Sporting Kansas City (0-0-1, 1 point) opened its inaugural MLS NEXT Pro campaign with a shootout loss on the road at Colorado Rapids 2 (0-0-1, 2 points) Sunday night at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium.
Tj Fatah scored the first MLS NEXT Pro goal for SKC II in the 79th minute erasing Yosuke Hanya's 61st minute goal. Sporting KC first-team loanee John Pulskamp played a strong game between the posts making five first half saves and keeping SKC II in the match.
Colorado looked to get out to a quick start, winning their first of eight corners in the second minute. Former SKC II player Dillon Serna went right at current SKC II defender Aljaz Dzankic, but the defender had his number multiple times tonight, winning the challenge. Spencer Glass, in his professional debut for SKC II, cleared the first corner with a header and then got on the ball after the wall blocked a Rapids 2 set piece.
On the other side of the pitch, striker Rauf Salifu put the Rapids backline under fire, forced a turnover and got the ball to Bakary Bagayoko. The winger had to rush his shot, thanks to a panicked Rapids backline and sent it skyward just over the bar in the sixth minute. It would not be long before SKC II made another advancement at Julian Vazquez ripped a cross towards the path of Salifu that was headed clear at the last moment by the Rapids.
Dzankic stepped up in a big way again, clearing a turf burner cross from an off-balance position. The center back had his name called again, putting his body on the line to block a shot from point-blank range. Pulskamp was then called into duty when he made a spectacular save by sprawling out to his left to deny a shot, and then scurrying to his feet to make a double save a second later.
Not too short thereafter, Glass sent a ball into the box that wound up testing Abraham Rodriguez, but the Colorado keeper was up to task, catching the ball with two hands. Five minutes later, Salifu put the pressure on the Rapids backline again. This time they kept their composure better and cleared the ball downfield.
The Rapids ended the first half with a few chances but none too threatening. Pulskamp made a trio of saves on shots right at him and we went into the break goalless.
On the other side of halftime, first-year head coach Benny Feilhaber made his first changes, bringing on 2022 MLS SuperDraft first-round pick Esai Easley, and Sporting KC Academy product Mataeo Bunbury. Bunbury got involved immediately firing a shot towards goal but just over the upper right corner.
Josh Coan made his SKC II debut and Matthew Fisher made his professional debut in the 57th minute. Hanya scored his goal a little under 5 minutes later, whipping the ball into the lower corner of the goal. Pulskamp and Darren Yapi get shown yellow cards after a brief dust-up in the goal following the goal.
Neither side had a clear-cut chance until Dzankic redirected a corner kick in the direction of the goal but just off to the left. Fattah came on for his first SKC II appearance moments later. The sub blasted the ball into the back of the net following a Julian Vazquez ball from the sideline.
Nothing was working for either team until stoppage time when Easley was whistled for a handball just outside the box, giving Colorado a set-piece in a dangerous area at the death. Vladimir Walent skied the set-piece well off frame setting the stage for penalties.
Rodriguez saved the first two SKC II penalties while Colorado was able to convert all four of theirs from the spot. Sporting KC II still takes a point away from the season opener, but Rapids 2 collects two points.
SKC II's next match will be against Minnesota United FC 2 at Allianz Field on Sunday, April 3.
2022 MLS NEXT Pro | Match 1
University of Denver Soccer Stadium | Denver, Colorado
Weather: Partly Cloudy and 58 degrees
Score |
1 |
2 |
F |
PK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sporting Kansas City II |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
Colorado Rapids 2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
Sporting Kansas City II: Jon Pulskamp; Cole McLagan (Matthew Fisher 57'), Aljaz Dzankic, Jahon Rad, Spencer Glass; Jayvin Van Deventer (Easi Easley 46'), Collin Fernandez, Nico Pendleton (Tj Fatah 70'); Julian Vazquez, Rauf Salifu (Josh Coan 57'), Bakary Bagayoko (Mataeo Bunbury 46')
Subs Not Used: Ethan Bandre, Joseph Adda Tetteh, Cade Thomson, Dembakwi Yomba
Colorado Rapids 2: Abraham Rodriguez; Omar Gomez, Michael Edwards, Anthony Markanich; Sebastian Anderson, Philip Mayaka (Connor Miller 81'), Robinson Aguirre, Dillon Serna; Yosuke Hanya (Vladimir Walent 87'), Darren Yapi, Dantouma Toure (Nicholas Legendre 81')
Subs Not Used: Issac Nehme, Steve Flores, Daniel Garcia, Maclovio Swett, Andre Torres, Jackson Travis
Scoring Summary:
COL -- Yosuke Hanya 1 (Dantouma Toure 1) 61'
SKC -- Tj Fatah 1 (Julian Vazquez 1) 79'
Penalty Kick Summary:
SKC -- Spencer Glass (saved)
COL -- Sebastian Anderson (goal)
SKC -- Josh Coan (saved)
COL -- Dillon Serna (goal)
SKC -- Collin Fernandez (goal)
COL -- Anthony Markanich (goal)
SKC -- Easai Easley (goal)
COL-- Darren Yapi (goal)
Misconduct Summary:
COL -- Philip Mayaka (yellow card; unsporting behavior) 14'
SKC -- John Pulskamp (yellow card; dissent) 62'
COL -- Darren Yapi (yellow card; dissent) 62'
SKC -- Mataeo Bunbury (yellow card; unsporting behavior) 76'
SKC -- Matthew Fisher (yellow card; unsporting behavior) 81'
COL -- Nicholas Legendre (yellow card; dissent) 89'
Stat |
SKC |
COL |
|---|---|---|
Shots |
5 |
15 |
Shots on Goal |
1 |
6 |
Saves |
5 |
0 |
Fouls |
14 |
10 |
Offsides |
3 |
3 |
Corner Kicks |
8 |
2 |
Referee: Adam Rice
Assistant Referee: Charles Rupert
Assistant Referee: Marcelo Soto
Fourth Official: Joshua Belzer
