New York Red Bulls 3, Sporting Kansas City 2 | 2018 MLS Match Recap

The New York Red Bulls took an early lead, but had to battle back from a second-half deficit to defeat Sporting Kansas City by a 3-2 scoreline at Red Bull Arena on Saturday.

The Red Bulls took the lead in the opening minutes, as Bradley Wright-Phillips was fed a through ball by Alejandro "Kaku" Romero Gamarra and sent a delicate chip into the goal. While the goal was initially called offside, the decision was reversed following a Video Review.

Just four minutes later, Sporting tied up the match, as Johnny Russell turned in Graham Zusi's low cross. And six minutes into the second half, Roger Espinoza gave Sporting the lead with a driven blast from well outside the 18-yard box.

Red Bulls substitute Marc Rzatkowski scored an equalizer in the 72nd minute to turn the game's fortunes around for the home side, and then hit the go-ahead goal seven minutes later.

Goals

• 4' – RBNY – Bradley Wright-Phillips | WATCH
• 8' – SKC – Johnny Russell | WATCH
• 51' – SKC – Roger Espinoza | WATCH
• 72' – RBNY – Marc Rzatkowski | WATCH
• 79' – RBNY – Marc Rzatkowski | WATCH

Three Things 

THE BIG PICTURE: The win gives new Red Bulls manager Chris Armas his first points as a head coach, certainly an occasion to remember. Sporting will smart at dropping a lead on the road, but both teams will find good and bad aspects of the play in this particular match.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH
: The Red Bulls put Sporting under pressure as the second half wore on, but the rally really took off when Rzatkowski opened his MLS account with the equalizer.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Easy decision here, as Rzatkowski appeared to be the man Sporting had not fully accounted for, and the German midfielder made them pay with a game-deciding brace.

Next Up

• RBNY: Saturday, July 21 vs. New England Revolution (7 pm ET | Full TV & Streaming Info)
• SKC: U.S. Open Cup - Wednesday, July 18 at Houston Dynamo (8:30 pm ET)