10-Man SKC II Side Slips to 1-0 Loss at Real Monarchs

July 17, 2022 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) – Sporting Kansas City II News Release

Sporting KC II (7-6-2, 23 points) suffered a 1-0 loss on the road to Real Monarchs (2-12-2, 8 points) at Zions Bank Stadium on Saturday night. An even match with both teams unable to make the most of their chances took a turn when Paul Atta Agyei was sent off with a second yellow in the 65th. Benjamin Rodriguez would go on to find the match winner for the hosts in the third minute of second half stoppage time.

The SKC II starting XI went untouched from the 2-0 win at Colorado Rapids 2 a week prior. Kendall McIntosh was the lone SKC II loanee and made six saves on the night to keep SKC II in the contest.

The SKC II keeper made his first appearance early, sliding in the box to dispossess a Real Monarchs runner in the fourth minute. On the other side of the pitch, the visitor’s first attack saw forward Rauf Salifu split the defense and slide Josh Coan into the box. After a deflection, the ball rolled out wide and was sent just over the goal.

Just before the 10th minute, Real Monarchs nearly found the first with a wild sequence in the box. After an errant clearance, the ball bounced to the box of the box and was whiffed on in an attempted half volley. The SKC II backline collected themselves and played the ball upfield.

Moments later a lethal cross floats too close to McIntosh for comfort forcing the keeper to smack the ball away with a punch. The hosts collect the loose ball and put a shot on target which the SKC II keeper handled easily. In the 20th McIntosh made a similar save, saving a shot sent to the middle of the goal with a two-handed snag.

SKC II’s attack tried to get going with a run from the backline. Joseph Addo Tetteh dashed all the way from midfield, into the area and fired a shot that was deflected out for a corner. Gavin Beavers, the Real Monarchs goaltender, caught the ensuing corner.

The first half saw multiple stretches of slowed play as SKC II dominated possession but was unable to crack the Monarch backline. In the 37th Coan sent a promising service into the area that was caught by Beavers. Two minutes later a one-touch shot at the top of the box was sent high of the target.

The final, most nervy Monarch attack of the first half came off a McIntosh save. The ball rolled backward and was cleared off the goal line at the last second. The corner was headed into the goal a moment later but was called off due to a foul at the top of the box.

Agyei and TJ Fatah…