Sporting KC II (4-4-2, 14 points) will host MNUFC2 (4-2-3, 18 points) in a Frontier Division duel at Rock Chalk Park on Saturday, June 4 in MLS NEXT Pro regular season play. The competition will kick off at 7 p.m. CT with tickets available for purchase online at Seatgeek.com a live stream on MLSNEXTPro.com.
After taking away a point in a 1-1 draw at home against Whitecaps FC 2, head coach Benny Feilhaber has now earned a result in four consecutive matches. WFC2 claimed the extra point in kicks from the spot, converting all five of their attempts to SKC II's four conversions.
Feilhaber made a handful of changes to the starting XI, starting first team loanee Kendall McIntosh in goal, Curtez Kellman in the midfield, Guy Michaeli up top and reinserting Julian Vazquez back into the XI after a brief spell with Sporting KC.
Saturday presents the second-ever meeting between SKC II and MNUFC2. In the first meeting back on April 3, Sporting KC II got the better of Minnesota at Allianz Field 2-0 with goals from Collin Fernandez and Mataeo Bunbury in the MLS NEXT Pro Game of the Week for Week two.
Since that match, Fernandez has added another goal and three assists while Bunbury paces SKC II with four goals to his name. Their offensive firepower has been bolstered by Vazquez's two goals and three assists, Cade Thomson's two assists and five other goal scorers.
First-team loanee Jake Davis picked up his first goal of the season in the 82nd minute of last Sunday's match, leveling the contest and forcing kicks from the spot.
In the defensive third, Sporting KC II is highlighted by Jahon Rad who has started every match this season. The number of centerback partners playing alongside him has varied from time to time as coach Felhaber and Ike Opara run a five-back system every now and then. Rookies Spencer Glass and Esai Easley have played on either side of Rad with Cole McLagan also joining in on the action.
The outside back positions have been occupied by a pair of Sporting KC Academy Products on their first professional contracts. Coby Jones and Mikey Lenis have each started on the outside of the backline in the previous two matches. Lenis scored his first professional goal against WFC 2 on April 24.
MNUFC 2 has found their stride after losing 2-0 to SKC II at home. They have picked up seven straight results, and currently occupy the fourth and final playoff spot in the west. Led by first-team loanee Aziel Jackson (five goals, three assists), MNUFC2 is one of the hottest teams in MLS NEXT Pro. It is not just a one-horse show in Minnesota as four other MNUFC 2 players have multiple goals this season.
Saturday night, the Nicest Rivalry in Sports comes to MLS NEXT Pro, and Lawrence Kansas. SKC II and MNufc 2 will kick off at 7 p.m. CT with a live stream on MLSNEXTPro.com as two teams on fire look to quell the other side's momentum.
Match Information
MLS NEXT Pro: Match 11
Date: Saturday, June 4
Kickoff: 7 p.m. CT
Location: Rock Chalk Park (Lawrence, Kansas)
Live Stream: mlsnextpro.com
Sporting Kansas City II: 4-4-1, 14 points
MNUFC 2: 4-2-3, 18 points
SOCIAL TAGS:
Match-specific hashtag: #SKCvMIN
Twitter: @SportingKCII
Instagram: @SportingKCII
