The Swope Park Rangers (1-0-0) opened their 2018 USL season with a 4-3 win at Reno 1868 FC (0-1-0) on Saturday night. Hadji Barry scored a goal and added two assists in his Swope Park Rangers debut, while Kharlton Belmar also played a part in all four goals.
In the 13th minute, Diego Rubio had a clever run and made a quick shot off Barry’s pass, but Reno’s goaltender James Marcinkowski was there to make the stop. Rubio had another chance moments later with a header off a long pass from Colton Storm, but directed it to the right of the goal.
Christopher Wehan, the reigning USL Rookie of the Year, put Reno on the board first with a goal in the 23rd minute when he capitalized off a scramble inside the box.
Adrian Zendejas made a beautiful block on a diving header by Seth Casiple in the 36th minute.
Rubio leveled the score in the 51st minute with Belmar picking up an assist with a spectacular pass. As the snow became thicker, the match picked up pace.
In the 57th minute, Belmar’s shot from the right corner of the box went through the legs of Reno’s goalkeeper to give SPR a 2-1 lead. Barry beat two defenders to make the pass to Belmar and pick up the assist.
Reno evened the score in the 60th minute with a goal from Brian Brown.
The last four minutes of the match brought three goals. In the 83rd minute, Barry notched his goal from the inside corner off a pass by Belmar to bring the Rangers on top 3-2. In the 89th minute, the score was brought even with an own goal by Matt Lewis.
With both teams tied at 3-3 entering stoppage time, it was a Belmar goal with a Barry assist that landed the Swope Park Rangers victorious in the 92nd minute.
The Rangers will now open their home schedule on Saturday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m. CT at Shawnee Mission South District Stadium as they host Seattle Sounders FC 2.
Swope Park Rangers at Reno 1868 FC
March 17, 2018 – Greater Nevada Field (Reno, Nev.)
Swope Park Rangers 4, Reno 1868 FC 3
Scoring Summary:
RNO – Christopher Wehan 1 (Brian Brown 1) – 23’
SPR – Diego Rubio 1 (Kharlton Belmar 1) – 51’
SPR – Kharlton Belmar 1 (Hadji Barry 1) – 57’
RNO – Brian Brown 1 (Antoine Hoppenot 1) – 60’
SPR – Hadji Barry 1 (Kharlton Belmar 2) – 83’
RNO – Own Goal (Matt Lewis) – 89’
SPR – Kharlton Belmar 2 (Hadji Barry 2) – 92+
Misconduct Summary:
SPR – Wan Kuzain (Yellow Card) 64’
SPR – Graham Smith (Yellow Card) 74’
Swope Park Rangers: Adrian Zendejas; Graham Smith; Colton Storm; Amer Didic (Matt Lewis 30’); Matheus Silva (Bryam Rebellon 46’); Wan Kuzain; Felipe Hernandez (Chase Minter 78’); Rodrigo Saravia ©; Diego Rubio; Hadji Barry; Kharlton Belmar
