Red Bulls lose, Henry ejected

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- C.J. Sapong scored and Sporting Kansas City clinched a playoff berth with a 2-0 victory yesterday over the Red Bulls, who lost forward Thierry Henry to a red card in the first half.

The Red Bulls (9-8-16), which have 43 points, had to play much of the game a man down after Henry was sent off in the first half.

Henry, who came in with 14 goals -- tying him for the league lead -- was given a red card in the 28th minute for kneeing Roger Espinoza in the back as Espinoza sat on the field.

Henry will be suspended for the Red Bulls' regular-season finale against Philadelphia on Thursday.

Teal Bunbury also scored for Kansas City (12-9-12), which moved into a first-place tie with Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference. Both teams have 48 points with one game remaining.

Sapong entered in the 73rd minute and made it 2-0 in the 74th with a half-volley off an assist from Matt Besler.

Bunbury, who shot wide right on two breakaways in the first half, didn't miss in the 57th minute.

After a corner kick in the Red Bull's end, the ball bounced before Kansas City's Julio Cesar headed it to Bunbury for a volley into the lower-left corner.