The Swope Park Rangers (13-9-7, 6th place) earned their fourth straight win and third straight home win tonight at Children’s Mercy Park, defeating Fresno FC (8-10-11, 11th place) by a 1-0 scoreline. Hadji Barry scored the lone goal for the Rangers, making it a five-game scoring streak for the 25-year-old.
In the eighth minute, Sporting KC loanee Colton Storm would take a shot on the Fresno goal, but a Fresno defender would be there to make the block. Barry would then score the game's only goal, taking the ball from a Fresno defender and beating goalkeeper Kyle Reynish to give SPR the 1-0 lead in the 14th minute.
Sporting KC loanee, and captain on the night, Adrian Zendejas would make a spectacular full-extension save off a close range shot from Danny Barrera in the 17th minute.
In the 35th minute, Reynish would come way out of the box to break up a play by Sporting KC loanee and homegrown player Gianluca Busio. The ref would show the goalkeeper a yellow card for a handball and Busio would send the ensuing set piece to Sporting KC loanee Amer Didic, but Didic’s header would go to the right of the goal.
Sporting KC loanee Khiry Shelton would take a shot from outside the box in the 38th minute, but Reynish would make the save. Zendejas would make another spectacular save in the 50th minute from a Juan Pablo Caffa attempt.
Tyler Blackwood would send a cross to Barry in front of the box, but a Fresno defender would be there to break up the play in the 62nd minute. In the 71st minute, Fresno’s Don Smart would send a right-footed shot toward the goal, but it would skim the crossbar and go over.
Second-half substitute Rassambek Akhmatov would send a ball to Barry in front of the goal, but Barry’s touch would go sailing over the goal and the Rangers would end the evening with a 1-0 victory over Fresno FC.
SPR remains home for their next two matches. Their next match will be on Saturday, September 15 at 4:00 p.m. CT when they face Saint Louis FC (11-8-9, 9th place) at Children’s Mercy Park.
Memorable Moment
Hadji Barry has scored in his last five starts and now has 13 goals on the season. Thirteen goals scored in a single season is a new career record for the forward. The 25-year-old is now one goal shy of the SPR’s single-season goals scored record, currently held by Kharlton Belmar with 14 goals in 2017.
Khiry Shelton returns for his first start after suffering a knee injury in July. The Sporting KC loanee played 61 minutes after being subbed on last night in the 93rd minute of the Sporting KC match. Shelton had one shot on goal and a passing accuracy of 76.9 percent.
Swope Park Rangers vs Fresno FC
September 9, 2018 – Children’s Mercy Park
Swope Park Rangers 1, Fresno FC 0
Scoring Summary:
SPR – Hadji Barry 13 (unassisted) – 14’
Misconduct Summary:
SPR – Justin Bilyeu (Yellow Card) – 29’
FRS – Kyle Reynish (Yellow Card) – 35’
FRS – Alex Cooper (Yellow Card) – 53’
FRS – Zachary Ellis-Hayden (Yellow Card) – 60’
SPR – Hadji Barry (Yellow Card) – 66’
FRS – Juan Pablo Caffa (Yellow Card) – 90’+1’
FRS – Michael Daly (Yellow Card) – 90’+3’
Swope Park Rangers: Adrian Zendejas; Colton Storm, Graham Smith, Amer Didic, Justin Bilyeu; Wan Kuzain, Gianluca Busio (Ethan Vanacore-Decker 86’), Felipe Hernandez (Rassambek Akhmatov 71’); Tyler Blackwood, Khiry Shelton (Bryam Rebellon 61’), Hadji Barry
