Sporting KC has partnered with USL PRO clubs Orlando City SC and OKC Energy FC for the 2014 season. As part of the agreement, Sporting KC will loan players to the clubs to play games and gain experience throughout the year. Each week, we’ll recap the performances of the Sporting KC players on loan.
One Sporting Kansas City affiliate club was victorious and the other fell short as Orlando City SC and OKC Energy FC were in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Third Round action Wednesday night.
Orlando City breezed past the Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) with four first half goals en route to a 4-1 victory. The USL Pro club will travel to Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids in the fourth round on June 17. Adrian Heath’s squad knocked the Rapids out of the tournament in 2013 with a 3-1 home win to advance to the quarterfinals.
Midfielder Mikey Lopez has yet to feature for Orlando City in U.S. Open Cup play, meaning he can still participate in the competition with Sporting Kansas City should he be recalled to his parent club.
OKC Energy FC was less fortunate in the third round, as hosts Arizona United SC (USL Pro) triumphed 2-1 in extra time. Former Sporting KC midfielder Michael Thomas received a red card for Energy FC shortly after halftime, and Arizona United took the lead in the 84th minute. However, Jimmy Nielsen's side equalized in stoppage time through Kyle Greig to force an additional 30 minutes of play.
Arizona United reclaimed the lead in the 112th minute before Energy FC was awarded a penalty kick in the 119th minute for a handball in the box. On-loan midfielder Christian Duke had the chance to force a penalty shootout, but his spot kick was saved. Arizona United became the first team from the state to ever reach the U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round. Their reward is a trip to MLS’s Los Angeles Galaxy on June 18.
Duke played all 120 minutes of the match and is therefore ineligible to participate for Sporting KC in the U.S. Open Cup this season. Goalkeeper Jon Kempin did not feature for Nielsen’s squad in the competition and remains eligible to feature for his hometown club.
Energy FC’s exit from the nation’s oldest annual team tournament comes on the heels of a 5-0 loss to Los Angeles Galaxy II on Sunday. The road defeat at StubHub Center dropped Energy FC to 2-7-0 in USL Pro, and they remain second from bottom in the league standings. Kempin played 90 minutes in goal and registered a season-high five saves. Duke started his fourth straight USL Pro match and was subbed off in the 57th minute.
Orlando City did not play over the weekend but retains a six-point lead atop the USL Pro standings with an 8-0-3 record.
Mikey Lopez (Orlando City SC)
The 21-year-old midfielder didn't feature in Orlando City's third round U.S. Open Cup win on Wednesday.
2014 USL PRO Stats
<strong>Matches Played</strong> |
<strong>Minutes Played</strong> |
<strong>Goals</strong> |
<strong>Assists</strong> |
<strong>Shots</strong> |
<strong>Fouls</strong> |
8 |
149 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
Christian Duke (OKC Energy FC)
The Overland Park, Kansas native played all 120 minutes in Energy FC's U.S. Open Cup defeat on Wednesday.
2014 USL PRO Stats
<strong>Matches Played</strong> |
<strong>Minutes Played</strong> |
<strong>Goals</strong> |
<strong>Assists</strong> |
<strong>Shots</strong> |
<strong>Fouls</strong> |
7 |
473 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
5 |
Jon Kempin (OKC Energy FC)
The homegrown goalkeeper made a career-high five saves in Sunday's USL Pro match vs. LA Galaxy II.
2014 USL PRO Stats
<strong>Matches Played</strong> |
<strong>Record</strong> |
<strong>Goals Against Average</strong> |
<strong>Shutouts</strong> |
<strong>Saves</strong> |
8 |
1-7-0 |
2.5 |
1 |
27 |
