Quick Critique:

Sporting found itself in the second half after a sluggish and sloppy first half. This contest saw the team give the ball away more than any team should.

A positive is that the appropriate adjustments were made at half time and the level of play from Sporting KC rose in the final 45 minutes. It has to be disheartening to play so hard and still come out without a single point. Today’s loss brings the total to three straight. That’s three games in which Sporting has failed to earn a single point. Already sitting at the bottom of the conference, not earning points is obviously not in Kansas City’s best interest.

The team now have a good chunk of time off from league play, with its next MLS match set for May 14 against Los Angeles.

The player of the game for KC has to be keeper Jimmy Nielson. Without his crucial saves, the scoreline would have looked much different and a disheartening loss could have easily been a depressing defeat. It feels like Sporting KC has been on the brink of putting everything together, it just hasn’t quite happened yet. If the team can fight through its remaining four road matches in this 10-game trip, there’s still hope for the season. Kansas City absolutely has to earn a few points in the next contests to compete legitimately the rest of the season.

Full time update

The game ends with KC once again on the losing end, 1-0 against New York. The second half was better than the first in all aspects for Sporting, they just couldn’t find the finishing touch.

70th minute update

The second half started much as the first did with Sporting giving the ball away needlessly. In the first two minutes players passed or dribbled the ball out of bounds three times, once for a corner kick.

Then they picked it up and started working for some possession. Kansas City recorded a few shots and had a one-time effort off a cross been a few inches lower, the match would be tied 1-1. Kansas City made an offensive substitution in the second half, showing they want to go for points in this match.

They have twenty more minutes to make that happen.

Halftime update

If you’re a fan of scoring chances and goals, you would probably enjoy the first half we just witnessed. If you’re a fan of Sporting KC, you probably didn’t

That’s because for the first 45 minutes Sporting KC looked lost. They misplayed passes, the cleared up the middle, they took shots from 30 yards out. They’ve been exposed repeatedly by New York’s control in the attacking third of the field. New York is playing like a team at the top of the table. If it weren’t for Nielson’s acrobatic saves in the first half, Sporting could easily be staring at a two or three goal deficit going into the locker room.

I’d expect to see some personnel changes to start the second half as well as a possible formation change. Kansas City needs to find a way to clog the middle of the field if they want to stop the Red Bulls’ scoring chances.

26th minute update

An interesting start to the game to say the least. Sporting hasn’t enjoyed much of the possession, and it shows in the offensive chances the team has had. They’re also getting overrun in the middle of the field and opposing players are being given way too much time on the ball.

Nielson’s save on the penalty kick was nice, though he didn’t have to work too hard to stop it. I’ve never liked hesitation moves in the PK approach. I’ve rarely seen them work out in the taker’s favor either.

There will be argument’s that New York’s first goal should have been called offside. That’s still no excuse for how open the Red Bulls’ striker was. Defensive lapse there, and probably a little on the midfield, too. That said, you have to appreciate the one-touch pass Thierry Henry played before the ball was crossed in. It was a perfect touch.

The teams have taken the field for tonight’s match, so I’ll provide a quick update before the opening whistle blows.

These two teams are at opposite ends of the Eastern Conference table, with KC sitting at the low end. Sporting will have to figure out a defensive lineup to keep a potent New York attack off the scoreboard. Kansas City got a little help when Major League Soccer rescinded a red car given to KC defender Aurelien Collin. He will be available for the match, as will defender Julio Cesar, fresh off a red card suspension.

Whitney Mathews is at the game in Harrison, New Jersey so we’ll have some photos for this post. Enjoy.

Oh, and my prediction from earlier this week is 2-0 in favor of the Red Bulls. I’m sticking with that. If you’re living in Lawrence and want to take in the game, you can watch it on channel 3 in regular definition and 203 in HD. The game is set to start in a few minutes (6:30 p.m.).