The Swope Park Rangers (3-1-3, 12 points) drew St. Louis FC (3-1-3, 12 points) 1-1 at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night. The two goals of the night were bookends with Hadji Barry scoring in the 3rd minute and Kyle Greig of St. Louis scoring in the 88th minute.
In the 3rd minute, one-minute shy of adding to the fastest goal in SPR history, Sporting KC loanee Amer Didic headed a pass to Hadji Barry who took a right-footed shot from outside the box to make it past St. Louis goaltender Jake Fenlason and into the bottom right corner.
Didic attempted a shot from the center of the box off a cross from SKC Academy product Felipe Hernandez, but the ball sailed over the crossbar.
In the 23rd minute, St. Louis had an opportunity when Sam Fink headed a pass to Christian Volesky, however, Volesky’s shot went high and wide.
Darrin MacLeod had two great saves, one in the 35th minute and the other in the 37th minute, to keep the Rangers' 1-0 lead into the half.
A beautiful tackle by Sporting KC loanee Brad Evans in the 49th minute negated a St. Louis chance. In the 51st minute, Darrin MacLeod made another beautiful save off a header attempt from Volesky.
Hadji Barry had a right-footed shot from the center of the box in the 56th minute, but sent it just to the right of the goal. Hernandez had an opportunity in the 57th minute to net one in off an assist from Jaylin Lindsey, but it sailed wide.
Tensions started to rise as the game continued with multiple players on both sides being shown yellows.
MacLeod had another brilliant save off a right footed shot from Albert Dikwa in the 81st minute to keep the Rangers' lead at 1-0.
The 88th minute brought the deciding goal from St. Louis FC’s Kyle Greig. MacLeod was unable to stop the close range right shot. Albert Dikwa would pick up the assist.
A final chance from Bryam Rebellon in the 93rd minute, with an assist from Sporting KC Academy product Jaylin Lindsey, was saved by the goaltender. The score would stand 1-1 at the final whistle.
SPR heads on a long road trip starting when they face Oklahoma City FC (1-5-1, 4pts) on Saturday, May 5 at 7 p.m. CT in Oklahoma City. The Rangers will return home to face Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday, May 26 at 4 p.m. CT at Children’s Mercy Park.
Notable Moments
Sporting KC loanee Brad Evans made his return from injury to wear the captain's band in tonight’s match.
Fifteen-year-old Sporting KC loanee Gianluca Busio ended his third Rangers start with a 100% passing accuracy (30/30).
Swope Park Rangers vs St. Louis FC
April 28, 2018 – Children’s Mercy Park
Swope Park Rangers 1, St. Louis FC 1
Scoring Summary:
SPR – Hadji Barry 2 (Amer Didic 1) – 3’
STL – Kyle Greig 3 (Albert Dikwa 1) – 88’
Misconduct Summary:
SPR – Parker Maher (Yellow Card) – 26’
STL – Lewis Hilton (Yellow Card) – 42’
SPR – Wan Kuzain (Yellow Card) – 68’
STL – Joey Calistri (Yellow Card) – 76’
STL – Sean Reynolds (Yellow Card) – 82’
STL – Jonathan Braden (Yellow Card) – 85’
SPR – Rodrigo Saravia (Yellow Card) – 86’
Swope Park Rangers: Darrin MacLeod; Brad Evans © (Graham Smith 57’); Amer Didic ©; Parker Maher; Jaylin Lindsey; Gianluca Busio (Rodrigo Saravia 63’); Wan Kuzain; Felipe Hernandez; Hadji Barry; Chase Minter (Bryam Rebellon 78’); Tyler Blackwood.
