The best road team in the league … first place in the East … a notoriously stingy defense … Indeed, Sporting KC were who the Red Bulls thought they were.

New York scouted this team well before their Wednesday encounter. Make no mistake; the match against Columbus was huge, but eyes were always set on making a statement against Kansas City. Thierry Henry said as much in the lead up to the match.

Expectations were high, and stakes were never as important. The Red Bulls have held first place in the past, but in this league, it’s the mark you make at the end of the season that counts.

The result left the Red Bulls stunned. Henry could barely whisper an explanation to the gathered reporters after the match. Tim Cahill was uncharacteristically flustered by Kansas City’s antics. Nearly everyone spoke with a tone and demeanor that was akin to a wake, not the end of a soccer match.

Kansas City were who they thought they were. And they proved it.