Sporting Kansas City II (1-4-4, 7 points) will continue their busy stretch of four matches in 11 days when they host Central Division rivals Indy Eleven (3-4-1, 10 points) on Sunday in a 4 p.m. CT showdown at Children’s Mercy Park. The USL Championship contest will stream live on ESPN Plus as the familiar foes meet for the second time this season.
Second-half substitute Tyler Freeman struck two late goals on Wednesday night as Sporting KC II saw their three-game unbeaten run snapped in a 4-3 thriller against FC Tulsa at ONEOK Field. Head coach Paulo Nagamura’s men took an early lead through Rojay Smith before Tulsa bagged four unanswered goals to build what was ultimately an unassailable lead. Freeman led a spirited fightback for the visitors, striking the 87th minute and unleashing a brilliant free kick deep into second-half stoppage time, but Tulsa held on for the victory amid scorching temperatures.
Seven different players have accounted for Sporting KC II’s 11 goals this season. Freeman leads the way with three, while dynamic wingers Smith and Enoch Mushagalusa have two apiece. Nagamura’s side split four meetings with Indy Eleven in 2020, taking two wins and two losses at Lucas Oil Stadium, before suffering a 2-0 road loss on May 22.
Occupying fifth place in the Central Division, Indy Eleven are currently without a long-term head coach. The club announced Wednesday that Martin Rennie had left the organization after four seasons in Indianapolis. He was the longest-tenured coach in club history.
Forward Jordan Hamilton leads Indy with three goals this season, while playmaking midfielder Gordon Wild has a team-best three assists. Indy has been shut out in three of their eight fixtures this season, including each of the last two in consecutive losses to El Paso Locomotive FC and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC.
Sunday serves as the second of four battles between SKC II and Indy this year. Indy will return to Kansas City on Aug. 22 before SKC II ventures to Indianapolis on Sept. 11.
Match Information
USL Championship: Match 10
Date: Sunday, June 20
Kickoff: 4 p.m. CT
Location: Children's Mercy Park (Kansas City, Kansas)
Live Stream: ESPN Plus
Sporting Kansas City II: 1-4-4, 7 points (7th place in Central Division)
Indy Eleven: 3-4-1, 10 points (5th place in Central Division)
ESPN+ Live Stream Link: Click here
USL Championship MatchCenter: Click here
Match Notes: Click here
SOCIAL TAGS
Match-specific hashtag: #SKCvIND
Sporting KC II
Twitter: @SportingKCII
Instagram: @SportingKCII
Indy Eleven
Twitter: @IndyEleven
Instagram: @indyeleven
