Sporting Kansas City II (4-3-2, 15 points) takes on Real Monarchs (3-6-0, 9 points) in a Friday night, Western Conference matchup at Rock Chalk Park. Tickets for the 7 p.m. CT kickoff are on sale at SeatGeek.com and children under 12 receive free admission. The match will also stream live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and fans can receive live updates throughout the match by following @SportingKCII on Twitter.
Entering Friday, Sporting KC II is on a streak of three straight results, while Real Monarchs has not earned a point in their previous three matches. In the month of May, SKC II has back-to-back 2-1 wins over Earthquakes II and LA Galaxy II as well as a 2-2 road draw with St. Louis CITY2. Monarchs have suffered a 2-1 defeat to Tacoma Defiance, a 3-0 dismantling by Dynamo Dos and a 2-1 loss against LAFC 2.
In the two sides' last meeting on April 14, SKC II dispatched Real Monarchs 4-0 at Zion's Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah. Sebastian Cruz and Lucas Rosa scored bangers that were nominated for Goal of Matchday 4, which Rosa would go on to win, Ethan Bryant scored his first goal in Sporting Blue and Pau Vidal scored his third goal of the campaign.
Sporting KC II head coach Benny Feilhaber has seen 33 players earn minutes this season including eight first-team loanees and four Sporting KC Academy players. Amongst the key contributors from the loanees is midfielder Ozzie Cisneros. The 19-year-old midfielder has started six of eight appearances in 2023 and tallied two goals including the opener against St. Louis CITY2 last week.
Fellow first-teamers Robert Voloder and Robert Castellanos made their MLS NEXT Pro debuts in St. Louis, pairing up as the two center backs. Midfielder Danny Flores earned his fourth start of the season. In his first year with the club, Flores has seven appearances and one goal for SKC II. Versatile Academy product Cam Duke started at forward for the first time in 2023 and scored his first goal as well. Duke has played on all three lines for SKC II this season proving to be a valuable asset when he joins up with the team.
In terms of MLS NEXT Pro contracted players, forward Pau Vidal has emerged as a star for the second team opening 10 matches of the season. He leads the team in goals with six, tied for second most in MLS NEXT Pro and is one of three players to appear in every match. Right back Lucas Rosa and winger Andrew Draper are the two other players to appear in every match. Rosa, in his rookie season, has tallied one goal and one assist and missed just one start. Draper is tied for the team lead with three assists.
Newcomer Alenis Vargas has also tallied three assists. The Honduran has linked up with Vidal twice so far, setting up the match-winner against LA Galaxy II in stoppage time of the mid-May matchup. Last week he assisted Duke's goal in the 25th minute at CITY2.
Real Monarchs currently sits 11th in the Western Conference nine matches into the season. Their -11 goal differential is tied for the worst in the league and their eight goals scored is tied for second lowest in the West. They have two goal-scorers with multiple goals, first-team loanee Diego Luna and forward Terron Williams. Luna bagged a brace in the Monarchs' 5-1 win over Timbers2 and is currently with the USYNT at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Friday night under the Rock Chalk Park lights, SKC II and Real Monarchs face off for the second and final time of the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro regular season. In the last meeting in Lawrence, KS, SKC II erased a two-goal, first-half deficit to take home a 4-2 win. An always exciting battle when these two clubs meet, fans can watch all the action on MLS Season Pass. Tickets are still on sale at SeatGeek.com as well.
Match Information:
MLS NEXT Pro: Match 10
Date: Friday, May 26, 2023
Kickoff: 7 p.m. CT
Location: Rock Chalk Park (Lawrence, KS)
Watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
SOCIAL TAGS:
Match-specific hashtag: #SKCvSLC
Twitter: @SportingKCII
Instagram: @SportingKCII
Twitter: @RealMonarchs
Instagram: @realmonarchs
