Sporting Kansas City II (0-1-1, 2 points) outlasted Austin FC II (1-0-1, 4 points) in kicks from the spot to secure an extra point in a 1-1 draw at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence, KS. Second half substitutes Pau Vidal and Andrew Draper combined to score the contest's first goal before an ATX II leveler a moment later. Goalkeeper Ethan Bandre made a pair of clutch saves in the match and followed that up with a superb save in the shootout.
Head coach Benny Feilhaber received a shot in the arm from a quartet of first-team loanees with Ozzie Cisneros, Jake Davis and Cam Duke all returning to SKC II for their first appearance of 2023. Defender Chris Rendov made his professional debut and played the full 90-minute match at center back, heading one shot from close range just off target.
Bandre was the lone 2023 SKC II debutant in the starting XI with Lucas Rosa, Nassim Mekideche, Josh Coan, Sebastian Cruz, Bakary Bagayoko and Amadou Traore all starting their second consecutive match.
A slow start to the match quickly turned into an all-out sprint. The first real chance went to the visitors on a Valentin Noel shot from up close. Rosa threw his body on the line, diving in in the way and blocking it over the goal. Noel would be held at bay for the entirety of the contest after scoring a brace against Dynamo Dos in the opening week.
SKC II's first attack came off the foot of Coan after he received a pass from Cisneros in a dangerous area inside the 18. The midfielder rolled a shot on target that was smothered by a diving Damian Las. In a similar-looking attack down the right side, Rosa found Bagayoko in the area where the forward sent a header over the crossbar.
In the 32nd, SKC II's best-looking attack of the first came from the left side. Rosa latched onto an aerial pass and whipped a volley barely over the top of the goal. Coan and Mekideche looked to recapture a similar connection to the one they found in Colorado on a free kick but the defender's effort was saved by Las.
Halftime came without a goal separating either side. Austin made the first substitute bringing on Steeve Louis Jean for Jonathan Santillan but it was the Kansas City swaps that would make the difference in the match. Bagayoko and Rindov both saw headers sail off target before Draper and Vidal entered for Bagayoko and Traore in the 62nd. A minute later Alonso Ramirez got onto a loose ball in the area but somehow popped it over the goal.
The breakthrough came for the hosts in the 67th minute following an exceptional save from Bandre. Draper took the ball from the defensive third all the way to the top of ATX II's box. He laid the ball off to Vidal who ripped a shot past Las for his first goal in an SKC II uniform.
Ethan Bryant entered for Coan immediately following the goal before Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez netted the equalizer in the 72nd minute. Davis and Cisneros made way for Danny Flores and Yeison Mejia in the 85th and the latter nearly teed up an assist for Vidal who blasted a shot high.
The remainder of the match including stoppage time yielded one chance for either side. Duke made a terrific defensive stop on that one chance, heading the ball away from danger on the goal line. With the match deadlocked at one, a shootout would decide who would take home the extra point.
Austin went first and sank their kick with a chipped effort. Vidal followed that up with a clinical placement of the ball in the lower right corner. Bandre gave SKC II a boost with a massive save before Draper calmly finished his kick. The third kick taker for ATX II missed wide left and Rosa pinged a kick bar down and in. The final kick for Austin was converted but it was a moot point thanks to Flores' make.
SKC II earned their first two points of the MLS NEXT Pro season with today's draw. The group will return to Rock Chalk Park on Sunday, April 9 to face Los Angeles Football Club 2. Another newcomer to MLS NEXT Pro, LAFC2 plays against WFC2 on matchday two and suffered a defeat to North Texas SC in their inaugural match. Tickets are on sale for next Sunday and all SKC II matches at SeatGeek.com for just $10.
2023 MLS NEXT Pro | Match 2
Rock Chalk Park | Lawrence, KS
Weather: 78 degrees and sunny
Score | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
Sporting KC II | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Austin FC II | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Sporting Kansas City II: Ethan Bandre; Lucas Rosa, Chis Rindov, Nassim Mekideche (Jahon Rad 90+6'), Cam Duke; Jake Davis (Yeison Mejia 85'), Josh Coan (Ethan Bryant 68'), Ozzie Cisneros (Danny Flores 85'); Sebastian Cruz, Bakary Bagayoko (Pau Vidal 62'), Amadou Traore (Andrew Draper 62')
Subs Not Used: Matthew Hudson, Mo Abualnadi, Enzo Mauriz
Austin FC II: Damian Las; Joe Hafferty, Kipp Keller, Salvatore Mazzaferro, Charlie Asensio (Cheick Toure 77'); Jackson Walti (Alonso Ramirez 58'), Valentin Noel (Bryan Arellano 90+3'), David Rodriguez, Micah Burton (CJ Fodrey 58'), Jonathan Santillan (Steeve Louis Jean 46'); Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez (Sebastian Pineau 73')
Subs Not Used: Eric Lopez, Eric Lopez, Christopher Pinkham
Scoring Summary:
SKC – Pau Vidal 1 (Andrew Draper 1) 68'
ATX – Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez 1 (Valentin Noel 1) 72'
Misconduct Summary:
ATX – Joe Hafferty (yellow card; tactical foul)ATX – Micah Burton (yellow card; tactical foul)
ATX – Jackson Walti (yellow card; reckless offense)
SKC – Sebastian Cruz (yellow card; reckless offense)
Shootout Summary:
ATX – Alonso Ramirez (converted)
SKC – Pau Vidal (converted)ATX – CJ Fodrey (saved)
SKC – Andrew Draper (converted)ATX – Steeve Louis Jean (missed)
SKC – Lucas Rosa (converted)ATX – Bryan Arellano (converted)
SKC – Danny Flores (converted)
Stat | SKC | ATX |
|---|---|---|
Shots | 17 | 9 |
Shots on Goal | 4 | 3 |
Saves | 2 | 5 |
Fouls | 11 | 15 |
Offsides | 0 | 2 |
Corner Kicks | 4 | 6 |
Referee: Gabriele Giusti
Assistant Referee: Matthew Seem
Assistant Referee: Aj Franklin
Fourth Official: Will Franklin
