SKC II Triumphs 2-0 over Timbers2 Sunday Evening at Swope Soccer Village

August 14, 2022 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) – Sporting Kansas City II News Release

Sporting KC II (8-10-2, 26 points) defeated Portland Timbers2 (1-15-3, 9 points) by a 2-0 scoreline Sunday afternoon at Children’s Mercy Victory Field in Kansas City, MO. Josh Coan showed out for SKC II, assisting on the first goal and sinking a penalty in the second half. Bakary Bagayoko netted his first SKC II goal in the third minute, starting the match off right for the hosts.

Head coach Benny Feilhaber’s starting XI was bolstered by a trio of Sporting KC, first-team loanees including Kaveh Rad, Kayden Pierre and Cam Duke. Edgar Bazan started as well after starting for the West All-Stars in the first ever MLS NEXT All-Star Game in Minnesota on Wednesdays. Josip Hmura made his first-ever SKC II start, playing the first 45 minutes at the number nine spot.

With the contest’s first attack, SKC II worked the ball up the field well. Coan received a centering pass inside the 18 and zipped a shot on target that Bagayoko redirected past the keeper for the opening goal.

The home side did not let off the gas, nearly grabbing a second goal four minutes later. Duke spread the ball out to forward Guy Michaeli who served a delicious ball into the area. After a touch from Hunter Sulte, the Timbers2 keeper, Bagayoko latched onto the ball and forced him into a save.

Goalkeeper Ethan Bandre almost had to get into the action in the 10th minute on a visiting set piece in the SKC II final third. The attempt curled past his far post as he dove to cover the shot. Bandre would go on to hold the clean sheet after making a season-high nine saves a week ago.

K. Rad made a pair of nice defensive plays, forcing an errant shot over the bar and then stepping into the right channel to intervene on a cross. Portland’s front man Tega Ikoba found space in the box for a header but deflected it wide of the target. On the following goal kick, Bandre launched the counter-attack and Michaeli was able to get on the end of a cross, playing a one-timer inches wide.

In the 36th Bandre used his hands for the first time, dashing off his line to corral a rolled pass. Johan Hinestroza crashed into the keeper and earned himself the match’s only yellow card for the infraction.

In stoppage time of the first half, Kian Alberto entered the match in place of Bagayoko after the goalscorer picked up a knock. SKC II took the one-goal lead into the break.

At halftime, Feilhaber brought on Ryan Reid for Hmura and Portland set…