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HARRISON, N.J. -- Sporting KC not only maintained first place in the Eastern Conference, it showed the New York Red Bulls they have a long way to go to be as good. C.J. Sapong and Kei Kamara scored first-half goals, Graham Zusi got his MLS-best 14th assist and Sporting KC won the battle for first place and extended its unbeaten streak to seven games with a 2-0 victory over the Red Bulls on Wednesday night. "This is huge," Kamara said. "Getting the win on the road is definitely big, but getting a win on the road to New York, which was undefeated at home, is something that puts a statement to our season," Kamara said after Sporting KC (16-7-6) opened a four-point lead over second-place Chicago and a five-point bulge over third-place New York (14-8-7) with five games left in the regular season. The bottom line was that coach Peter Vermes team was just better than the Red Bulls, who didnt generate much offence until late when they loaded their lineup with offensive players. Even then, the chances New York got werent very good. "Of course Im surprised," Red Bulls coach Hans Backe said. "Its a big game. Were fighting to be No. 1 and win, but theyre No. 1." It was a typical Red Bulls game. They fell behind early and this time they couldnt come back in losing at Red Bull Arena for the first time in 14 games (10-1-3) this season. "If you go and play against Kansas City and you are 2-nil down after 20 minutes, its hard," Red Bulls captain Thierry Henry said. Sporting KC came into the game with the MLS best defence (25 goals allowed), and goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen didnt have to make his first save until the 56th minute in recording his league-best 12th shutout. "Not only the defenders, but my team in front of me, made my job pretty easy today," said Nielsen, who finished with four saves. The Red Bulls would have moved into first place in the conference with a win, and the remarkable thing about the game was that only 10,287 fans showed up for the match. In many ways, the Red Bulls didnt show up either. "The way I look at it, we came from the opening whistle," Vermes said. "We came here to play. We werent going to sit in and drop 11 guys in a 30-yard space and try to play that way. We talked about trying to disrupt their rhythm from the get-go." Both Sporting KC goals came off set pieces. Sapong, who gave Sporting KC a 1-1 tie with a goal in injury time against Houston on Friday night, put his team ahead in the 12th minute. Zusis free kick from just outside the penalty box slammed off the crossbar. Defenceman Matt Besler got the rebound and slid the ball forward to Sapong, who turned and beat goalkeeper Bill Gaudette with a shot inside the post for his seventh goal. "I just knew there was a lot of bodies in the box," Sapong said. "Those are the types of shots that are tough for goalies. The ball was in front of me so I know he didnt see it until I shot it. It actually went through somebodys legs and slipped in." Kamara, whose own goal gave the Red Bulls a 1-1 draw in Kansas City on Aug. 26, scored his team-high 11th goal seven minutes later. Zusi took a corner kick and an unmarked Kamara scored on a header after New York defender Wilman Conde didnt cover him. The Red Bulls best scoring chances came in the final 15 minutes. Second-half substitute Lloyd Sam got off a weak shot after coming up with a loose ball in the box, while Nielsen had a make a diving save on substitute Sebastien Le Toux minutes later. New York also had a chance in injury time off a scramble but missed the net. There was an incident near at the end of the game where Henry and Kamara inadvertently hit heads as the teams lined up for a free kick. There was some pushing and shoving before things calmed down. The MLS has put a greater important on finishing with the most points in the regular season. The team with the most points that reaches the championship game will host it. "To score two goals here and get a shutout, its a massive result for us, especially how tight we are in regards to points," Vermes said. "Well try to keep the pressure on everybody else." Wholesale Jerseys from china . Sinisa Ubiparipovic and Andrew Wenger each scored as the expansion Impact registered their first MLS victory with a 2-1 win against Toronto FC on Saturday afternoon at Olympic Stadium. Cheap nfl Jerseys . The reigning Vanier Cup champions received all 30 first-place nods and 300 points from FRC voters to remain in front of the No. 2 Laval Rouge et Or (256 points), No. http://www.nflcheapjerseysstitched.com/ . -- Different horse, same result for Luis Contreras. Cheap Jerseys From China . So when he came to the plate in the eighth inning, Chisenhall had one objective -- a double. Cheap Jerseys . No. 1 draft pick Anthony Davis fit right in for New Orleans in his pro debut, scoring 21 points with a dazzling variety of offensive moves, but the Spurs came through in the final minute for a 99-95 victory over the Hornets on opening night Wednesday.BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox signed Jacoby Ellsbury to a one-year contract on Friday, avoiding arbitration with the outfielder. The oft-injured Ellsbury, 29, a 2011 All-Star, saw a drop in his production last year, finishing with a .271 average, four home runs and 26 RBIs. He will make $9 million, a year after making $8.05 million. Ellsbury missed 79 games after suffering a right shoulder subluxation April 13. He returned to the lineup July 13 and played in 67 games. In 2011, he was named American League Comeback Player of the Year, and established career highs in home runs (32), run (119), hits (212), and RBIs (105). The Red Sox also agreed to terms with right-handers Alfredo Aceves ($2.65 million), Andrew Bailey ($4.1 million), Daniel Bard ($1.86 million), and Joel Hanrahan ($7.04 million), as well as left-handers Andrew Miller ($1.47 million), and Franklin Morales ($1.48 million), to one-year, non-guaranteed contracts. Boston left-hander Craig Breslow is the last player eligible for salary arbitration still unsigned. If he remains without a deal, arbitration hearings can start next month. Breslow made $1.79 million last season. He asked for $2.37 million, and was ooffered $2.dddddddddddd32 million. Aceves, 30, who shifted over to the closer role last season after Bailey was injured, posted a career-high 25 saves, as the Red Sox stumbled to a 69-93 season. He finished second among AL relievers with 84 innings, and closed with a 2-10 mark. Aceves asked for $3 million, was offered $2.3 million and settled for the midpoint. Hanrahan, 31, who made the All-Star team twice as a closer in Pittsburgh, was acquired by the Red Sox Dec. 26. He went 5-2 with a 2.72 ERA and 67 strikeouts last season, posting 36 saves. He made $4.1 million last season. Bailey, 28, appeared in just 19 games due to right thumb surgery, posting a 1-1 record with six saves. Bard, 27, made the first 10 starts of his career, going 5-6 for the Red Sox with a 6.22 ERA. Miller, 27, went 3-2 with a 3.35 ERA and 51 strikeouts, posting a career high for holds (13). And Morales, 26, made nine starts in his first full season. The Red Sox lost their final eight games last season, forcing a managerial change for the second time in as many years. Out went Bobby Valentine, in came John Farrell. Under Valentine, Boston finished 26 games behind the division-champion New York Yankees in the AL East. ' ' '
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