June 4, 2022 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) – Sporting Kansas City II News Release
Sporting KC II (4-5-2, 14 points) suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to MNUFC 2 (5-2-3, 21 points) in an MLS NEXT Pro regular season showdown at Rock Chalk Park on Saturday night.
Forward Rauf Salifu netted his first MLS NEXT Pro goal of the season on a second half, stoppage-time penalty to pull SKC II within one but the deficit could not be overcome. Minnesota put two goals in the back of the net within four minutes of each other in the 74th and 78th minute.
Head coach Benny Feilhaber switched up the starting XI, starting Sporting KC loanees Kayden Pierre, Kaveh Rad and Jake Davis alongside Spencer Glass. The rest of the starters remained the same from SKC II’s 1-1 draw with Whitecaps FC II a week prior.
The Loons’ second team came out firing right out the gate. Eventual goal scorer Diego Pacheco fired a shot off Jahon Rad onto the top of the goal. MNUFC 2 followed that up with a dangerous-looking corner that was headed clear by Esai Easley. A Minnesota restart was headed on goal and Kendall McIntosh made his first of four saves.
Guy Michaeli launched the first SKC II attack of the match moments later, breaking off his man and hitting a shot on target that was saved by Fred Emmings. Easley used his head on the offensive side of the next corner, redirecting the ball goalward where it was blocked in front of goal.
The match slowed, but in the 21st McIntosh was called back into action, diving down to his right to make a two-hand save. With the pace of the shot, all the keeper could do was slap the shot to the side where Pierre was waiting to clean up the mess, clearing the ball over the end line.
A quick counter from MNUFC 2 five minutes later freed Pacheco at the top of the box where his shot was blocked by a desperate Pierre, joined by captain Collin Fernandez. McIntosh would come up clutch yet again for SKC II, dropping down as fast as he could to smack a headed corner off the line.
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