Harrison, NJ – Sporting Kansas City scored twice in the span of seven first-half minutes to earn a 2-0 win at Red Bull Arena on Wednesday, ending Red Bull New York's unbeaten record at home this season.
C.J. Sapong opened the scoring in the 12th minute before Kei Kamara added a second in the 19th minute to extend Sporting's lead atop the Eastern Conference to four points, though the second-place Chicago Fire hold a game in hand.
Kansas City (16-7-6) has managed 54 points through 29 games, extending its unbeaten run to seven games. New York (14-8-7) remains third in the East on 49 points as it suffers its first loss since August 3.
Sporting was in front by the 12-minute mark when Graham Zusi's free kick rattled the crossbar and bounced back into open play. Matt Besler collected the loose ball and found Sapong in the center of the box, and the Sporting striker swept his first-time effort past Bill Gaudette on the turn.
The lead was doubled shortly after when Zusi's inch-perfect corner kick was nodded home by Kamara for his team-leading 12th goal of the season.
New York feverishly pushed to cut the deficit in half, but Sporting's defense absorbed the pressure for the remainder of the match to come away with all three points.
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