Swope Park Rangers forward Nansel Selbol stole the headlines in Sporting Kansas City’s CONCACAF Champions League finale last night, scoring the winning goal in the 3-1 victory. Selbol’s strong performance was mirrored by fellow SPR teammates Tomas Granitto and Alex Molano, who also earned their Sporting KC debuts in the win.
“With the Rangers, we have been playing well, so we feel prepared for these kinds of games and luckily that's how it worked,” Granitto said after the game.
All three players showed flashes of quality in the opening period, but Sporting KC went into the halftime interval down 1-0 after Jem Gordon’s 43rd-minute goal.
“(We needed to) just keep doing what we were doing, keep going at them,” Molano said. “We were creating a lot of chances, we knew we were going to get a goal and that’s what we did right away.”
The goal came courtesy of Cameron Porter, who scored his first goal for the club after latching onto a lofted ball over the top from Granitto.
“I saw all their defenders going to one side and we talked about Cam making a run down the middle and luckily it worked out,” Granitto said. “We had talked about it before. I said, when you have a chance to make a run down the middle, make it and I'll give you the ball and luckily it was a goal.”
With the game tied at 1-1, Selbol seized his moment in the spotlight. The Nigerian winger received a pass from Connor Hallisey on the edge of the area, cut inside his man and found the bottom corner, giving Sporting KC the lead for good.
“I feel very happy about the game. I thank [Manager Peter Vermes] for giving me the opportunity to play today,” the 19-year-old said. “I was very happy to score the goal because I am playing for the first team and it’s a big opportunity and a chance for me.”
Selbol was at the heart of seemingly every Sporting KC attack for the remainder of the game, and was inches away from adding to his goal tally but twice hit the woodwork – including a low strike that had goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams rooted to the spot.
“I thought that was in,” Selbol admitted. “The goalkeeper didn’t even see it and the defender didn’t know I was going to play it. Already, I was trying to turn and celebrate, but unfortunately it didn’t happen like that.”
Molano was pleased to see his fellow Rangers etch their names onto the box score.
“It was really good to see my teammates from the Rangers do well today, Tomas had an assist, Nansel had a goal – it was really fun.”
For the SPR trio, the focus now shifts to Sunday’s USL Cup Final against New York Red Bulls II. Granitto and Molano are each set to be involved, though Selbol is suspended after being shown a red card late in the Western Conference Final last Saturday.
“I want to play Sunday, but because of the card I can’t play right now. I know my team will do well and win the Cup,” Selbol said.
“The team played well, we played well and this gives us the confidence to play Sunday in the Final in New York,” Granitto added.
