Bradley Wright-Phillips gave the Red Bulls an early lead. (Dan Hamilton/USA TODAY Sports)

TUCSON, Ariz. – In their last preseason match before their CONCACAF Champions League opener, the Red Bulls played Sporting Kansas City to a 1-1 draw at the Kino Sports Complex Wednesday night.

With the first leg of the Round of 16 series against CD Olimpia a week away on Feb. 22, head coach Jesse Marsch pushed his Starting XI to a full 90 minutes. The only starter who did not finish the match was midfielder Marc Rzatkowski, who played 75 minutes before being replaced by Red Bulls Academy product Amando Moreno.

“The part about pushing guys for 90 minutes was really good,” Marsch said. “Guys dug in. It wasn’t easy, the field was heavy, but really happy with how much the guys put into it. I think from a fitness perspective we’ll be closer and more ready to go for next week.”

Midfield regular Felipe was not with the team on Wednesday. Felipe departed camp on Tuesday to be at home for the birth of his second child.

Rzatkowski saw his first extended game action after joining the team on loan from sister club Red Bull Salzburg in January.

Bradley Wright-Phillips’ scored the Red Bulls’ lone goal came off of a broken play after a first-half corner kick. The ball fell for the Red Bulls striker as he found the back of the net from outside the six-yard box.

Sporting equalized in the 77th minute on 19-year-old midfielder Felipe Hernandez’s goal. The Red Bulls failed to clear a Gianluca Busio’s corner kick. Hernandez, a Sporting KC Academy product who featured regularly for the Swope Park Rangers in 2017, was stationed at the top of the box and sent a blistering volley past goalkeeper Luis Robles

The Red Bulls open the CCL series against their Honduran foes at Costa Rica’s Estadio Nacional. The return leg at Red Bull Arena is set for the following week, Thursday March 1, with an 8 p.m. ET kickoff.

Scoring Summary:
NY – Bradley Wright-Phillips (Daniel Royer) 15
SKC – Felipe Hernandez (unassisted) 77

Misconduct Summary:
None

New York Red Bulls: Luis Robles; Michael Murillo, Aurelien Collin, Aaron Long, Kemar Lawrence; Tyler Adams, Marc Rzatkowski (Amando Moreno 77), Derrick Etienne Jr., Sean Davis, Daniel Royer; Bradley Wright-Phillips

Sporting Kansas City: Tim Melia (Adrian Zendejas 46); Jaylin Lindsey (Colton Storm 46), Ike Opara (Amer Didic 46), Matt Besler (Emiliano Amor 46), Cristian Lobato (Seth Sinovic 46); Roger Espinoza (Felipe Hernandez 46), Ilie (Kuzain 46), Felipe Gutierrez (Gianluca Busio 46); Yohan Croizet (Gerso 46), Khiry Shelton (Diego Rubio 46), Daniel Salloi (Kharlton Belmar 46)

New York Red Bulls: Luis Robles; Michael Murillo, Aurelien Collin, Aaron Long, Kemar Lawrence; Tyler Adams, Marc Rzatkowski (Amando Moreno 77), Derrick Etienne Jr., Sean Davis, Daniel Royer; Bradley Wright-Phillips

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.