwyer

Referee: David Gantar
Referee’s Assistants: Corey Rockwell, Adam Wienckowski
4th Referee: Jose Carlos Rivero
Attendance: 10,286