The Swope Park Rangers suffered a 3-1 defeat to OKC Energy FC at Swope Soccer Village on Saturday night. An early goal from Ayrton gave the Rangers the lead, but OKC hit back with goals from Michael Thomas, Wojciech Wojcik and Daniel Gonzalez to claim all three points.
The Rangers (4-7-2, 14 pts.) started the game on the front foot and took the lead in the seventh minute. Nansel Selbol dribbled past two defenders down the right and his deflected cross was met at the far post by Ayrton, whose low shot found a way into the back of the net through a crowd of bodies on the line to make the score 1-0.
Selbol threatened again in the 20th minute when he skipped past his man and fired a powerful shot on frame that Cody Laurendi beat away. Seven minutes later, Tomas Granitto lined up a free kick from 30 yards that was destined for the top corner, but Laurendi again was there to deny the Rangers their second goal.
The Energy (5-2-4, 19 pts.) found an equalizer in first-half stoppage time with their first real opportunity in the game. After a giveaway in the back by SPR, Sebastian Dalgaard floated in a cross that Kansas City native Thomas got his head to and directed into the corner to make the halftime score 1-1.
The two sides traded chances in the second half, with Kelly and Ayrton each forcing saves from Laurendi, while Zac Lubin produced a fine stop to deny Danni Konig at the other end.
In the 64th minute, OKC found the go-ahead goal when, after a sustained period of pressure, Wojcik turned home a cross from Michael Harris to make the score 2-1. Ten minutes later, the Energy opened up a two-goal cushion when substitute Gonzalez found space in the area and saw his first effort saved by Lubin, but tucked away the rebound into the side-netting to make the score 3-1.
The Rangers threw numbers forward in the final 15 minutes, but it was OKC who went closest to adding to their lead in the 83rd minute when Ballo sliced an attempted clearance against his own crossbar as the Rangers dropped to 3-2-0 at home this season.
Next Match
- The Swope Park Rangers are back on the road next weekend as the club heads to the Pacific Northwest to take on Seattle Sounders FC 2 at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, Wash. on Sunday, June 26. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and will be available via live stream on SportingKC.com.
Swope Park Rangers vs. OKC Energy FC
June 18, 2016 – Swope Soccer Village (Kansas City, Mo.)
Swope Park Rangers 1, OKC Energy FC 3
Scoring Summary:
SPR – Ayrton 1 (Nansel Selbol 1) 7’
OKC – Michael Thomas 1 (Sebastien Dalgaard 4) 45+
OKC – Wojciech Wojcik 2 (Michael Harris 2) 64’
OKC – Daniel Gonzalez 2 (Unassisted) 74’
Misconduct Summary:
SPR – Ayrton (Yellow Card) 38’
SPR – Dane Kelly (Yellow Card) 43’
SPR – Ualefi (Yellow Card) 75’
OKC – Danni Konig (Yellow Card) 80’
Swope Park Rangers: Zac Lubin; Jimmy Mulligan, Tommy Meyer, Oumar Ballo, Christian Duke ©; Ualefi (Amer Didic 78’), Tomas Granitto (Mark Anthony Gonzalez 65’), Kevin Oliveira; Nansel Selbol, Dane Kelly, Ayrton (Kris Tyrpak 59’).
Substitutes Not Used: Jon Kempin, Johnny Grant, Jacob VanCompernolle, Alex Molano.
STATS: Shots 5, Shots on Goal 4, Corners 3, Fouls 11
OKC Energy FC: Cody Laurendi; Kyle Hyland, Coady Andrews, Cyprian Hedrick, Michael Harris; Michael Thomas ©, Michael Byskov, Sebastian Dalgaard (Daniel Gonzalez 71’), Jose Cuevas (Kalen Ryden 82’); Wojciech Wojcik (Jordan Rideout 79’), Danni Konig (Tim Jansson 90’).
Substitutes Not Used: CJ Cochran, Evans Frimpong, Peter Toth.
STATS: Shots 12, Shots on Goal 6, Corners 4, Fouls 8
Referee: Matthew Kreitzer
Assistant Referees: Ryan Cook and Jack Feldman
Fourth Official: Jon Freemon
Attendance: 1,314
Weather: Clear and 87 degrees
