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New York returns to MLS play this weekend in Kansas City
 The New York Red Bulls look to keep pace atop the Eastern Conference standings when they return to Major League Soccer regular season action for the first time since June 5, paying a visit to the Kansas City Wizards at CommunityAmerica Ballpark on Saturday night (8:30 PM ET, TV: MSG; Radio: WQBU 92.7 FM).
The Red Bulls come into Saturday on the heels of a two match winning streak that saw them reach the top of the Eastern Conference standings alongside the Columbus Crew at 21 points with a 7-5-0 record. After dropping four straight matches, New York rebounded with two victories in their final two matches heading into the recess, a 2-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo on June 2, and a 1-0 win over Chivas USA on June 5. Juan Pablo Angel scored one of the most dramatic goals in club history when his 30-plus yard free kick in the 94th minute gave the Red Bulls a last gasp victory over Houston on June 2 at Red Bull Arena. Just days later on June 5, the Red Bulls picked up three more points when Seth Stammler’s 27th minute goal held up against Chivas USA.
The Kansas City Wizards are currently in fifth place in the Eastern Conference on 12 points after they defeated the Philadelphia Union by a 2-0 score on June 10. Wizards leading scorer Kei Kamara netted his sixth goal of the season in the ninth minute, taking a Davy Arnaud pass and drilling a first-time shot from the top right corner of the 18 yard box, finding the far corner side netting. Kansas City doubled its lead when Ryan Smith set up Graham Zusi, who collected the ball inside the area and finished a far post effort for his first goal of the season. Any hope of a Union comeback was dashed when defender Michael Orozco picked up his second yellow card of the match in the 42nd minute. The Wizards were able to hold on and pick up a much needed victory, their first since April 10.
This will be the 40th time the two original MLS franchises will meet in the regular season. The Red Bulls slightly trail the all-time series vs. Kansas City, going 14-16-9 thus far. In 21 previous matches in Kansas City, the Red Bulls are 6-13-2. Last season, the Red Bulls fell twice to the Wizards, dropping a 1-0 decision on April 23, 2009 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark, and again falling 1-0 on September 12, 2009 at Giants Stadium.
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