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Red Bulls-Sporting Kansas City Preview

Though plenty has changed for both New York and Sporting Kansas City since meeting in last season's MLS Cup knockout round, at least the league's top two scorers remain in the same places.

Bradley Wright-Phillips and the visiting Red Bulls open the season trying for a fourth straight victory over Dom Dwyer and Kansas City on Sunday night.

Since Wright-Phillips' two goals propelled New York to a 2-1 home playoff victory over Sporting on Oct. 30, former Montreal coach Jesse Marsch replaced the fired Mike Petke as Red Bulls coach and French star Thierry Henry decided not to return after setting a club record with 42 assists in 4 1/2 seasons.

"We're going to grow as players, we're going to grow as a team and I think we're excited about the challenge ahead of us," Red Bulls keeper Luis Robles told the league's official website.

New York went 13-10-11 and reached the Eastern Conference finals last year. Though the technical staff has changed and one of the world's biggest stars is gone, the Red Bulls feel confident heading into this season.

Marsch brought in Brazil's Felipe through a trade with Montreal and veteran Sacha Kljestan to anchor the midfield. Entering his fourth MLS season, Felipe enjoyed his best year as a rookie during Marsch's final season with the Impact as he recorded four goals and 10 assists.

"We have quality players," said Felipe, who has 12 goals and 24 assists in 94 league matches. "(Jesse) knows that I can play a lot of positions in the midfield."

However, the offense will funnel toward Wright-Phillips, who matched the MLS single-season record with 27 goals. Including the playoffs, he scored six times against Sporting in 2014.

"I just try to get my goals," Wright-Phillips said. "I'm going to score goals any way I can. That's not going to change."

Second only to Wright-Phillips in goals last season was Dwyer, whose 22 set a club record. He also scored in the playoff loss to New York.

"I think he's really focused," coach Peter Vermes told Sporting's official website. "At the end of the day, he's a very motivated person. I am as well. And I like to think that our goals from that perspective are very well aligned."

After earning the final playoff spot in the East with a 14-13-7 record in 2014, Kansas City added 13 new players prior to moving to the West this season because of the additions of Orlando City SC and New York City FC.

An MLS All-Star with Sporting in 2012, midfielder Roger Espinoza returns after playing the past two seasons in England.

Chilean Luis Marin makes his MLS debut in goal for Kansas City after the team parted ways with Eric Kronberg and Andy Gruenebaum.

"We have guys who you expect to do well who are doing well, and guys who come out of nowhere who are doing well," Dwyer said. "It's an exciting group to play in.

"Our focus is winning, and I feel like we're headed toward that this year."

Sporting, however, is mired in an 0-4-1 stretch against the Red Bulls and is 0-2-2 in the last four meetings at home. New York is looking to win four straight overall against Kansas City for the first time in the 20-year history of this series.

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