Sporting Kansas City opened the 2019 preseason, presented by Children's Mercy, with a 4-0 win over Sporting AZ FC at Phoenix Rising FC Soccer Complex in Tempe, Arizona on Friday morning.
Sporting KC took the lead in the 23rd minute when Felipe Gutierrez freed Rodney Wallace down the left, and his cross was picked up by Johnny Russell at the far post who calmly volleyed into the top corner.
Yohan Croizet doubled the lead when he latched onto Seth Sinovic’s cut-back and thundered a half-volley into the side netting from just inside the Sporting AZ area in the 59th minute.
Swope Park Rangers left back Justin Bilyeu made it 3-0 in the 68th minute, stroking home a lovely free kick after Tyler Freeman was fouled on the edge of the area.
Academy product and current Rangers midfielder Felipe Hernandez completed the scoring, streaking through on goal and rounding the goalkeeper before slotting the ball into an empty net in the 85th minute.
Sporting KC is back in preseason action on Wednesday, January 23 when the side will take on Phoenix Rising FC trialists in Tempe, Arizona.
