Preview: Sporting KC Hosts NY Red Bulls Before World Cup Pause

Sporting Kansas City hosts a cross-conference clash as the New York Red Bulls come to Sporting Park this Saturday, May 23. As the last match before Major League Soccer pauses for the World Cup, both teams will be eager to close out this stretch of the season on a high note.

Sporting KC is entering the weekend riding a bit of a turnaround, having secured wins against the LA Galaxy and Austin FC and injected some life into an early-season campaign that had only the faintest of heartbeats. The Red Bulls arrive sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, still searching for week-to-week consistency under first-year manager Michael Bradley.

The Overhauls

To understand Sporting KC’s recent upswing, let’s take a quick look at the adjustments head coach Raphael Wicky has had to make. Prior to their recent six-point haul, Kansas City suffered a pair of heavy defeats: a 5-0 loss in Chicago and a 6-0 blowout in Portland, with a 1-1 draw at home against the Seattle Sounders sandwiched in between. Wicky openly lamented his squad’s tendency to drop into an excessively deep defensive block out of fear, which left the midfield and the forward line entirely disconnected.

The correction came via a transition to a more direct 4-4-2 formation, pushing wide midfielders higher up the field and encouraging runs in behind. This change has rejuvenated winger Calvin Harris, who bagged a goal and two assists against LA and registered an xG of 0.77 against Austin. By carrying the ball upfield and stretching the opponent’s backline, Harris has given Kansas City a vertical outlet that was sorely missing during their early-season slump.

The Red Bulls have undergone a similar transition. Michael Bradley’s side initially played with an aggressive 4-3-3 system that threw both fullbacks forward simultaneously, resulting in defensive fragility and a high volume of goals conceded (sounds familiar). Following a brutal early-season 6-1 defeat against Charlotte, Bradley shifted his approach, with mixed results. Their recent 3-1 win over Chicago and a hard-fought 1-1 draw in the New York Derby suggest a team that’s learning to balance their signature high energy press with responsible control.

The History and The Humans

The history between these two original MLS clubs is one that can be best described as “parity.” Over their regular-season meetings, both clubs have secured exactly 22 victories alongside 15 draws. This has produced some high stakes encounters over the years, including Kansas City’s memorable 2-1 victory in the 2017 U.S. Open Cup Final and a tense playoff meeting in 2014 that went the way of the Red Bulls. Their most recent league matchup ended in a 1-1 draw in September of 2024.

A few narrative threads weave their way through both rosters this weekend:

Dejan Joveljic (SKC): Joveljic scored the decisive goal against the Red Bulls in the 2024 MLS Cup Final, and his presence will undoubtedly draw the attention of the New York center-backs.

Robert Voloder (NYRB): Returns to Kansas City, where he logged many a minute as a regular starter over four seasons before moving to New York as a free agent.

Jayden Reid (SKC): The defender faces the club where he originally began his development as an academy product.

The Squad Availability and Injury Report

Both sides are entering the match relatively healthy, with SKC listing only Kwaku Agyabeng (groin) and Jansen Miller (hamstring) out last week, and with the Red Bulls listing just goalkeeper A.J. Marcucci (knee). SKC will be playing their fourth match in 14 days, so expect some tired legs and perhaps a bit of squad rotation.

The Match Blueprint

The chessboard at Sporting Park will feature a clash of styles.

When Kansas City has the ball, their progress tends to come through central midfield and Lasse Berg Johnsen. Wicky’s side in their 4-4-2 will build up slowly from the back to try to draw in the Red Bulls’ press high up the pitch. Once New York commits numbers forward, KC will need to break the press with quick passing to Manu Garcia, who can quickly release wingers like Calvin Harris or Capita Capemba into open channels.

When they don’t have the ball, Kansas City needs to stay compact and disciplined. They can’t afford the defensive mistakes that proved disastrous earlier in the season. The midfield four needs to stay aware and united, crashing the Red Bulls early and forcing them to play long, hopeful balls rather than allowing them to get into a rhythm.

For the Red Bulls, the game plan likely remains rooted in Bradley’s aggressive counter-press. They’ll swarm Kansas City, looking to force turnovers in the attacking third. In possession, New York looks to control the game in the opponent’s half with quick movement to create crossing opportunities. This aggressive posturing creates vulnerability in transition. If Kansas City can escape the initial press, they should have space to run at the Red Bulls’ central defenders. Conversely, if New York can successfully pin them back in their own half, Kansas City will need to rely on their defensive posture, which has not been their strong suit this season.

The New York Red Bulls lead the Eastern Conference in corner kicks and Sporting Kansas City continues to show vulnerability in the air; they need to stay disciplined to survive New York’s high-volume corner routines.

With both sides managing the fatigue of a dense spring schedule, the final 30 minutes will test the depth of both benches.

Bradley has young academy products to sustain his team’s intensity late into the match. 17-year-old midfielder Adri Mehmeti is a starter who has been trusted to manage the tempo of the game, and forward Julian Zakrzewski Hall offers a dynamic threat with six goals already this season. If cleared by the medical staff, forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting provides a physical presence off the bench to help hold up long balls in the final minutes.

Wicky has shown a willingness to use his bench to alter the game state. If Manu Garcia does not start, his introduction off the bench provides an immediate injection of creativity. Stephen Afrifa has emerged as a late-game option, using his speed against exhausted defenses, as seen in his recent game-winning goal against Austin.

The Prediction

The small resurgence of Sporting Kansas City after Raphael Wicky’s adjustments should allow the hosts to break through a New York defense that still shows some frailty. However, the Red Bulls’ set-piece performance and high-pressing style will expose Kansas City’s weaknesses in both aerial defending and defending in general.

Sporting Kansas City 2, New York Red Bulls 2

Look for both teams to play well, leaving the points shared as they head into the league-wide break.

What are your thoughts, reader? Can SKC score a third win in a row? Let us know what you think below in the comments.