Recap: Sporting Kansas City II snaps Indy Eleven home unbeaten streak with 1-0 road victory

Sporting Kansas City II (2-3-0, 6 points) made it back-to-back wins this week after a solid 1-0 road win against Indy Eleven (5-2-0, 15 points) at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday night. Danny Barbir scored the only goal of the game with a stunning top-corner effort midway through the second half as Sporting II inflicted Indy Eleven’s first home defeat in 28 games and snapped a streak of 11 straight wins at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Barbir scored his first goal for the club in the 70th minute off Enoch Mushagalusa’s cutback, while 18-year-old goalkeeper and Sporting KC Academy product Brooks Thompson made four saves on the way to recording his first professional clean sheet in his fourth game. The result allows SKC II to jump Louisville City into third place in Group E on goal difference.

Facing the top team in Group E and the league’s leading goalscorer Tyler Pasher – formerly of SKC and SKC II – Paulo Nagamura’s side was ready to battle from the first minute until the last. Pasher was the first to threaten, as his low effort was expertly held by Thompson in just the fourth minute.

Four minutes later, Dominik Resetar, who scored his first goal for the club in Wednesday’s win over Louisville, lashed an effort high and wide. In the 31st minute, more slick build-up from Sporting II set up a shooting opportunity for Fredinho Mompremier, but his effort went straight into the arms of Jordan Farr. Thompson was called into action again in the 34th minute when he blocked Felicien Dumas’ shot from the left side of the area.

Some inspired substitutions from Nagamura in the second half eventually led to the breakthrough for Sporting II. Enoch Mushagalusa replaced Mompremier and Mason Leeth came on for Harris up front and the two linked up to devastating effect in the 70th minute, as a cute one-two allowed Mushagalusa to dribble to the endline and cut the ball back to center back Barbir who slammed his effort into the top corner, giving SKC II a 1-0 lead.

Sporting II survived a scare in the 84th minute as Pasher was played through on goal, but he lifted his shot over the bar on his weaker right foot and was unable to add to his six goals on the season. Two minutes later, Thompson came up with another impressive stop to deny Andrew Carleton before sub Camden Riley blocked Ilija Ilic’s close-range rebound.

Nagamura’s side held firm through nine minutes of second-half stoppage time to record their second straight win and inflict a painful defeat to Indy Eleven.

Sporting KC II returns to action this Wednesday, August 5 when the side faces cross-state rivals Saint Louis FC at West Community Stadium in Fenton, Missouri. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

2020 USL Championship
Game 5 of 16
Lucas Oil Stadium | Indianapolis, Indiana
Attendance: 5,409
Weather: Cloudy and 75 degrees

Sporting Kansas City II: Brooks Thompson; Sam Raben, Petar Cuic, Danny Barbir, Dillon Serna; Jahon Rad (Camden Riley 85’), Christian Duke (C), Jake Davis (Duval Wapiwo 85’); Dominik Resetar (Jaret Townsend 61’), Wilson Harris (Mason Leeth 67’), Fredinho Mompremier (Enoch Mushagalusa 62’)
Subs Not Used: Remi Prieur, Kaveh Rad

Indy Eleven: Jordan Farr; Mitch Osmond, Paddy Barrett (C), Neveal Hackshaw; William Antley (Matt Watson 59’), Tyler Gibson, Kenney Walker (Drew Conner 46’), Felicien Dumas (Ayoze 59’), Cam Lindley (Andrew Carleton 77’); Tyler Pasher, Nick Moon (Ilija Ilic 46’)
Subs Not Used: Evan Newton, Karl Ouimette

Scoring Summary:
SKC – Danny Barbir 1 (Enoch Mushagalusa 1) 70’

Misconduct Summary:
SKC – Jahon Rad (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 50’
SKC – Christian Duke (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 76’
IND - Ayoze (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 88’
IND – Mitch Osmond (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 97+

Referee: Youssef Elmessoussi
Assistant Referee: Art Arustamyan
Assistant Referee: Matthew Rodman
Fourth Official: Nabil Bensalah