Will May Just End Already?

Once again the month of May cannot end soon enough for Sporting KC. With a 1-1 draw tonight against the New York Red Bulls, Sporting KC is now an abysmal 3-11-6 in the month of May under Peter Vermes.

Sporting KC started incredibly brightly though, in just the second minute, Igor Juliao made a great run from midfield towards the New York goal. The Brazilian got into the box and chipped Luis Robles from close range, but before the ball crossed the goal line it was cleared away by the New York defense. A few minutes later Sporting had another chance cleared off the line as a Sal Zizzo headed was knocked away. Off the header, KC eventually won a free kick right at the top of the box. Benny Feilhaber stepped up and curled a free kick towards the corner of the net. The ball though hit the underside of the cross bar and bounced back out into play leaving the game still level at 0-0. Finally in the ninth minute Sporting took advantage of their early possession. Again it came from some good dribbling. This time it was Toni Dovale receiving a ball from Feilhaber. Dovale dribbled towards the middle as Dom Dwyer pulled defenders away. Dovale fired a shot that curled into the far corner past Robles and into the net giving KC the deserved 1-0 lead. KC couldn't make much more of their early pressure and the game settled down quite a bit as the half went on. Neither team was really able to test the opposing keeper though.

Early in the second half, the Red Bulls returned the early pressure and found an equalizer in the 50th minute. And they did it with a man advantage after Dwyer went down with a bloody nose after catching an elbow. Thierry Henry dribbled the ball through the middle of the field before playing a ball through for Bradley Wright-Phillips who was held on by Juliao. One v one with Eric Kronberg, Wright-Phillips slotted a ball past him to the far post leveling the game at 1-1 on his 11th goal of the year. New York almost took the lead a couple minutes later on the counter. Eric Alexander tried to pick out Wright-Phillips again but Aurelien Collin cut the ball out. Not enough though as the ball fell to Wright-Phillips who had his shot well saved by Kronberg one v one. New York continued the pressure, winning a free kick at the top of the box after Kronberg touched the ball outside the box, thinking a foul had been called at midfield. The ensuing free kick was headed away by the wall. KC finally started to come into the game a bit more again, Juliao set up a nice chance by Dwyer, but the forward's effort was just over the bar. Dovale and Juliao continued to cause issues down New York's left side. In the 79th Dovale forced a good save out of Robles after winning the ball at the corner of the box and cuting inside. KC continued to search for an winner, but were never able to find the net again as both teams settled for a draw. Both teams extended their winless run to four now.

Wizards Man of the Match - Toni Dovale - Had some of KC's best chances and just looked like a menace on the dribble tonight from KC's right side. He combined well with Juliao and scored his first goal for the club.

Honorable mention - Igor Juliao

Player Ratings - Kronberg 5, Juliao 6, Collin 6, Ellis 6, Sinovic 6, Feilhaber 6, Nagamura 5, Martinez 5, Zizzo 5, Dwyer 5, Dovale 7. Subs Saad 5, Medranda 4.