For their performance in their second comeback win of 2024, Sporting Kansas City II has been named MLS NEXT Pro Team of Matchweek 4. Head coach Benny Feilhaber's squad went on the road, erased a 3-1 halftime deficit and claimed a 5-3 victory over Colorado Rapids 2 on Sunday night to earn the weekly honor.
In the first of three meetings between the two Frontier Division combatants, Sporting KC II's offense exploded with a hat-trick performance from MLS NEXT Pro Player of Matchweek 4 Kamron Habibullah, a brace from forward Beto Avila and assists from Avila, Ethan Bryant and Sebastian Cruz. An all-around team effort saw Kansas City score four unanswered goals in the second half with a little over 20 minutes to play.
The hat-trick hero Habibullah started the scoring in the 21st, slotting home a brilliant centering pass from Avila. The goal marked Habibullah's first SKC II score and Avila's first assist for the club. Colorado got out on the front foot for the remainder of the first half, rattling off three straight goals. The hosts found the back of the net in the 24th, 31st and 44th to take the two goal advantage into the break.
Feilhaber went to his bench and made four changes ahead of the start of the second, bringing on goalkeeper Carlito Saylon, defender Demarre Montoute and midfielders Ethan Bryant and Danny Flores. The visitors nearly cut into the scoreline two minutes into the half, but the second SKC II goal did not come until the 68th. Cruz dropped a dime to Habibullah in the box where the Canadian brought the ball down and tucked it past Ethan Bandre.
The leveler came just six minutes later when Avila went into takeover mode, getting to a loose ball in the area and slotting it into the empty net. Just four minutes later the forward got on the end of a perfectly placed Bryant corner, flicking the ball into the goal with a glancing header.
Habibullah then put the icing on the cake with his third goal of the evening, turning Colorado over in their defensive third before breaking for goal. The win gives Sporting KC II six points on the season and propels them into first place in the Frontier Division.
Sporting KC II will be back in action on Sunday when they host Houston Dynamo 2 at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. CT and tickets are on sale at SeatGeek.com.
