The Swope Park Rangers opened their 2017 preseason with a 5-0 rout over the University of Missouri – Kansas City at Swope Soccer Village on Sunday afternoon. Liam Doyle and Kharlton Belmar put the Rangers 2-0 up in the first half before Nansel Selbol bagged a second-half brace while Leroy Enzugusi also found the net.
The Rangers controlled the play from the off and in the fourth minute, a loose ball found its way to Belmar, but his first time effort was repelled by UMKC goalkeeper Filippo Errico. Robert Mirosavic had two efforts from outside the area held by Errico as the half wore on.
In the 15th minute, Belmar hit a swerving effort from distance that was tipped on to the underside of the crossbar and out by Errico. The Rangers kept pressing and in the 20th minute, Felipe Hernandez rattled the inside of the post with a powerful attempt from 25 yards.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 23rd minute when Mirosavic floated in a delivery to the back post that center back Liam Doyle volleyed into the corner with aplomb to make the score 1-0.
Three minutes later, Will Little burst past his marker on the right wing and cut the ball back for Christian Duke, but Errico was equal to his shot from close range. Belmar got another look at goal in the 34th minute, but could only head Parker Maher’s inviting delivery over.
Belmar finally found the goal his first-half performance deserved in the 40th minute when he received Duke’s pass on the top of the box, exploded past his marker and finished into the corner. Mark Anthony Gonzalez then bounced an effort narrowly wide as SPR went into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
After wholesale changes at the break, the Rangers opened the second half on the front foot with Nansel Selbol firing over and Ray Saari seeing a shot saved. In the 57th minute, Selbol sold his marker a dummy on the edge of the area but his powerful strike was tipped away by Ryan Tome.
Goalkeeper Darrin MacLeod made SPR’s first save of the game in the 64th minute, diving at full extension to his left to tip away Tony Mok’s effort. Two minutes later, Academy winger Roman Knox flashed a header just wide off Louis Bennett’s free kick.
The Rangers added to their lead in the 75th minute through Nansel Selbol’s penalty kick after Chase Bromstedt was brought down in the area. Nine minutes later, it was 4-0 when Leroy Enzugusi dribbled away from his man and slotted his finish below Tome from close range.
Selbol added his second of the game in the dying moments to make the final score 5-0, calmly placing the ball into the corner after being played through by Louis Bennett.
Swope Park Rangers vs. University of Missouri – Kansas City
February 19, 2017 – Swope Soccer Village (Kansas City, Mo.)
Swope Park Rangers 5, UMKC 0
Scoring Summary:
SPR – Liam Doyle (Robert Mirosavic) 23’
SPR – Kharlton Belmar (Christian Duke) 40’
SPR – Nansel Selbol (Penalty Kick) 75’
SPR – Leroy Enzugusi (Unassisted) 84’
SPR – Nansel Selbol (Louis Bennett) 90’
Misconduct Summary:
UMKC – Agustin Zambrano (Yellow Card) 39’
UMKC – Bronson Watts (Yellow Card) 87’
First Half: David Greczek; Will Little, Oumar Ballo, Liam Doyle, Parker Maher; Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal, Christian Duke ©, Felipe Hernandez; Robert Mirosavic, Mark Anthony Gonzalez, Kharlton Belmar.
Second Half: Darrin MacLeod; Joe Amico, Patrick Wilkinson, Dakota Barnathan, Ezra Armstrong (Christian Albelo 70’); Louis Bennett II, Ray Saari, Chase Bromstedt; Roman Knox (Camilo Benitez 70’), Leroy Enzugusi, Nansel Selbol ©.
