Sporting Kansas City II (2-4-1, 7 points) fell to a 3-1 defeat to Saint Louis FC (4-3-1, 13 points) at West Community Stadium in Fenton, Mo. during a heavily weather-delayed matchup on Saturday night. Christian Duke scored his first goal of the season to level the score just before halftime, but Saint Louis FC pulled away in the second.
Kickoff was delayed 48 minutes from 7 p.m. to 7:48 p.m. local time with lightning in the area, meaning Sporting KC II debutant goalkeeper Gavin Krenecki and fellow 17-year-old and Academy product Isaiah LeFlore had to wait to make their first professional starts.
When the game got underway, the hosts began on the front foot as Russell Cicerone first hit the crossbar from a tight angle before giving his side the lead in the fifth minute after turning just inside the area and curling a stunning effort into the top corner.
Sporting II grew into the game from there, as first Dominik Resetar was inches from reaching Camden Riley’s cross before Wilson Harris fired a powerful effort straight into the arms of Kyle Morton in the St. Louis goal.
The pressure paid dividends in the 40th minute as neat build-up down the right wing saw Resetar free Riley into the area, and the 23-year-old picked out Christian Duke’s run around the penalty spot and he slotted home to make it 1-1. It was the captain’s first goal for the club since returning for a second stint this offseason.
Once the teams reached halftime, they were entrenched in yet another weather delay – this one lasting 50 minutes.
Upon resumption, St. Louis came out flying and almost took the lead when Kyle Greig’s downward header from eight yards was brilliantly clawed into his grasp by Krenecki.
However, there was nothing Krenecki could do to prevent the hosts from re-taking the lead in the 69th minute. Following a turnover in midfield, Greig found Mour Samb streaking in behind the SKC II backline and the winger lashed his finish into the side-netting.
Sporting II thought they had a lifeline to get back into the game in the 79th minute when Duke was hacked down just inside the penalty area, but referee Jervis Atagana instead awarded a free kick just outside the box.
What followed was a hectic five minutes of injury time to close out the second half. First Joaquin Rivas capped a devastating counterattack with his first goal of the season to seal the points for St. Louis, before Dillon Serna almost pulled the deficit back to one when his powerful strike crashed against the post. In the 95th minute, SKC II substitute Jahon Rad was shown a straight red card for a high challenge near midfield as the visitors ended the game with 10 men.
Sporting KC II is back in action this Wednesday, August 19 when the side continues to travel East to face Louisville City FC in a rescheduled match at Lynn Family Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
2020 USL Championship
Match 7 of 16
West Community Stadium | Fenton, Missouri
Attendance: 736
Weather: 76 degrees and thunderstorms
<strong>Score</strong> |
<strong>1</strong> |
<strong>2</strong> |
<strong>F</strong> |
Sporting Kansas City II (2-4-1, 7 points) |
1 |
0 |
1 |
Saint Louis FC (4-3-1, 13 points) |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Sporting Kansas City II: Gavin Krenecki; Camden Riley, Kaveh Rad, Danny Barbir, Isaiah LeFlore (Dillon Serna 77’); Petar Cuic (Jahon Rad 70’), Jake Davis, Christian Duke (C); Dominik Resetar (Jaret Townsend 77’), Wilson Harris, Fredinho Mompremier
Subs Not Used: Remi Prieur, Sam Raben, Mason Leeth, Bailey Sparks
Saint Louis FC: Kyle Morton; Richard Bryan, Sam Fink, Phanuel Kavita (C), Paris Gee; Todd Wharton, Oscar Umar, Wal Fall (Guy Abend 94+); Mour Samb (Joaquin Rivas 82’), Kyle Greig, Russell Cicerone (Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare 87’)
Subs Not Used: John Berner, Daniel Fischer, Nikiphoros Vlastos, Tyler Blackwood
Scoring Summary:
STL – Russell Cicerone 3 (Wal Fall 2) 5’
SKC – Christian Duke 1 (Camden Riley 1) 40’
STL – Mour Samb 1 (Kyle Greig 1) 69’
STL – Joaquin Rivas 1 (Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare 1) 92+
Misconduct Summary:
SKC – Camden Riley (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 36’
SKC – Isaiah LeFlore (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 62’
SKC – Jahon Rad (Red Card; Serious Foul Play) 95+
STL – Joaquin Rivas (Yellow Card; Delaying a Restart) 97+
<strong>Stat</strong> |
<strong>SKC</strong> |
<b>STL</b> |
Shots |
8 |
13 |
Shots on Goal |
3 |
5 |
Saves |
2 |
2 |
Fouls |
15 |
13 |
Offsides |
1 |
2 |
Corner Kicks |
4 |
3 |
Referee: Jervis Atagana
Assistant Referee: Matt Geringer
Assistant Referee: Shane Kennard
Fourth Official: Matthew Rodman
