Sporting Kansas City II (3-9-5, 14 points) suffered a frustrating 2-1 defeat to Memphis 901 FC (5-4-4, 19 points) at Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday afternoon. Despite dominating much of proceedings and outshooting their visitors 24-9, Sporting II were pegged back following goals from Kyle Murphy and Michael Salazar, while Wilson Harris scored his first goal of the season for SKC II.
Six Sporting KC first team players were named to the starting lineup to log some valuable minutes in goalkeeper John Pulskamp, defenders Jaylin Lindsey, Kaveh Rad and Roberto Puncec, midfielder Ozzie Cisneros and forward Harris.
Sporting II started the match at an incredible pace, going close within the first 10 minutes through Enoch Mushagalusa and Harris who struck wide and saw an effort saved, respectively.
Memphis took the lead against the run of play in the 12th minute when Kyle Murphy spun away from his marker on the left wing and dribbled in on goal before prodding a low effort into the corner to give the visitors an early lead.
Within the eight minutes following the goal, Harris saw a close-range effort charged down and headed over from Jamil Roberts’ cross, while Mushagalusa fired narrowly wide of either post from inside the area as the chances piled up.
Sporting II got their just rewards for their dominant first-half display when Mushagalusa was chopped down just inside the penalty area by Kadeem Dacres and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Wilson Harris stepped up and fired down the middle for his first goal of the 2021 USL Championship season.
Mushagalusa almost gave his side the lead in the 40th minute as he cut past his man on the left side of the area and forced Kyle Morton into a low save, before Duke volleyed over from 10 yards after being found by an excellent cross from Harris.
Memphis retook the lead shortly after the halftime interval as Michael Salazar met former SKC II right back Mark Segbers’ cross at the far post and nodded into the back of the net, making the score 2-1.
Pulskamp came up big in the moments that followed to first deny Murphy then Salazar who are poised to add to the Memphis lead. SKC II responded as substitute Rojay Smith curled a shot narrowly wide when well positioned in the 66th minute.
Sporting II’s 20-year-old goalkeeper Pulskamp produced more heroics in the 71st minute as Murphy again got in behind the defense but the gloveman was able to smother the danger. Four minutes later, Rojay Smith dribbled past two Memphis defenders before firing a low shot that was blocked by the leg of Morton. Just seconds later, Pulskamp again stood tall to deny Murphy a second goal as he tried to round the SKC II goalkeeper.
In the 79th minute, Duke was brought down on the edge of the area leading to a free kick opportunity. Substitute Petar Cuic slammed a low effort toward goal that was blocked into the path of Jahon Rad whose first-time strike was tipped over the bar by Morton.
Pulskamp was a busy man in the second half as Sporting II searched for an equalizer and produced his fourth one-on-one stop in the 85th minute as Laurent Kissiedou was unable to beat the SKC II goalkeeper before Memphis saw out the remainder of the game.
Sporting II hits the road next weekend as the side travels to take on Louisville City FC at Lynn Family Stadium in Kentucky on Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
2021 USL Championship | Match 17
Children's Mercy Park | Kansas City, Kansas
Weather: 83 degrees and mostly sunny
Score |
1 |
2 |
F |
|---|---|---|---|
Sporting Kansas City II (3-9-5, 14 points) |
1 |
0 |
1 |
Memphis 901 FC (5-4-4, 19 points) |
1 |
1 |
2 |
Sporting Kansas City II: John Pulskamp; Jaylin Lindsey (Kayden Pierre 59’), Kaveh Rad, Roberto Puncec (Aljaz Dzankic 46’), Isaiah LeFlore (Coby Jones 77’); Jahon Rad, Christian Duke (C), Ozzie Cisneros (Petar Cuic 77’); Jamil Roberts, Wilson Harris (Rojay Smith 59’), Enoch Mushagalusa
Subs Not Used: Remi Prieur, Graham Smith
Memphis 901 FC: Kyle Morton; Andre Reynolds (Raul Gonzalez 72’ (Brecc Evans 83’)), Zach Carroll, Niall Logue; Mark Segbers, Andre Fortune (Francis Atuahene 61’), Laurent Kissiedou, Leston Paul (C); Kadeem Dacres, Kyle Murphy (Skylar Thomas 83’), Michael Salazar (Dominic Oduro 72’)
Subs Not Used: Brady Scott, Rashawn Dally
Scoring Summary:
MEM – Kyle Murphy 7 (Andre Reynolds 2) 12’
SKC – Wilson Harris 1 (Penalty Kick) 25’
MEM – Michael Salazar 3 (Mark Segbers 2) 48’
Misconduct Summary:
SKC – Wilson Harris (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 47+
SKC – Jahon Rad (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 92+
Stat |
SKC |
MEM |
|---|---|---|
Shots |
24 |
9 |
Shots on Goal |
5 |
6 |
Saves |
4 |
4 |
Fouls |
8 |
15 |
Offsides |
2 |
2 |
Corner Kicks |
9 |
4 |
Referee: Matthew Corrigan
Assistant Referee: Matthew Seem
Assistant Referee: Shane Kennard
Fourth Official: Drew Klemp
