The Swope Park Rangers (12-6-6, 4th in West) fell to a 1-0 defeat to Reno 1868 FC (12-5-6, 3rd in West) on Saturday night at Greater Nevada Field in Reno, Nevada. Antoine Hoppenot scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot before Reno’s Brenton Griffiths and SPR’s Soony Saad were both sent off late on.
The Rangers were the first to threaten in the fifth minute when a corner kick was recycled and Dakota Barnathan’s deep cross found the head of Amer Didic, but his effort bounced into the arms of Matt Bersano in the Reno goal.
Against the run of play in the ninth minute, former SPR forward Dane Kelly found his way behind the Rangers defense and went down under a challenge from Oumar Ballo, resulting in a penalty. Antoine Hoppenot stepped up to convert the spot kick and give his side a 1-0 lead.
The hosts threatened again in the 22nd minute when Lindo Mfeka picked out Chris Wehan over the top, but Adrian Zendejas stood up well to block his effort from inside the area.
Soony Saad, making his second appearance for SPR on loan from Sporting KC after scoring on Wednesday against Sacramento, was a handful for the Reno defense and fired a powerful low shot wide in the 30th minute.
Four minutes later, Tyler Pasher burst beyond his man down the left side of the area but his final shot flew over the bar from a tight angle. Belmar was the next Rangers man to go close, as his shot from 15 yards was deflected wide in the 42nd minute.
The Rangers started the second half on the front foot, as Pasher’s cross found Saad on the edge of the area but his left-footed volley bounced wide of the target. Kelly responded for Reno by striking a well-hit shot into the arms of Zendejas from 40 yards out.
In the 63rd minute, the Rangers were awarded a free kick just outside the area after Belmar was brought down, but Saad’s strike flashed narrowly over the bar. Two substitutes almost linked up in the 82nd minute when Robert Mirosavic’s corner found the head of Cameron Iwasa, but he glanced his effort wide of the post.
In the 83rd minute, Iwasa wriggled away from a number of challenges in midfield before firing a thunderous left-footed strike a yard over the bar.
Reno were reduced to 10 men in the 87th minute when SPR midfielder Lebo Moloto went into a 50-50 challenge with Reno defender Brenton Griffiths, who slid in with his studs up and was shown a straight red card.
As the game ticked into stoppage time at the end of the second half, Saad tested Bersano with a low drive, but once again the Reno goalkeeper was up to the task.
Referee Robi Hullner leveled the playing field in the 94th minute when he sent off Saad for pushing Luis Felipe Hernandes in the chest after having his shirt pulled by the Reno midfielder. The Rangers threw numbers forward in the closing stages but the game finished 1-0, snapping SPR’s eight-game road unbeaten streak.
Next Match
- The Swope Park Rangers head home next weekend to face OKC Energy FC at Swope Soccer Village on Saturday, Sept. 2. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT with the match 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. Reno 1868 FC
August 26, 2017 – Greater Nevada Field (Reno, Nev.)
Swope Park Rangers 0, Reno 1868 FC 1
Scoring Summary:
RNO – Antoine Hoppenot 9 (Penalty Kick) 10’
Misconduct Summary:
SPR – Adrian Zendejas (Yellow Card) 18’
RNO – Jimmy Ockford (Yellow Card) 58’
SPR – Amer Didic (Yellow Card) 68’
SPR – Oumar Ballo (Yellow Card) 86’
RNO – Brenton Griffiths (Red Card) 87’
SPR – Kuzain (Yellow Card) 92+
RNO – Luis Felipe Hernandes (Yellow Card) 94+
SPR – Soony Saad (Red Card) 94+
Swope Park Rangers: Adrian Zendejas; Colton Storm, Amer Didic, Oumar Ballo, Tyler Pasher; Dakota Barnathan (Kuzain 72’), Lebo Moloto, Christian Duke ©; Kharlton Belmar (Cameron Iwasa 77’), Soony Saad, Mark Anthony Gonzalez (Robert Mirosavic 46’).
Substitutes Not Used: Darrin MacLeod, Liam Doyle, Parker Maher, Felipe Hernandez.
STATS: Shots 14, Shots on Goal 2, Corners 4, Fouls 17, Possession 63.1%
Reno 1868 FC: Matt Bersano; Jordan Murrell, Brenton Griffiths, Jimmy Ockford, Brent Richards; Luis Felipe Fernandes, Matt LaGrassa, Chris Wehan, Lindo Mfeka (Marc Pelosi 66’); Dane Kelly (Seth Casiple 89’), Antoine Hoppenot (Brian Brown 56’).
Substitutes Not Used: Russell Klabough, Junior Burgos, Darwin Espinal, Mackenzie Pridham.
STATS: Shots 10, Shots on Goal 3, Corners 5, Fouls 16, Possession 36.9%
