The Swope Park Rangers (9-6-4, 6th place) fell 2-1 on Saturday at Portland Timbers FC 2 (9-8-2, 7th place). Eighteen-year-old Sporting Kansas City Academy product Wilson Harris scored his second goal of the season however the Rangers rally for a road result fell short after falling behind 2-0 in the first half.
Foster Langsdorf, a Timbers FC Homegrown Player, opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with the eighth goal of his rookie season. The 22-year-old raced onto a through ball from Marvin Loria and pushed his shot past the outrushing Adrian Zendejas at the top of the penalty area.
Loria would then score the game-winning goal in first-half stoppage time with a first-time finish from the right corner of the six-yard box. With Langsdorf and Loria on the scoresheet, it marked the second straight weekend at Merlo Field in which the duo scored for T2.
The Rangers would respond in the second half, outshooting the hosts 12-6 in the final 45 minutes. However, only one of those 12 attempts found the target and it was Harris’ 59th-minute header on a cross from Sporting KC loanee Colton Storm.
Harris, who signed his first professional contract earlier this month, made a well-timed run to the back post and directed Storm’s service from the right touchline past Kendall McIntosh to cut the deficit in half.
The Rangers continued pressing forward for an equalizer and thought the club had won a penalty when Tyler Blackwood’s glancing header struck the arm of T2 captain Modou Jadama and referee Robi Hullner blew his whistle, only to then award a free kick for the home side instead.
SPR captain Adrian Zendejas, making his first start for the Rangers since June 2, made three saves on the night, first in the second minute to deny Andre Lewis and then twice in a span of 30 seconds in the second half. Zendejas sprawled to his right to keep out Loria’s curling effort in the 74th minute then was called into action again moments later to push away a header from Langsdorf.
The Rangers, who slip to sixth in the USL Western Conference, will now return to Kansas City for back-to-back home matches for the first time this season. SPR welcomes Orange County SC to Children’s Mercy Park on Wednesday followed by a visit from Rio Grande Valley FC on Sunday.
Tickets for both matches are available online at SeatGeek.com and the first 500 fans at Wednesday’s match will receive free USA Rangers socks.
Swope Park Rangers at Portland Timbers FC 2
July 14, 2018 – Merlo Field
Swope Park Rangers 1, Portland Timbers FC 2 2
Scoring Summary:
POR – Foster Langsdorf 8 (Marvin Loría 3) 23’
POR - Marvin Loría 3 (Eryk Williamson2) 47+
SPR – Wilson Harris 2 (Colton Storm 4) 59’
Misconduct Summary:
POR – Eryk Williamson (caution) 60’
SPR – Matheus Silva (caution) 66’
Swope Park Rangers: Adrian Zendejas (c); Colton Storm (Camilo Benitez 87), Matthew Lewis, Dakota Barnathan, Parker Maher; Matheus Silva, Felipe Hernandez, Chase Minter (Sebastian Cruz 51); Tyler Blackwood, Wilson Harris (Bryam Rebellon 75), Hadji Barry
