Sporting Kansas City closes out the regular season in Sunday night at Sporting Park against Eastern Conference side New York Red Bulls. The match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. CT (ESPN2, WatchESPN) and while both teams have qualified for the playoffs, there's still a lot at stake. A win for Sporting KC would clinch third place and avoid the midweek play-in match (4th seed vs 5th seed). Sunday's match is the third meeting of the regular season.
Our By The Numbers preview takes a closer look at the matchup.
Sporting KC
- Graham Zusi has five assists in nine MLS regular season games against New York (at least one assist against the Red Bulls in each of the last four seasons)
- Leads MLS in fewest shots faced per game in MLS (10.2)
- Leads MLS in fewest shots on target faced per game in MLS (3.8)
- Leads MLS in chances created from set play (67)
- Leads MLS in average possession (57.0%)
- Ranks second in goals scored in the final 15 minutes of games (14)
- Dom Dwyer is tied for the MLS lead in multi-goal games (5)
- Graham Zusi ranks first in successful crosses/corners (68) and fourth in chances created from set play (26)
- Aurelien Collin ranks fourth in aerial duels won (102) and fourth among MLS defenders in normal duels won (191)
- Benny Feilhaber ranks fourth in fouls suffered (73) and is fifth among MLS midfielders in duels won (192)
- Igor Juliao leads MLS defenders in dribbles completed (39) and fouls suffered (52)
- Matt Besler (1,134), Aurelien Collin (1,011) and Seth Sinovic (995) rank third, fourth and fifth among MLS defenders in successful passes
- Andy Gruenebaum ranks second in MLS in save percentage (75.6%)
New York Red Bulls
- Has the third-fewest road wins in MLS (2-7-7 overall)
- Leads MLS in penalty kicks conceded (10)
- Leads the Eastern Conference in successful crosses from open play (140)
- Leads the Eastern Conference in crossing accuracy from open play (24.1%)
- Has the fewest clean sheets in MLS (5)
- Ranks second in MLS in goals allowed in the first 15 minutes of games (9)
- Bradley Wright-Phillips leads MLS in goals (25) and is two goals away from tying the League’s single-season record.
- Jamison Olave ranks second in MLS in blocks (28)
- Luis Robles ranks seoncd in MLS in saves (113)
- Thierry Henry’s 24 combined goals (10) and assists (14) rank sixth in MLS.
- Bradley Wright-Phillips has scored a goal in both previous matches against Sporting KC this season (May 27 and Sept. 6).
Head-to-head (MLS regular season)
Overall: 19-19-12 (64 GF, 61 GA)
- Home games: 14-8-4 (40 GF, 30 GA)
- Away games: 5-11-8 (24 GF, 31 GA)
Team leaders (MLS regular season)
<strong>Sporting KC</strong> |
<strong>Statistic</strong> |
<b>New York Red Bulls</b> |
Dom Dwyer 22 |
<strong>GOALS</strong> |
Bradley Wright-Phillips 25 |
Graham Zusi 8 |
<strong>ASSISTS</strong> |
Thierry Henry 14 |
Dom Dwyer 110<br>
Dom Dwyer 47 |
<strong>SHOTS<br>
(ON GOAL)</strong> |
Bradley Wright-Phillips 102<br>
Bradley Wright-Phillips 54 |
Dom Dwyer 62<br>
Benny Feilhaber 73 |
<strong>FOULS<br>
(SUFFERED)</strong> |
Tim Cahill 45<br>
Luis Sam 59 |
Eric Kronberg 44<br>
Andy Gruenebaum 34 |
<strong>SAVES</strong> |
Luis Robles 110 |
Eric Kronberg 1.05<br>
Andy Gruenebaum 1.14 |
<strong>GAA</strong> |
Luis Robles 1.52 |
Team stats (MLS regular season)
<strong>Sporting KC</strong> |
<b>New York Red Bulls</b> |
|
Goals Scored (Conceded) |
48 (39) |
53 (50) |
Shots (on goal) |
457 (159) |
387 (154) |
Chances Created per game |
9.8 |
9.3 |
Crosses/Corners per game |
18.9 |
23.7 |
Fouls Committed per game |
14.8 |
12.1 |
Fouls Suffered per game |
14.5 |
12.3 |
Duel Success |
49.50% |
50.15% |
Passes per game |
433 |
388 |
Passing Accuracy |
79.95% |
81.26% |
Average Possession |
57.02% |
53.16% |
Recent regular season meetings
<u>Date</u> |
<u>Score</u> |
<u>Result</u> |
<u>Location</u> |
10/20/2012 |
0-0 |
D |
Red Bull Arena |
04/17/2013 |
1-0 |
W |
Red Bull Arena |
08/03/2013 |
3-2 |
L |
Sporting Park |
05/27/2014 |
1-1 |
D |
Sporting Park |
09/06/2014 |
2-1 |
L |
Red Bull Arena |
