In a tight contest between the 2013 MLS Supporters’ Shield winner and the 2013 MLS Cup Champion, the New York Red Bulls fell 1-0 to Sporting Kansas City in the opening match of the Disney Pro Soccer Classic preseason tournament at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Wednesday afternoon.
New York returns to preseason action on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 6:00 PM when it faces the Montreal Impact in its second match of the competition. The match will be streamed live on www.newyorkredbulls.com.
PHOTOS: Check out our gallery from the match right here.
Both teams were even in the first half with chances to score for both sides. In the 14th minute, Sporting KC’s Dom Dwyer was able to get on the end of a cross, but New York goalkeeper Luis Robles was off his line to make the save. Five minutes later, a good move led to Red Bulls midfielder Lloyd Sam finding Bradley Wright-Phillips, who turned and fired a shot into the back of the net. However, the English forward was marginally offside.
Towards the end of the opening half, New York had two opportunities, with an open Wright-Phillips nearly connecting with Sam’s cross. Wright-Phillips then had a deflected shot roll just wide a minute before the break.
New York made wholesale changes at halftime and Sporting KC broke the deadlock in the 65th minute. Forward Jacob Peterson’s pressure forced New York to make an errant back pass in the box and the Sporting KC forward put it in from close range.
The Red Bulls nearly equalized in the 83rd minute, as forward Andre Akpan was inches away from tapping in a Jonny Steele low cross. Then, moments from full time, Akpan got on the end of another Steele feed, but goalkeeper Eric Kronberg blocked the shot from close range to preserve the result for Sporting.
The Red Bulls begin their 2014 regular season schedule at BC Place, hitting the road to take on Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday, March 8 at 7:30 PM. Tickets to the Red Bulls’ first regular season game at Red Bull Arena on March 15 against the Colorado Rapids at 4:00 PM are on sale now by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER or logging onto www.newyorkredbulls.com.
New York Red Bulls 0, Sporting Kansas City 1
February 19, 2014
MLS Preseason
Disney Pro Soccer Classic – ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Scoring Summary:
SKC: Jacob Peterson (unassisted) 65’
Disciplinary Summary:
NY: Michael Bustamante (caution) 71’
New York Red Bulls (First Half): Luis Robles, Kosuke Kimura, Jamison Olave, Armando, Roy Miller, Lloyd Sam, Eric Alexander, Dax McCarty, Bobby Convey, Peguy Luyindula, Bradley Wright-Phillips
New York Red Bulls (Second Half): Santiago Castano, Chris Duvall, Matt Miazga, Ibrahim Sekagya, Nate Polak (Ambroise Oyongo* 76’), Connor Lade (Eric Stevenson* 69’), Michael Bustamante, Ruben Bover, Jonny Steele, Marius Obekop, Andre Akpan
Sporting Kansas City: Eric Kronberg; Chance Myers (Kevin Ellis 61), Aurelien Collin (Erik Palmer-Brown 61), Ike Opara (Lawrence Olum 61), Seth Sinovic (Josh Gardner 61); Oriol Rosell (Jimmy Medranda 61), Paulo Nagamura (Mikey Lopez 61), Benny Feilhaber (Christian Duke 61); Sal Zizzo (Jacob Peterson 61), Dom Dwyer (Claudio Bieler 31), C.J. Sapong (Adnan Gabeljic 61)
* - Guest Player
Red Bulls Upcoming Schedule:
Feb. 17: Team travels to Orlando, FL for Disney Pro Soccer Classic field at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Feb. 19: Red Bulls 0 vs. Sporting Kansas City 1 (Disney Pro Soccer Classic)
Feb. 22: Red Bulls vs. Montreal Impact at 6:00 PM (Disney Pro Soccer Classic)
Feb. 26: Red Bulls vs. Fluminense FC Under-23s at 3:00 PM (Disney Pro Soccer Classic)
March 1: Final Disney Pro Soccer Classic match (opponent, time TBD)
March 2: Return to NY/NJ area
March 8: Red Bulls at Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place at 7:30 PM ET (TV: TBA) – MLS Regular Season Opener
March 15: Red Bulls vs. Colorado Rapids at Red Bull Arena at 4:00 PM ET (TV: NBC Sports Network) – MLS Regular Season Home Opener
