Sporting Kansas City II (1-1-1, 5 points) defeated Los Angeles Football Club 2 (0-2-1, 1 point) in a thrilling first meeting at Rock Chalk Park, Sunday night in MLS NEXT Pro regular season play. Red-hot Pau Vidal scored in his second straight match early on, Ozzie Cisneros netted his first goal of 2023 and the Sporting KC II backline spearheaded by Kendall McIntosh held on late to give SKC II their first three-point win of 2023.
A first-team heavy starting XI featured a season-high six Sporting Kansas City loanees. McIntosh, the goaltender was helped out in the defensive third by a back four of Lucas Rosa, Jahon Rad, Chris Rindov and Cam Duke. The midfield, consisting of a trio of loanees, included Cisneros, Jake Davis and Danny Flores. The front three was comprised of Vidal, Sebastian Cruz and Andrew Draper.
Head coach Benny Feilhaber and the entire SKC II team came out looking to jump out in front of the new kids on the block in LAFC 2. That strategy yielded a goal just six minutes into the contest thanks to a dime ball from Rosa along the right sideline. Vidal easily got on the end of the skipping cross in the six-yard box and calmly tapped it into the empty goal with his left.
The visitors grew into the match despite the one-goal hole and began to launch a plethora of advancements into the attacking third. All of these trips proved fruitless as the defense and McIntosh kept them blanked throughout the first half.
The match remained mostly clean however Duke was brandished a yellow in the 30th for a tactical pull of the jersey near midfield. Julian Gaines was then given a yellow after tossing the ball away out of frustration following a call going against him.
The Black and Gold second team had their first shot on target denied by McIntosh on a Favian Vazquez one-v-one with the keeper in the 37th minute. Just four minutes later, LAFC 2 tested the first-team keeper again. McIntosh was up to the task, blocking an effort from the left side of the area.
A Vidal yellow card in the 41st proved to be the final action of the first as SKC II took their one-goal advantage into the locker room.
A little over 10 minutes into the second, Feilhaber went to his bench bringing on Amadou Traore and Enzo Mauriz for Draper and Flores. Mauriz would go on to impact the match in the 70th following a foul on Vidal in a dangerous area.
Mauriz, a Sporting KC Academy product played a delicious set-piece ball into the six-yard box that slipped past the keepers punching arms and was deflected up to a waiting Cisneros at the top of the area. The midfielder lined up his shot and wrapped his foot around the ball, dipping it over the traffic and into the back of the net to give SKC II a two-goal lead.
This would prove to be a pivotal moment in the match after LAFC 2 pulled a goal back in the 74th. Substitute Ladji Malle snagged his first goal of the campaign off a Gaines assist. Two more subs entered for SKC II following the goal. Ethan Bryant and Bakaray Bagayoko replaced both goal scorers as the club prepared to defend the lead for the final 15 minutes plus stoppage time.
Vazquez was given the third and final yellow card of the contest for dragging down Traore and both teams repelled attacks that never seemed too threatening.
Former SKC Academy player and Jordan U-23 national team member Mo Abualnadi made his return to SKC II in the 93+ minute replacing Rosa. LAFC 2 could not generate another shot on target and SKC II nearly added a third in the final moments. Bryant pulled up from 40 yards in an effort to ice the match with an empty netter after LAFC 2's keeper came up for a corner kick. His chance drifted just off target but the ref blew his whistle signaling the end of the match.
SKC II picked up back-to-back results in this two-match home stand at Rock Chalk Park and will now hit the road for two straight. First up is a Western Conference clash with Real Monarch on Friday, April 14. The match begins at 9 p.m. CT and will be streamed on MLS Season Pass. SKC II will return to Rock Chalk Park following the Monarchs match and a trip to face FC Cincinnati 2 on April 23. Tickets are on sale at SeatGeek.com and fans can get all team updates by following SKC II on Twitter at @SportingKCII.
2023 MLS NEXT Pro | Match 3
Rock Chalk Park | Lawrence, KS
Weather: 72 degrees and sunny
Score | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
Sporting KC II | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Los Angeles Football Club 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Sporting Kansas City II: Kenall McIntosh; Lucas Rosa (Mo Abualnadi 90+4'), Jahon Rad, Chris Rindov, Cam Duke; Jake Davis, Ozzie Cisneros (Ethan Bryant 75'), Danny Flores (Enzo Mauriz 55'); Sebastian Cruz, Pau Vidal (Bakary Bagayoko 75'), Andrew Draper (Amadou Traore 55')
Subs Not Used: Etham Bandre, Nati Clarke, Josh Coan, Aljaz Dzankic
Los Angeles Football Club 2: Jassem Koleilat; Julian Gaines, Diego Rosales, Noah Dollenmayer (Jeremi Rodriguez 70'), Javen Romero; Ryan Ayoub, Bryan Moyado, Christopher Jamie; Favian Vazquez (Alixson Soukup 86'), Dustin Aguirre Ladji Malle 64'), Yekeson Subah (Armando Avila 86')
Subs Not Used: Giancarlo Sagredo
Scoring Summary:
SKC – Pau Vidal 2 (Lucas Rosa 1) 6'
SKC – Ozzie Cisneros 1 (unassisted) 70'
LAFC – Ladji Malle 1 (Julian Gaines 1) 74'
Misconduct Summary:
SKC – Pau Vidal (yellow card; reckless offense)
LAFC – Noah Dollenmayer (yellow card; tactical foul)
LAFC – Favian Vazquez (yellow card; tactical foul)
Stat | SKC | LAFC |
|---|---|---|
Shots | 9 | 12 |
Shots on Goal | 4 | 4 |
Saves | 3 | 1 |
Fouls | 13 | 8 |
Offsides | 3 | 0 |
Corner Kicks | 6 | 10 |
Referee: Velimir Stefanovic
Assistant Referee: Jay Norris
Assistant Referee: Emily Gomez
Fourth Official: Drew Kemp
