Fourth Straight Loss

Sporting Kansas City dropped their fourth game in a row as their current poor run of form continued in New York. For the first time since KC's 4-1 win over Toronto, KC didn't concede three goals, but still fell for the fourth time in a row, allowing the rest of the back in the East to catch up further to KC.

KC probably started the game as best as they have in the this losing streak, pressing the Red Bulls all over the field. But in the ninth minute KC again found themselves in a hole. A goal kick by Luis Robles was flicked on into the path of Bradley Wright-Phillips. Wright-Phillips was between Matt Besler and Aurelien Collin and started racing towards goal. Besler brought down the leagues leading scorer. The foul from replays looked like it may have started outside the box, but a penalty kick was given to the Red Bulls. On the penalty kick, Andy Gruenebaum guessed right, but Wright-Phillips put the ball into the corner for his 21st of the season making it 1-0 to New York. While behind, KC was able to find some opportunities, hitting New York's high line that they were holding. In the 27th minute, KC should have been level as Dom Dwyer was played in behind New York's defense, but the team's leading goal scorer fired his shot over the bar to keep scorers level. KC continued to keep the play pinned in the New York end for long periods of time and in the 42nd and another opportunity to equalize. A cross into the box by Paulo Nagamura was punched out by Robles, but only as far as Dwyer, who was able to settle and fire a shot on goal, but it was knocked away by the Red Bulls defense. First half stoppage time saw another golden opportunity for KC as Dwyer again was holding right on that last defender. Dwyer again got played in behind, but Robles came up with a big save as the ball went out for a corner kick and the Red Bulls held on into the half time break.

Early in the second half, Sporting KC regretted those missed chances in the first half as Thierry Henry made it 2-0 in the 52nd minute. After receiving the ball near the corner of the box, Henry cut inside and fired a shot that went into the far corner, leaving Andy Gruenebaum with no opportunity to save it. Kansas City though responded immediately via a free kick from Graham Zusi. His free kick went to the far post, where Seth Sinovic headed the ball back into the middle for Dwyer who volleyed the ball home to cut the lead to one. The goal by Dwyer tied the club record for league goals in a season, set by Preki in 1996. KC lacked opportunities really the rest of the way,failing to test Robles much down the stretch. Sinovic almost gifted an own goal shortly after Dwyer's goal, heading a ball back towards Gruenebaum who had come towards the ball. The header went wide for a corner though. While KC pushed the game for an equalizer, they really never found chances and fell to defeat for the fourth time in a row, and fifth time in six games.

Wizards Man of the Match - Dom Dwyer - Was really KC's lone danger man, had all three of KC's shots on goal tonight and had almost a third of their shots. He also tied Preki's club record for goals in a season.

Players ratings - Gruenebaum 5, Juliao 4, Collin 4, Besler 3, Sinovic 4, Olum 3, Nagamura 5, Feilhaber 4, Zusi 4, Dwyer 4, Dovale 4. Subs Zizzo 4, Claros 4, Sapong NR.