The Swope Park Rangers (8-4-4, 28 points) toppled Las Vegas Lights FC (4-6-4, 16 points) at Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday night. Sporting KC loanee Kharlton Belmar would score his ninth goal of the season, solidifying his spot as the USL's leading goal scorer.
Belmar had a beautiful cross in the second minute, but Las Vegas Lights FC goalie Angel Alvarez would be there to make the stop. In the sixth minute, the referee would mark the spot for a Las Vegas free kick, but it would sail right into Herrera’s hands.
Sporting KC loanee Seth Sinovic had a beautiful long-range left-footed shot from outside the box that sailed into the bottom right corner of the goal in the 12th minute. Chase Minter would pick up an assist and the Rangers would take a 1-0 lead.
In the 14th minute, a corner kick from Minter was almost headed in by Sporting KC loanee Diego Rubio, but it would go just to the left of the goal.
Las Vegas Lights FC would even the score in the 21st minute with a shot from outside the box. Daigo Kobayashi would be the one to find the net and Samuel Ochoa collected the assist.
Minter would have a spectacular shot in the 24th minute, but Alvarez would get a touch. Swope Park Rangers goalkeeper Cristian Herrera, who earned his first start of the season, came out of the box and the Lights had an opportunity, but Dakota Barnathan was there to make a diving save and prevent the go-ahead goal.
In the 6th minute, Sporting KC loanee Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal would take a free kick just outside the box, but it would sail to the right of the goal. Belmar would score his ninth goal of the season in the 56th minute. He took a pass from Sporting KC loanee Colton Storm and buried the close-range shot to give SPR a 2-1 lead.
Minter would have a chance to take a free kick in the 60th minute, but it would curve to the right of the goal. In the 68th minute, Kuzain would take another free kick and this time he would find the back of the net. This would be the 19-year-old's first goal for the Rangers and would bring the Rangers lead to 3-1.
A through ball in the 87th minute from Las Vegas' James Murphy would result in Samuel Ochoa scoring and Vegas would close the gap to 3-2. A penalty kick awarded to Las Vegas in the fourth minute of second half stoppage time would result in the Lights trying some trickery only to hit the right post.
The Rangers hit the road to face Seattle Sounders FC 2 (3-8-2, 11 points) on Thursday, July 5 at 9:00 p.m. CT before returning home on Tuesday, July 10 at 7:30 p.m. CT to face Sacramento Republic FC at Children’s Mercy Park.
Notable Moment:
Christian Herrera made his first start for the Rangers and would pick up his first win.
Sporting KC loanee Wan Kuzain, 19, scored his first goal for the Rangers. Kuzain scored his first MLS goal for Sporting KC on June 3.
Swope Park Rangers vs Las Vegas Lights FC
June 24, 2018 – Children’s Mercy Park
Swope Park Rangers 3, Lights Vegas Lights FC 2
Scoring Summary:
SPR – Seth Sinovic 1 (Chase Minter 1) – 12’
LV – Daigo Kobayashi 3 (Samuel Ochoa 3) – 21’
SPR – Kharlton Belmar 9 (Colton Storm 3) – 56’
SPR – Wan Kuzain 1 (free kick) – 67’
LV – Samuel Ochoa 4 (James Murphy 1) – 87’
Misconduct Summary:
LV – Alex Mendoza (Yellow Card) – 46’
LV – Marco Jaime (Yellow Card) – 60’
LV – Marcelo Alatorre (Yellow Card) – 83’
SPR – Hadji Barry (Yellow Card) – 83’
LV – Raul Mendiola (Yellow Card) – 83’
Swope Park Rangers:
Christian Herrera; Seth Sinovic (c), Colton Storm, Dakota Barnathan, Amer Didic; Wan Kuzain, Felipe Hernandez (Roman Knox 74’), Chase Minter (Bryam Rebellon 89'); Kharlton Belmar, Diego Rubio (Hadji Barry 45’), Tyler Blackwood
