Soccer News of Tuesday, 10 March 2015
Source: Goal.com
Lloyd Sam rescued a point for the New York Red Bulls as they drew 1-1 against Sporting Kansas City on the opening day of their Major League Soccer campaign.
Kansas City took the lead on 50 minutes when Nigerian centre-back Ike Opara rose above the Red Bulls defence to head a Benny Feilhaber cross beyond Luis Robles. Opare was marking a return to action following a year out with an ankle injury and will have been delighted with his goal.
However, the visitors responded immediately, with Sam firing home after excellent work from Brazilian midfielder Felipe Martins.
The winger’s effort was a strike to behold as the Ghanaian flummoxed the defence before striking into the net from outside the box.
Just under a quarter of an hour later, Kansas City captain and USA international Matt Besler was dismissed for a foul on Bradley Wright-Phillips, but Sam and his teammates were unable to take advantage of the man advantage. The home side held on to secure a point.
The draw represents a fair result for two evenly-matched sides, although the New Yorkers may have felt that they could have taken the victory after demonstrating some fine counter-attacking play.
Sam was instrumental and indeed could have won the match late on.
The versatile wideman was born in Leeds and featured for several English sides before moving to the United States in 2012. The 30-year-old spent time at Charlton Athletic, Sheffield Wednesday, Leyton Orient and his hometown club among others before joining New York Red Bulls.
He has one cap for England’s U20 side and has previously been called-up to the Ghana national side.