Sporting Kansas City II's second match of the 2024 Preseason presented by Central Bank saw the boys claim a 5-2 win over the KC Roos Men's Soccer Team at Swope Soccer Village. Newcomer Beto Avila bagged a first half brace while Academy product Sebastian Cruz tallied his first score of the preseason. Trialist Medgy Alexandre and 2023 leading scorer Pau Vidal found the back of the net in the second as Sporting KC II cruised over the Roos.
It took just two minutes for Cruz to get on the scorer's sheet in his first match of the preseason. Avila slotted a brilliant ball across the box from the right side, and Cruz tucked it nicely into the back of the net with ease. UMKC pulled level in the 10th, taking their chance on a one-on-one with Schewe. SKC II regained the lead in the 28th with MLS SuperDraft pick Jonathan Robinson teeing up Avila's first goal. The leftback dropped a dime to the forward as he concluded his run into the six with a one-time finish.
In the 31st, Haris Alisah entered for Jacob Swallen in a planned switch. Five minutes later, Maouloune Goumballe nearly doubled the lead, firing a shot at the near post that the keeper kept out with a fist. Avila netted his second score in the 40th with Cruz assisting on this one, after torching a defender at the top of the final third. The winger's cross was thundered past a helpless keeper from point-blank range as the signing added his second SKC II goal after being with the club for just three days.
Coming out for the second, head coach Benny Feilhaber made a shift change leaving just Ryan Schewe, Chris Rindov and Haris Alisah in the match. A minute into the final 45, trialist Medy Alexandre dispossessed a defender, dashed into the box and neatly tucked a shot inside of the far post. A wicked free kick from UMKC trimmed the lead in the 51st before a Vidal penalty kick conversion brought it back up to three.
The match slowed its pace from there with several SKC II chances kept out by the keeper and two more barely missing wide. The final whistle came with SKC II coming out on top in a clinical offensive showing. Feilhaber and the group will travel to Wichita next Saturday to take on USL Championship side FC Tulsa in the third of five preseason matches.
Sporting KC II Lineups
First Half: Ryan Schewe; Nati Clarke, Chris Rindov, Demarre Montoute, Jonathan Robinson; Jake Swallen (Haris Alisah 30'), David Serrano, Ethan Bryant; Maouloune Goumballe, Beto Avila, Sebastian Cruz
Second Half: Ryan Schewe; Kayden Pierre, Kortne Ford, Chris Rindov, Mason Visconti; Haris Alisah (Stefan Copetti 70'), Roberto Hategan, Guesly Alexandre (Felipe Alvarez 70'); Marinos Tzionis, Pau Vidal, Medgy Alexandre
