For the better part of two years, Sporting KC has had the Red Bulls’ number, leaving them flustered and frustrated. That was never clearer than tonight, when the Red Bulls lost a game 1-0, lost their best defender to injury and lost Brazilian star Juninho to a rush-of-blood red card that put a face to their frustration.
Centerback Jamison Olave had a tough night, beaten by Aurelien Collin for a 13th-minute goal and limping off with a left knee injury 20 minutes later. And in extra time, a vexed Juninho senselessly kicked the ball at Sporting KC keeper Jimmy Nielsen during a dead ball, getting a red card and potential suspension.
“I’m not happy. We lost to a good team at home, (but) I’m not happy,’’ said coach Mike Petke, whose Red Bulls (2-4-2, eight points) had suffered through playing five of their first eight games on the road, but were banking on making up ground with six of their next nine at home, starting last night. It didn’t happen.
Stingy Sporting KC hasn’t allowed a goal in an MLS-best 519 consecutive minutes, and ran its shutout streak against the Red Bulls to 518 minutes, stretching back to Luke Rodgers’ tally in New York’s 1-0 win on April 30, 2011.
“They’re a team. You have to give them credit…the best team won. Give Kansas City credit, they’re a good team and once again they came here and we can’t beat them,’’ said captain Thierry Henry, who took Roy Miller’s pass over Matt Besler’s head and ran in on goal, but shot wide right in the 64th-minute.
“I don’t think today we did create anything. The only clear one we had was because (Matt) Besler misread the ball. We didn’t create enough. Sometimes you have to be honest with yourself.’’
Naturally, when Collin shouldered off Olave to head home Graham Zusi’s corner kick off diving keeper Luis Robles outstretched fingers, that was all Sporting KC needed.
The injury-prone Olave, who actually leads the Red Bulls with three goals this year, gave way to Heath Pearce in the 33rd minute. Petke said he didn’t think there was ligament damage, but they could lose Olave for some time, as well as Juninho if the latter is suspended for hitting Nielsen with the ball.
“The message was to speed up the game. I agree maybe I shouldn’t have done it the way I handled it,’’ said Juninho, who’ll miss Saturday’s tilt vs. New England and could get a further suspension as well. “The message was to express that the ball is there, and he kept delaying. Every time the ball would go towards him, he’d let it go by and go fetch another ball. It was just a little frustrating, and I lost my head.
“I knew when the goalkeeper fell on the ground and the referee rushed over that I probably would get a card. I’m not happy about the card and its unfortunate, but it’s part of the game. I’m not happy about it and I don’t know how many games I’m going to get as far as a suspension goes, and it’s not a good feeling, but it’s not my first card, and I hope it’s the last one.’’
They have a quick turnaround, hosting the Revolution Saturday night.