Sporting Kansas City II defender Danny Barbir was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week bench for Week 10 of the regular season after logging two impressive starts under head coach Paulo Nagamura.
A center back by trade, Barbir was deployed as a left back in consecutive road matches against OKC Energy FC on Wednesday and Memphis 901 FC on Saturday. In a narrow 1-0 loss to Energy FC, Barbir had a game-high 32 passes in the attacking half and finished with six recoveries and two interceptions. The lone goal of the match was a dubiously awarded penalty kick for the hosts on the stroke of halftime.
Barbir delivered another strong 90-minute performance in Saturday’s dramatic 3-2 away victory over Memphis, heading home the match winner off a Jake Davis corner kick in the 72nd minute. The 23-year-old former U.S. youth international also tabbed game-highs in tackles and interceptions with four apiece in addition to recording four clearances and five recoveries in an all-action defensive display.
Barbir and Sporting KC II will return to Children’s Mercy Park on Friday night to host Central Division heavyweights Louisville City FC at 7 p.m. CT. The contest will stream live on ESPN Plus.
