April 9, 2023 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) – Sporting Kansas City II News Release
Sporting Kansas City II (1-1-1, 5 points) defeated Los Angeles Football Club 2 (0-2-1, 1 point) in a thrilling first meeting at Rock Chalk Park, Sunday night in MLS NEXT Pro regular season play. Red-hot Pau Vidal scored in his second straight match early on, Ozzie Cisneros netted his first goal of 2023 and the Sporting KC II backline spearheaded by Kendall McIntosh held on late to give SKC II their first three-point win of 2023.
A first-team heavy starting XI featured a season-high six Sporting Kansas City loanees. McIntosh, the goaltender was helped out in the defensive third by a back four of Lucas Rosa, Jahon Rad, Chris Rindov and Cam Duke. The midfield, consisting of a trio of loanees, included Cisneros, Jake Davis and Danny Flores. The front three was comprised of Vidal, Sebastian Cruz and Andrew Draper.
Head coach Benny Feilhaber and the entire SKC II team came out looking to jump out in front of the new kids on the block in LAFC 2. That strategy yielded a goal just six minutes into the contest thanks to a dime ball from Rosa along the right sideline. Vidal easily got on the end of the skipping cross in the six-yard box and calmly tapped it into the empty goal with his left.
The visitors grew into the match despite the one-goal hole and began to launch a plethora of advancements into the attacking third. All of these trips proved fruitless as the defense and McIntosh kept them blanked throughout the first half.
The match remained mostly clean however Duke was brandished a yellow in the 30th for a tactical pull of the jersey near midfield. Julian Gaines was then given a yellow after tossing the ball away out of frustration following a call going against him.
The Black and Gold second team had their first shot on target denied by McIntosh on a Favian Vazquez one-v-one with the keeper in the 37th minute. Just four minutes later, LAFC 2 tested the first-team keeper again. McIntosh was up to the task, blocking an effort from the left side of the area.
A Vidal yellow card in the 41st proved to be the final action of the first as SKC II took their one-goal advantage into the locker room.
A little over 10 minutes into the second, Feilhaber went to his bench bringing on Amadou Traore and Enzo Mauriz for Draper and Flores. Mauriz would go on to impact the match in the 70th following a foul on Vidal in a dangerous area.
Mauriz, a Sporting KC Academy product played a delicious…
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