August 26, 2012
ONE SHOT, ONE POINT
Red Bulls escape Kansas City with a point, thanks to Kamara own goal in 1-1 draw

After an early mistake that led to KC's goal, goalkeeper Bill Gaudette held the hosts at bay the rest of the way. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images

KANSAS CITY, Kansas -- Despite being outplayed, despite not getting an actual player to place a shot on goal and despite playing without Thierry Henry, the Red Bulls managed to leave Livestrong Sporting Park with a point on Sunday night.

Sporting Kansas City forward Kei Kamara scored two goals -- one for each side -- as the Red Bulls earned a 1-1 draw in Major League Soccer action.

The tie did not help the Red Bulls in their quest to catch Kansas City in the Eastern Conference standings as the hosts remained atop the Eastern Conference with a 14-7-5 record and 47 points. The Red Bulls (13-7-6, 45) still trail KC by two points.

The draw extended the Red Bulls' road winless streak to seven games (0-5-2), having not won on the road since a 2-1 win at the expansion Montreal Impact on May 19.

The Red Bulls will have two more shots at Kansas City, hosting their rivals on Sept. 19 and on Oct. 20.

Speaking of shots, the Red Bulls' possession was so atrocious that they did not take their first shot at goal until the 65th minute, when Sebastien Le Toux fired an attempt into the stands.

Henry was back in New York, celebrating the birth of his son. The team captain is expected to join the team for Wednesday's game at D.C. United in Washington, D.C.

Red Bulls coach Hans Backe used a starting lineup with Wilman Conde, who is more accustomed to playing in the middle at left back as he teammed Markus Holgersson and Heath Pearce at central defender.

The move certainly did not help the Red Bulls early on as KC struck for the first goal in fourth minute.

As it turned out, Kei Kamara scored twice in the first half, but Kansas City walked into halftime with a 1-1 tie.

Graham Zusi started the first scoring sequence with a diagnol pass to Teal Bunbury on the right side. Bunbury then flicked a pass to Kamara in the middle of the penalty area. As goalkeeper Bill Gaudette came out of the net, Kamara headed it into the net from 12 yards for a 1-0 KC advantage.

Kamara struck at the other end of the field as well. After a KC foul, Le Toux sent in a long free kick from the left side into the penalty area. KC goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen did not come off his line. Kamara went up for the ball with Red Bulls midfielder Tim Cahill and the forward headed it into his own net for a 1-1 deadlock in the 28th minute.

Gaudette recovered from his error and played a solid game the rest of the way, including catching a dangerous deflection in the 58th minute.

Kamara tried for the game-winner in the 80th minute as he sent a long-range rocket off a free kick barely left of the post.

A minute later, Kamara headed a corner kick wide left.

Four minutes into second-half stoppage time, Le Toux led a quick counter after the Red Bulls cleared a corner kick. He waited with the ball in the penalty area. Dax McCarty arrived, but he could not get off a shot.