The Swope Park Rangers (12-5-6, 3rd place) is set to face off against expansion side Reno 1868 FC (11-5-6, 4th place) on Saturday at Greater Nevada Field in Reno, Nevada. Kickoff is set for 9:30 p.m. CT and the game will stream live on SportingKC.com and via the USLsoccer.com MatchCenter.
The Rangers are unbeaten in their last four games but have not found themselves in the win column since a 2-0 victory over Seattle Sounders FC on July 20. The Rangers have drawn their four most recent games, including Wednesday night’s thrilling 2-2 draw against Sacramento Republic FC at Papa Murphy’s Park.
The Rangers took the lead early in that game when Sporting KC loanee Soony Saad fired a powerful strike into the back of the net in just the fourth minute to make the score 1-0. Sacramento hit back when Wilson Kneeshaw equalized before halftime, but SPR retook the lead when Christian Duke’s hooked cross was turned home by Kharlton Belmar for his team-leading ninth goal of the season in the 68th minute.
With the Rangers seemingly about to claim three points on the road, Sacramento equalized in the 88th minute through Tyler Blackwood as the game ended 2-2.
Reno 1868 FC, who are three points behind SPR in fourth in the USL Western Conference, are in the midst of a three-game winning streak. The side has beaten Tulsa Roughnecks FC 3-2, San Antonio FC 2-0 and Sacramento Republic FC 2-1 in their last three games.
Coincidentally, just like the Rangers, Reno is coming off a road match against Sacramento Republic FC last Saturday. Hayden Partain gave Sacramento the lead in the 15th minute but Reno responded with goals from former SPR striker Dane Kelly in the 17th minute and a stunning free kick from Chris Wehan in the 22nd minute to take all three points.
The Rangers have faced Reno once in club history, falling to a 4-1 defeat at Swope Soccer Village on July 30. Felipe Hernandez scored his first professional goal for SPR in the match, but Reno claimed all three points with strikes from Antoine Hoppenot, Luis Felipe Fernandes, Dane Kelly and Seth Casiple. That game snapped the Rangers’ seven-game winning streak and 10-game unbeaten streak.
Game 24
Date: Saturday, August 26, 2017
Kickoff: 9:30 p.m. CT
Location: Greater Nevada Field (Reno, Nev.)
Swope Park Rangers: 12-5-6 (42 pts), 3rd in Western Conference
MLS Affiliate: Sporting Kansas City
Reno 1868 FC: 11-5-6 (39 pts), 4th in Western Conference
MLS Affiliate: San Jose Earthquakes
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Live Stream: The game will be broadcast on SportingKC.com and YouTube.com/USL
SOCIAL TAGS
Game-specific hashtag: #RNOvSPR
Swope Park Rangers
Twitter: @SwopeRangers
Instagram: @SwopeParkRangers
Reno 1868 FC
Twitter: @Reno1868FC
Instagram: @Reno1868FC
GAME NOTES
