Sporting KC (17-7-8, 59 pts) at New York Red Bulls (15-9-8, 53 pts)
Saturday, October 20, 2012 - 6:00 p.m. CT
Red Bull Arena | Harrison, N.J.
English TV: KSMO, KMTW, WIBW
Spanish Radio: La Gran D 1340 AM
Broadcast Coordinates:
KU Band (Dirty HD 1080i)
Galaxy 17, Tr. 15
DL: 12000(H) | SR: 29.27 | FEC: ¾
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(October 19, 2012) – Sporting Kansas City will play the team’s final road match of the regular season at 6:00 p.m. CT on Saturday against the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena. The match will be broadcast live on KSMO (Kansas City), KMTW (Wichita) and WIBW (Topeka), and can be heard live on La Gran D 1340 AM.
The Members’ Club at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park will host the club’s official watch party for the match with parking available in Lot D and doors opening at 5:00 p.m. CT. Food and beverages will be available, including the popular $3 Pick Special which features chips and the choice of a hamburger, hot dog or bratwurst.
Sporting Kansas City players Jon Kempin and Konrad Warzycha will be in attendance at the event and Sporting Style will be offering a special buy one, get one 50% off promotion on all Sporting KC jerseys.
With a three-point lead atop the Eastern Conference, Sporting Kansas City is in poll position with two games remaining in the regular season. A point on Saturday would secure a top-three finish for the club – avoiding the knockout game between the fourth and fifth place teams – regardless of other results, though Sporting Kansas City can clinch the top spot in the East in the following scenarios:
- Sporting KC win AND Chicago loss/draw
- Sporting KC draw AND Chicago loss AND D.C. loss/draw
Sporting Kansas City are unbeaten in the team’s last 10 matches, the longest streak in MLS this year, and are on the cusp of becoming the sixth team in League-history to earn 60 points in a single season. The club’s 8-4-4 record on the road is the best in MLS this season, but they’ll be visiting a Red Bulls team that has a League-leading 11 wins at home in 2012.
The two sides have met twice already during the regular season campaign. After drawing 1-1 at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park in August, Sporting KC handed the Red Bulls their first home defeat in a 2-0 victory one month ago to gain the advantage in the all-time series with a 18-17-10 record.
Sporting Kansas City have allowed the fewest goals (26) in MLS this season, with team captain Jimmy Nielsen leading the League with 14 shutouts and 17 victories. The 2012 MLS All-Star has played every minute for the club this season en route to a 0.81 goals against average, best among all goalkeepers with a minimum 20 games played.
The Red Bulls, who can secure their third consecutive playoff berth with a win in their home finale on Saturday, have scored the most goals in the Eastern Conference with 54 goals through 32 games. Kenny Cooper leads the team with 16 goals, third most in MLS, while Thierry Henry has contributed 14 goals and 12 assists.
Atop the MLS assist chart is Sporting KC playmaker Graham Zusi, who returns to the team after starting for the U.S. Men’s National Team in a pair of World Cup qualifying victories. He has a career-high 15 assists on the year and has recorded a goal or assist in seven of his last nine MLS matches.
New York will also have three players returning from international duty, with Roy Miller, Tim Cahill and Joel Lindpere available for head coach Hans Backe. Both sides have injuries to key players with Teal Bunbury (out) and Roger Espinoza (doubtful) on Tuesday’s injury report for Sporting KC, while New York are expected to be without Brandon Barklage (out) and Wilman Conde (personal).
Sporting Kansas City supporters can follow Saturday’s game online via @SKCGameday on Twitter and the MLSSoccer.com MatchCenter, or on mobile devices with Sporting Explore and MLS MatchDay apps.
