The Swope Park Rangers (9-4-4, 31 points) would defeat Seattle Sounders FC 2 (3-10-2, 11 points) at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, Wash., on Thursday night. The Rangers played down a man for 60 plus minutes, but goals from Hadji Barry and Felipe Hernandez would land the Rangers all three points and propel them to third in the West.
The Rangers started on the front foot as Barry directed a header wide of the target on a service from Chase Minter in the seventh minute. The duo would create a few quick chances inside the box moments later, all resulting in blocks by the S2 defense in the eighth minute.
Sporting KC Academy product Felipe Hernandez then received the ball from captain Parker Maher and the 20-year-old struck a dipping half volley into the left corner of the net from outside the box in the 10th minute to put the Rangers ahead 1-0.
In the 21stminute, the Rangers were reduced to 10 men when Matheus Silva was shown a red card by referee Joseph Dickerson following a tackle that injured Francisco Narbón.
Seattle had a close chance in the 38th minute, but Jesse Daley was caught offside. In the 41st minute, Dakota Barnathan sent a great ball down field to Sporting KC Academy product Wilson Harris, but the flag was raised on Harris.
Eight minutes of stoppage time was added in the first half. Hernandez had a great attempt from 35 yards out, but would miss to the left of the goal in the fourth minute of added time. In the seventh minute of added time, Seattle’s David Estrada would head a ball just over the crossbar.
In the 48th minute, Estrada would backheel the ball into the net, but would be called offside and the goal would not count as the Rangers maintained their 1-0 lead.
In the 59th minute, Barry was fouled inside the box and awarded a PK, however S2 goalkeeper Calle Brown would come up with a diving save. Barry would get a second chance in the 65thminute after Hernandez was fouled inside the penalty area. Barry would convert the PK and extend the Rangers lead to 2-0 with his sixth goal of the season..
Barry would have a great run in the 66th minute, but his precision would be interrupted by a Seattle defender and the ball would skip over the crossbar. In the 80th minute, Tyler Blackwood would get a head on the ball, but it would sail over the crossbar. Shandon Hopeau of Seattle would have rocket of a shot from the center of the box, but would miss to the left of the goal.
The Rangers return home to Children’s Mercy Park on Tuesday, July 10 at 7:30 p.m. CT to face Sacramento Republic FC (8-5-5, 29 points) for their second game of five games in 18 days. Tickets are available online at SeatGeek.com or at the stadium box office on matchday.
Swope Park Rangers vs Seattle Sounders FC 2
July 5, 2018 – Cheney Stadium
Swope Park Rangers 2, Seattle Sounders FC 2 0
Scoring Summary:
SPR – Felipe Hernandez 1 (Parker Maher 1) – 10’
SPR – Hadji Barry 6 (penalty kick) – 65’
Misconduct Summary:
SPR – Matheus Silva (Red Card) – 21’
SPR – Colton Storm (Yellow Card) – 33’
SPR – Matt Lewis (Yellow Card) – 53’
SEA – Ray Saari (Yellow Card) – 64’
SPR – Eric Dick (Yellow Card) – 90’+1’
Swope Park Rangers:
Eric Dick; Colton Storm, Dakota Barnathan, Parker Maher ©, Matt Lewis; Felipe Hernandez, Matheus Silva, Chase Minter (Will Little 82'); Wilson Harris (Roman Knox 45’), Hadji Barry (Sean Karani 90’), Tyler Blackwood
