Sporting Kansas City concluded the club's 2020 preseason campaign, presented by Children's Mercy, with a 2-1 loss against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday at Kino North Stadium in Tucson, Arizona.
After a scoreless first half, Florian Valot struck first for the Red Bulls in the 59th minute. Kaku's corner kick was headed out of danger by Khiry Shelton, but fell to Cristian Cásseres Jr. at the corner of the penalty area. The 20-year-old Venezuelan floated the ball back toward the far post where Valot met the cross with a right-footed volley into the back of the net.
Sporting responded immediately with an equalizer just 22 seconds after play restarted. Shelton dribbled into the penalty area before playing the ball square to Alan Pulido. A goalmouth scramble ensued and Gadi Kinda pounced to hammer the ball home, pulling Sporting level at 1-1 with a half hour remaining.
The two sides would remain deadlocked until the 85th minute when Tom Barlow won a late penalty kick for the Red Bulls and Casseres Jr. converted the ensuing penalty for the game-winning goal.
Sporting now returns to Kansas City on Sunday to prep for the team's MLS regular season opener on Feb. 29 in Vancouver. Kick off is set for 9:30 p.m. CT live on FOX Sports KC and Sporting will host a free First Kick Party for fans of all ages at Corinth Square in Prairie Village, Kansas in the hours leading up to the season opener.
2020 Preseason presented by Children's Mercy
Visit Tucson Sun Cup | Match 3 of 3
Kino North Stadium | Tucson, Arizona
<strong>Score</strong> |
<strong>1</strong> |
<strong>2</strong> |
<strong>F</strong> |
Sporting Kansas City |
0 |
1 |
1 |
New York Red Bulls |
0 |
2 |
2 |
Sporting Kansas City: Tim Melia; Graham Zusi (Jaylin Lindsey 76), Roberto Puncec (Substituted 76), Matt Besler (Botond Barath 76), Luis Martins (Amadou Dia 76); Ilie Sanchez (Camden Riley* 76), Roger Espinoza (Gianluca Busio 76), Gadi Kinda (Tyler Freeman 76); Khiry Shelton (Gerso Fernandes 76), Alan Pulido (Erik Hurtado 76), Johnny Russell (Daniel Salloi 46)
* Under contract with Sporting KC II
New York Red Bulls: Ryan Meara (David Jensen 51); Patrick Seagrist, Amro Tarek (Sean Nealis 68), Tim Parker, Kyle Duncan; Sean Davis, Cristian Cásseres Jr., Kaku (Jared Stroud 72), Florian Valot (Josh Sims 68); Brian White (Omir Fernandez 75), Mathias Jørgensen (Tom Barlow 62)
Scoring Summary:
NY - Florian Valot (Cristian Cásseres Jr.) 59
SKC - Gadi Kinda (unassisted) 61
NY - Cristian Cásseres Jr. (penalty kick) 86
Sporting KC 2020 Preseason Results
Date |
Opponent |
Time (CT)<br>
or Result |
Location |
Saturday, Jan. 25 |
Phoenix Rising FC Trialists |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2020/01/25/sporting-kansas-city-cruises-4-0-victory-preseason-opener-against-phoenix-rising">W 4-0</a> |
Casino Arizona Field;<br>
Tempe, Ariz. |
Saturday, Feb. 1 |
FC Cincinnati |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2020/02/01/recap-sporting-nets-4-0-win-over-fc-cincinnati-end-first-leg-2020-preseason">W 4-0</a> |
Grande Sports World;<br>
Casa Grande, Ariz. |
Wednesday, Feb. 12 |
Columbus Crew SC |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2020/02/12/recap-sporting-continues-preseason-scrimmage-against-columbus">L 2-0</a> |
Grande Sports World;<br>
Casa Grande, Ariz. |
Saturday, Feb. 15 |
Real Salt Lake<br>
(Visit Tucson Sun Cup) |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2020/02/15/recap-sporting-and-real-salt-lake-scrap-scoreless-draw-visit-tucson-sun-cup-opener">T 0-0</a> |
Kino North Stadium;<br>
Tucson, Ariz. |
Wednesday, Feb. 19 |
Phoenix Rising FC<br>
(Visit Tucson Sun Cup) |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2020/02/19/recap-sporting-falls-2-1-preseason-against-phoenix-rising-fc">L 2-1</a> |
Casino Arizona Field;<br>
Scottsdale, Ariz. |
Saturday, Feb. 22 |
New York Red Bulls<br>
(Visit Tucson Sun Cup) |
L 2-1 |
Kino North Stadium;<br>
Tucson, Ariz. |
