Calvin Harris scored his second goal of the year in Sporting Kansas City’s second-half comeback attempt, but the boys in blue could not draw level, dropping a 2-1 loss to Red Bull New York on Saturday night at Sporting Park.

The loss spoiled Star Wars night in front of a reported attendance of 17,575 fans and sent Sporting into the World Cup break on a sour note, just as the team had found a little form. Wins over the LA Galaxy and Austin FC had lifted spirits, and head coach Raphael Wicky kept faith with the side that earned them, naming an unchanged lineup for the third game in a row. The result dropped Sporting to 3-9-2 on the season.

Before the match, the club recognized Bonner Springs educator Kyle Razak as the Blue KC Sporting Samaritan for May. Razak has taught math at Clark Middle School for 25 years, the last decade as the advanced math teacher for algebra and pre-algebra. He has also coached the high school’s track team for 11 years. A four-time Excellence in Education honoree, his nomination described him as “a father figure for countless athletes and students he has had the honor to teach, coach and mentor.”

Razak credits a classroom built on trust. “I always remind students to treat others how you would want to be treated,” Razak said. He returned to that idea in describing his approach to learning. “Never be afraid to ask for help, or make an effort and fail,” he said.

Ruvalcaba strikes early

Red Bull New York struck first. In the fourth minute, Gustav Berggren won a loose ball in the Sporting end. Jorge Ruvalcaba slipped in behind, beat Ian James with a dribble and finished from the left past goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland.

Sporting got some quick chances to return the favor. Inside the first 10 minutes, Red Bull New York goalkeeper Ethan Horvath had to gather a header from Taylor Calheira and then push aside a low shot from Harris. Sporting kept coming. Dejan Joveljic got on the end of a Jake Davis cross in the 18th minute but sent his shot wide. Three minutes before halftime, Joveljic stole the ball in the area and slipped it to Calheira, who was denied.

In first-half stoppage time, the Red Bulls turned a Sporting giveaway into a second goal, with Ruvalcaba finishing from around 12 yards. Sporting had more possession and made lively use of it, but went in two down anyway, unable to convert.

Harris answers

Sporting came out firing after the interval. Capita Capemba raced clear on the right in the 53rd minute and cut the ball back, but Harris could not steer it in. Joveljic appeared to pull one back soon after, forcing the ball over the line. The goal was called back for offsides, earning the assistant referee the crowd’s wrath for the close, but correct, call.

Sporting finally broke through in the 64th minute. Manu Garcia, on as a substitute for Zorhan Bassong, threaded a ball beyond the New York defense. Horvath came out to challenge, but Harris chipped him to make it 2-1. Garcia served up another chance in the 78th minute, sending Stephen Afrifa through on the left.

The Red Bulls had a chance to end it in the 82nd minute when Cameron Harper picked off a loose Sporting pass, but he could only fire wide. Sporting committed numbers forward late, with Joveljic having a prime opportunity, but the equalizer did not manifest.

Sporting’s offensive activity showed in the numbers. The team outshot their visitors 15 to 10, claimed eight shots on target to four, and held 57.3 percent of the ball. The hosts also took six corners to one.

Wicky weighs the result

Wicky struck a familiar tone afterward, frustrated by the outcome but encouraged by the display. “I’m happy about the performance, not happy about the result,” Wicky said.

He traced the defeat to a costly error rather than a breakdown in shape. “The second goal is a mistake in playing out,” he said.

Garcia’s introduction again paid off, and Wicky singled out the midfielder. “Manu was really good when he came in today,” Wicky said.

Harris marveled at the assist on his goal, a chipped ball that found “a gap that I didn’t even think was possible, to be honest.” Still, he kept the focus on the standings, saying that despite the display, “at the end of the day, we want three points.”

Break for the World Cup

Both Harris and Wicky looked ahead to the restart. Harris pointed to the level Sporting reached over its recent run. “Going forward, that’s going to be our standard now,” Harris said.

Wicky welcomed the chance for his players to recharge before the work resumes. “Now it’s time for the players to go and relax and be with their families and enjoy that,” Wicky said.

One player who won’t be relaxing is Bassong, who was named to the roster for the Canada Men’s National Team for a training camp ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

When the season resumes, Sporting travels to face archrival St. Louis at Energizer Park on Thursday, July 16. The next home game is July 22 against Minnesota.