The Swope Park Rangers played to a scoreless draw in their second matchup against San Antonio FC in the space of nine days. The Rangers controlled the majority of possession and out-shot San Antonio 12-5 but were unable to find a breakthrough against the league-leading Texans.
The Rangers started on the front foot and went close in the fifth minute when Felipe Hernandez slid a ball through to Nansel Selbol on the right side of the area, but his powerful effort was well saved by Diego Restrepo in the San Antonio goal.
Selbol had another opportunity from a similar area in the 13th minute but struck his shot narrowly over the bar. Nine minute before the break, Kharlton Belmar burst past his marker and fired toward goal but his attempt was blocked as the two sides headed into the halftime break with the score at 0-0.
The second half was a quiet affair with neither side able to produce any clear-cut chances until the final 10 minutes. In the 82nd minute, San Antonio left back Greg Cochrane was shown a straight red card for sliding in recklessly with his studs raised on SPR captain Christian Duke, allowing the Rangers to play the closing stages up a man.
SPR almost took full advantage of their numerical superiority as James Musa set up substitute Louis Bennett – who was making his debut for the club – and his shot from 18 yards was headed off the line by Stephen McCarthy before looping on the top of the crossbar and away for a corner.
Bennett took the ensuing corner and found the head of fellow substitute and Sporting KC loanee Cameron Iwasa, but his header landed on the roof of the net as the game ended scoreless.
The Rangers posted their third shutout of the season as rookie goalkeeper David Greczek kept the first clean sheet of his professional career, but the side has also failed to score in their last three games. SPR moves to 4-4-1 (13 pts.) on the season and 0-3-1 on the road, while San Antonio drops into a tie for first in the Western Conference with a 9-0-3 (30 pts.) record.
Next Match
- The Swope Park Rangers return home next weekend to host regional rivals Tulsa Roughnecks FC at Children’s Mercy Victory Field in Swope Soccer Village on Sunday, June 11. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. CT and the match will be streamed live on SportingKC.com and in-game updates will be available through the team’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram channels.
Swope Park Rangers vs. San Antonio FC
June 3, 2017 – Toyota Field (San Antonio, Texas)
Swope Park Rangers 0, San Antonio FC 0
Scoring Summary:
None
Misconduct Summary:
SPR – Liam Doyle (Yellow Card) 26’
SPR – James Musa (Yellow Card) 70’
SA – Greg Cochrane (Red Card) 82’
Swope Park Rangers: David Greczek; Parker Maher, Oumar Ballo, Liam Doyle, Tyler Pasher; James Musa, Felipe Hernandez (Louis Bennett 78’), Christian Duke ©; Nansel Selbol, Robert Mirosavic (Cameron Iwasa 46’), Kharlton Belmar.
Substitutes Not Used: Darrin MacLeod, Joe Amico, Dakota Barnathan, Kuzain, Max Rugova.
STATS: Shots 12, Shots on Goal 1, Corners 5, Fouls 12, Possession 59%
San Antonio FC: Diego Restrepo; Ben Newnam, Sebastian Ibeagha, Stephen McCarthy, Greg Cochrane; Pecka, Micheal Reed ©, Kris Tyrpak (Shawn Chin 80’), Zachary Herivaux, Billy Forbes (Devin Vega 74’); AJ Ajeakwa (Cesar Elizondo 62’).
Substitutes Not Used: Lee Johnston, Cyprian Hedrick, Rafael Castillo, Mark O’Ojong.
STATS: Shots 5, Shots on Goal 2, Corners 2, Fouls 7, Possession 41%
Referee: Henrik Karlsson
Assistant Referees: Terry Burris and Antoan Teodossiev
Fourth Official: Benny Del Castillo
