The Swope Park Rangers played out a comfortable 3-0 victory over Tulsa Roughnecks FC at Swope Soccer Village on Saturday night. First-half goals from Christian Duke and Dane Kelly either side of a stunning strike from Kris Tyrpak were enough for SPR to take all three points and move up to sixth in the USL Western Conference.
The Rangers (11-10-6, 39 pts.) wasted no time in taking the lead over the Roughnecks (5-18-4, 19 pts.), doing so in just the second minute. Dane Kelly found space down the left and crossed low for captain Christian Duke, and the Kansas City native clipped a neat finish over the onrushing Jake Feener to make the score 1-0.
The pressure continued to mount on the Tulsa goal as Kelly, Kris Tyrpak and Ayrton all went close before the 10-minute mark. The Rangers had the ball in the back of the net in the 13th minute when Tyler Pasher headed home Tyrpak’s cross, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
In the 14th minute, Ayrton found Kelly sprinting in behind the Roughnecks defense, but the USL’s all-time leading scorer could only direct his effort against the post. One minute later, Kelly reached another through ball and rounded Feener but couldn’t find an angle to shoot before the ball bounced to Ayrton on the top of the box and the Brazilian fired over.
The Rangers thought they had been awarded a penalty kick in the 24th minute when referee Andrew Musashe pointed to the spot after Tyrpak was brought down, but he belatedly noticed his linesman’s raised flag for offside.
The Rangers found their second goal in magnificent fashion in the 32nd minute. Tyrpak received a pass from Ayrton on the right side of midfield, cut inside several challenges before unleashing an incredible strike that nestled into the top corner, leaving Feener with no chance. The goal was Tyrpak’s fifth of the season, placing him second on the team in that category, while Ayrton took the team-lead in assists with his fifth of the campaign.
The home side kept pushing and Kelly again went close in the 38th minute when his volley from the top of the box forced Feener into a diving save, tipping the shot over the bar.
Kelly, who took a club-record nine shots in the game, finally found the net in the 43rd minute. Ualefi played a low ball to the Jamaican forward who spun and outpaced his man before calmly knocking the ball beyond Feener to make the score 3-0 heading into the halftime interval.
Seven minutes into the second half, SPR goalkeeper Adrian Zendejas was forced into his first of three saves in the game, claiming Sammy Ochoa’s header. At the other end, Sporting KC loanee Ever Alvarado went close when his glancing header flew just wide after being found by Ayrton’s free kick.
Kelly would continue to threaten as the second half wore on, firing a powerful effort just wide in the 72nd minute and driving a shot over from inside the area three minutes later. In the 82nd minute, Kelly met substitute Johnny Grant’s cross six yards out, but it went straight into the arms of Feener – who made eight saves in the game.
Ochoa tested Zendejas again in the 85th minute with a shot from 20 yards, but the 21-year-old goalkeeper was able to gather as he posted his first shutout for the Rangers, while the side are now 3-0-0 when he starts.
Mark Anthony Gonzalez would create the final chance of the game, but his shot from the edge of the area went straight into the arms of Feener as SPR took all three points and improve to 9-4-1 at home.
Man of the Match presented by Courtyard Overland Park Metcalf
- Kris Tyrpak – Scored his fifth goal of the season with a stunning strike from distance in the 32nd minute. Had two shots on target in the game as SPR moved up to sixth in the Western Conference.
Next Match
- The Swope Park Rangers hit the road next weekend when they travel to Oklahoma City to take on OKC Energy FC at Taft Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 18. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT, with a live stream available on SportingKC.com.
Swope Park Rangers vs. Tulsa Roughnecks FC
September 10, 2016 – Swope Soccer Village (Kansas City, Mo.)
Swope Park Rangers 3, Tulsa Roughnecks FC 0
Scoring Summary:
SPR – Christian Duke 2 (Dane Kelly 1) 2’
SPR – Kris Tyrpak 5 (Ayrton 5) 32’
SPR – Dane Kelly 4 (Ualefi 4) 43’
Misconduct Summary:
SPR – Ayrton (Yellow Card) 34’
TUL – David Abidor (Yellow Card) 83’
SPR – Johnny Grant (Yellow Card) 90’
Swope Park Rangers: Adrian Zendejas; Tommy Meyer, Amer Didic (Johnny Grant 46’), Oumar Ballo, Ever Alvarado; Ualefi (Tomas Granitto 46’), Christian Duke ©, Ayrton (Alex Molano 70’); Kris Tyrpak (Nansel Selbol 61’), Dane Kelly, Tyler Pasher (Mark Anthony Gonzalez 46’).
Substitutes Not Used: Zac Lubin.
STATS: Shots 18, Shots on Goal 11, Corners 6, Fouls 16
Tulsa Roughnecks FC: Jake Feener; Edgar Espinoza, Isaiah Schafer, Devin Morgan, Iarfhlaith Davoren; Jasson Ramos Carpio (Bryce Taylor 58’), David Abidor (Carlos Martinez 86’), Gustavo Villalobos (Cristian Mata 39’), Ray Lee; Kaleem (Brady Ballew 86’), Sammy Ochoa ©.
Substitutes Not Used: Alex Mangels, Gary Cennerazzo.
STATS: Shots 9, Shots on Goal 3, Corners 3, Fouls 6
Referee: Andrew Musashe
Assistant Referees: Jacob Post and Spenser Scopel
Fourth Official: Andrew Macht
Attendance: 1,371
Weather: Clear and 68 degrees
