Five Things is a weekly series on SportingKC.com that highlights the top storylines, players to watch and matchday programming ahead of each game throughout the season.
A pair of MLS originals occupying third place in their respective conferences will lock horns Saturday when Sporting Kansas City (9-4-6, 33 points) visits the New York Red Bulls (10-5-2, 32 points) in a marquee matchup at Red Bull Arena. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT on FOX Sports Kansas City, FOX Sports Midwest Plus, FOX Sports GO, Sports Radio 810 WHB (English) and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM (Spanish).
Manager Peter Vermes' men held top spot in the West for 15 straight weeks before a recent skid saw FC Dallas usurp Sporting KC at the summit. An opportunity to retake first place presents itself Saturday against a Red Bulls side that has looked devastating on home turf throughout the 2018 campaign. We visit five compelling storylines surrounding the matchup in the space below.
1. Red Bulls Revisited
Supporters of both Sporting KC and New York won't need a reminder of how the most recent meeting between the sides unfolded. Children's Mercy Park was the setting for a hotly contested 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final last September, which ultimately saw Sporting KC lift their fourth major trophy in six seasons. Daniel Salloi scored what turned out to be the match-winner in the 66th minute before Bradley Wright-Phillips bagged a consolation goal for the Red Bulls in stoppage time. The 2-1 victory gave Sporting KC their fourth Open Cup title and denied the Red Bulls their first cup of any kind.
Vermes' side has won three straight meetings, including a 2-0 triumph when the club last visited New York in April 2016. Sporting KC owns a solid 3-1-1 record over their last five regular-season visits to Red Bull Arena, but Saturday figures to be a particularly stern test. New York is 6-1-1 on home turf this year with 20 goals scored and four conceded.
2. Armas Appointed
The Jesse Marsch era is over in New York. The 44-year-old manager parted ways with the Red Bulls last week to take an assistant coaching job with German club Red Bull Leipzig, ending a successful four-year stint in New York that included three playoff appearances, a 2015 Supporters' Shield title and a 58-35-25 record.
Replacing Marsch at the helm is former U.S. international and MLS veteran Chris Armas. The 45-year-old has served as an assistant under Marsch since 2015 and now takes the reigns in his first MLS head coaching job. Armas, who played in MLS from 1996-2007 and has 66 caps for the U.S. Men's National Team, will hope to keep a talented Red Bulls side in contention for first place in the ultra-competitive East. His first game in charge was a 1-0 road loss to rivals New York City FC on Sunday.
3. The Usual Suspect
Death, taxes, and Bradley Wright-Phillips scoring goals for the Red Bulls.
The prolific Englishman ranks second in MLS with 11 goals this season as the centerpiece of New York's potent attack. The Red Bulls are averaging two goals per game, the fourth-best clip in MLS, largely thanks to the contributions of Wright-Phillips and his supporting cast. Since 2014, his 104 regular-season goals are 31 more than any other player.
In the attacking midfield area, newcomer Kaku has enjoyed a brilliant first MLS campaign with a league-best 10 assists, while wingers Daniel Royer and Alex Muyl have collectively chipped in six goals. New York has been particularly dangerous at home, where they have averaged 2.5 goals per outing.
4. Handle the High Press
Sporting KC's possession-based approach will be put to the test on Saturday. The visitors lead MLS in passing accuracy while ranking second in average possession, but they're running into a Red Bulls outfit that employs a signature signature high press. This particular tactic has seen New York effectively suffocate opponents high up the field, creating turnovers in dangerous positions that ultimately lead to scoring chances.
The numbers speak for themselves: New York leads MLS in duels won (60.9), tackles won (15.2) and interceptions (16.3) per game. How well Sporting KC handles the pressure could go a long way in deciding if they can emerge with a result.
5. A Hundred Away?
Sporting KC holds a respectable 3-3-3 road record this season, but they've dropped each of their last two away matches. On Saturday, the club will take a third straight stab at their 100th regular-season road victory all-time.
Six of Kansas City's 99 regular-season away wins have come against the Red Bulls, who were known as the MetroStars until 2006. That includes three victories at both Red Bull Arena (2012, 2013 and 2016) and the now-demolished Giants Stadium (1999, 2000 and 2009).
