Recap: SKC II strikes twice in second half to win 2-0 at Rapids 2 

Sporting Kansas City II (7-6-2, 23 points) improved their road winning streak to four matches after a 2-0 win over Colorado Rapids 2 at The University of Denver Soccer Stadium on Sunday night. Cole McLagan scored his second goal of the season to give SKC II the lead and Julian Vazquez blasted his fourth to increase the lead.

First-year head coach Benny Feilhaber made a formation change, bringing on Mikey Lenis to play right wing-back and slotting Jahon Rad in the middle of the backline. McLagan and Esai Easley played on either side of Rad with Joseph Addo Tetteh playing on the left.

Curtez Kellman re-entered the starting XI, playing in the midfield alongside Collin Fernandez and Josh Coan. Vazquez and Rauf Salifu played as tandem strikers. The lone Sporting KC loanee Kendall McIntosh showed out making five saves to keep the clean sheet.

Feilhaber's high press, intense form of soccer put Colorado on the back foot right out of the gate. The pressure from SKC II's front three forced a turnover which led to a shot hit just off target. The end-to-end action kicked off as Colorado launched their first attack two minutes later. McIntosh showed his smarts, coming off the line to deter a cross from the endline allowing McLagan to come back and clear it. The ensuing corner was played out for a goalkick. McIntosh then made an easy save, catching a long-range effort with ease in the middle of the goal.

In SKC II's attacking half, Coan latched onto a ball rolled through the middle and sent it inches wide of the goal. In the 11th Colorado had one of their more promising attacks in the form of a corner, played off McIntosh's palm, off the crossbar and headed over the endline.

In the 18th minute, Tetteh sent a near-perfect ball to Vazquez on the back post. The would-be goal scorer was unable to get this one on target as his touch let him down at the final moment.

At the half-hour mark, Rapids 2 nearly pulled ahead after an SKC II miscommunication at the back. Colorado was able to get on a ball stuck between McIntosh and the backline but the SKC II keeper did well to touch the ball off the attacker, allowing the ball to be cleared. Colorado retained possession but Easley was there to block the attempt.

The centerback was called on again seconds later as he retreated back to clear a chipped attempt that was floated over McIntosh away from goal. Rad got in on the clutch defending in the 36th with a brilliant slide tackle to dispossess Colorado's Darren Yapo in the box.

Towards the end of the half, Salifu was played in over the top of the Rapids 2 backline. He settled the ball well, lined up a shot but was clattered into by Abraham Rodriguez. The keeper won the ball after initiating contact and no penalty was given after a stoppage in play by the ref. Colorado would put another attempt on target forcing McIntosh into a difficult one-handed slap save that he executed with perfection. The eventful first half came to a close without a goal.

The first dangerous-looking chance of the second fell to the hosts. McIntosh refused to be beat yet again, denying Philip Mayaka with ease. In the 55th the deadlock was broken.

After an advantage was played SKC II earned their first and only corner of the match. The ball was played to the top of the six-yard box and headed down by Easley. The ball sat on the ground for a split second before McLagan thundered it into the goal to put SKC II on top.

Salifu almost doubled the lead after a terrific counterattack. The ball was well worked up the field from the backline and spread out wide. The centering pass connected with the striker in the box but his shot took off on him, sailing over the goal.

SKC II was saved by McIntosh again in the 64th with the keeper scurrying off his line, sliding in and pawing the ball to the side of the goal. Vazquez had to wait a little bit longer to find his goal when he put a shot off a cross barely wide of the target.

In the 70th he found his fourth goal of the season after some confident dribbling from Easley. The defender took the ball from the SKC II box up towards midfield. He sprayed the ball to Vazquez and let the winger take over. SKC II's second-leading scorer scored the second goal of the match by cutting inwards and firing his shot past a helpless Rodriguez.

Feilhaber looked to his bench to close out the match, bringing on Spencer Glass and Cade Thomson for Tetteh and Kellman. McIntosh made his fifth and final save of the night in the 83 to keep his clean sheet, and moments later Nati Clarke came on in his professional debut. The Sporting KC Academy product came on to help close out the match in the 85th minute. Coby Jones also entered for Vazquez. Paul Atta Agyei entered for Rauf Salfiu in stoppage time and SKC II held on to the 2-0 win.

SKC II continues to impress away from home, winning four straight matches on the road. McLagan's game-winner gives him two game-winning goals on the season as SKC II looks to build on their success.

The two-match road stip for SKC II will come to a close on Saturday, July 16 when SKC II visits Real Monarchs with kickoff set for 8 p.m. CT. The match can be streamed for free on MLSNEXTPRO.com.

2022 MLS NEXT Pro | Match 15
University of Denver Soccer Stadium | Denver, CO
Weather: 79 degrees and cloudy

Sporting Kansas City II: Kendall McIntosh; Mikey Lenis (Nati Clarke 90+3'), Cole McLagan, Jahon Rad, Esai Easley, Joseph Addo Tetteh (Spencer Glass 76'); Curtez Kellman (Cade Thomson 76'), Collin Fernandez, Josh Coan; Julian Vazquez (Coby Jones 86'), Rauf Salifu (Paul Atta Agyei 90+2')

Subs Not Used: Ethan Bandre, Edgar Bazan, TJ Fatah, Draven Barnett

Colorado Rapids 2: Abraham Rodriguez; Omar Gomez, Daniel Garcia, Blake Malone, Steve Flores; Daouda Amadou, Connor Miller, Yosuke Hanya, Philip Mayaka (Malcovio Swett 86'), Dantouma Toure (Jack Sullivan 61'); Darren Yapi (Cain Castellon 61')
Subs Not Used: Isaac Nehme, Josh Hardin

Scoring Summary:
SKC - Cole McLagan 2 (unassisted) 52'
SKC - Julian Vazquez 4 (Esai Easley 1) 70'

Misconduct Summary:
SKC - Curtez Kellman (unsporting conduct; yellow card) 17'
SKC - Julian Vazquez (dissent; yellow card) 31'
COL - Steve Flores (unsporting conduct; yellow card) 38'
SKC - Cole McLagan. (unsporting conduct; yellow card) 38'
COL - Philip Mayaka (unsporting conduct; yellow card) 40'
COL - Daouda Amadou (unsporting conduct; yellow card) 52'
COL - Daniel Garcia (unsporting conduct; yellow card) 59'
SKC - Esai Easley (time wasting; yellow card) 62'
SKC - Collin Fernandez (dissent; yellow card) 86'
COL - Maclovio Swett (unsporting conduct; yellow card) 87'
SKC - Kendall McIntosh (time wasting; yellow card) 90+4'

Referee: Patricia McCracken
Assistant Referee: Jeremy Davis
Assistant Referee: Eric Wood
Fourth Official: Adam Rice