The Swope Park Rangers continued their winning start to preseason with a 5-0 win over the University of Tulsa at Swope Soccer Village on Sunday afternoon. First-half goals from Robert Mirosavic, Nansel Selbol and Kharlton Belmar put the Rangers in a commanding position before late strikes from Leroy Enzugusi and Louis Bennett sealed the victory.
In just the third minute, Felipe Hernandez drove beyond the Tulsa defense and squared a ball for Christian Duke, but the captain couldn’t force the ball home from close range. In the 18th minute, Hernandez again found himself bearing down on goal but his left-footed effort was gathered by Tulsa goalkeeper Marcel Da Silva.
One minute later, Wan Kamal played a sumptuous ball over the top of the Tulsa defense for Kharlton Belmar to race on to but Da Silva got his hand to the ball as Belmar attempted to round him.
The Rangers finally found the breakthrough in the 20th minute when Parker Maher took on his man down the left and slid a low ball across the face of goal that Mirosavic converted confidently. The Swede then had two chances in quick succession in the 30th and 31st minute, but Da Silva was equal to his efforts.
SPR doubled their lead in the 37th minute when Duke slipped in Nansel Selbol on the left wing and the winger cut inside on his right foot and rifled an effort into the corner from inside the area to make the score 2-0.
The Rangers added a third goal on the stroke of halftime when Belmar broke Tulsa’s offside trap to latch onto Selbol’s through ball and finished into the roof of the net to make the score at the interval 3-0.
With their first attack of the second half, Tulsa forced Rangers ‘keeper Darrin MacLeod into the first SPR save of the game, catching Fred Matioli’s header. In the 50th minute, gorgeous link-up play between Belmar and Mark Anthony Gonzalez sent the former through on goal, but his attempt flew high and wide.
Three minutes later, MacLeod was called in to action again to deny Matioli who was racing clear following a turnover. Mirosavic once again found space in the area in the 57th minute, but slid his side-footed effort inches wide of the post. In the 63rd minute, Tulsa caused a turnover in the SPR half and Matthew Puig fired on goal but MacLeod was able to block the ball with his legs.
After forcing a turnover in the Tulsa half, Dakota Barnathan lined up a strike from 25 yards that was tipped around the post by Matt Karasinski.
With four minutes remaining, Barnathan’s well-timed sliding challenge won the ball in the midfield and Chase Bromstedt swiftly played Leroy Enzugusi through on goal with only Karasinski to beat. The Academy forward took his time before calmly placing his finish into the bottom left corner to make the score 4-0.
The Rangers added their fifth goal as the game ticked into stoppage time, with Ezra Armstrong laying the ball off to Louis Bennett on the edge of the area, and the midfielder fired low into the corner as SPR recorded their second successive 5-0 victory to open preseason.
Swope Park Rangers vs. University of Tulsa
February 26, 2017 – Swope Soccer Village (Kansas City, Mo.)
Swope Park Rangers 5, University of Tulsa 0
Scoring Summary:
SPR – Robert Mirosavic (Parker Maher) 20’
SPR – Nansel Selbol (Christian Duke) 37’
SPR – Kharlton Belmar (Nansel Selbol) 45’
SPR – Leroy Enzugusi (Chase Bromstedt) 86’
SPR – Louis Bennett (Ezra Armstrong) 91+
Misconduct Summary:
SPR – Liam Doyle (Yellow Card) 26’
First Group (1’-68’): David Greczek (Darrin MacLeod 46’); Will Little, Oumar Ballo (Dakota Barnathan 46’), Liam Doyle, Parker Maher; Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal, Christian Duke ©, Felipe Hernandez; Robert Mirosavic, Kharlton Belmar, Nansel Selbol (Mark Anthony Gonzalez 46’).
Second Group (68’-90’): Darrin MacLeod (Steven Tekesky 76’); Will Little, Patrick Wilkinson, Christian Albelo, Ezra Armstrong; Dakota Barnathan, Louis Bennett, Chase Bromstedt; Mark Anthony Gonzalez, Leroy Enzugusi, Max Rugova.
