SKC II Wins First Road Match in Dominant Performance at Real Monarchs

April 15, 2023 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) – Sporting Kansas City II News Release

Sporting Kansas City II (2-1-1, 8 points) took home their first road win of 2023 in an impressive, all-around performance against Real Monarchs (1-3-0, 3 points) Friday night at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman Utah. In a dominant performance in which Sporting KC II possessed the ball for nearly 70% of the match, four different goal scorers found the target in the club’s first clean sheet of the season.

Sebastian Cruz contributed to two of the goals, scoring the first and assisting on the last, Lucas Rosa put his hat in the ring for goal of the year, Ethan Bryant scored his first of the year and Pau Vidal found the back of the net for a third straight match. Andrew Draper added two assists to his tally giving him a team-best three on the season.

Head coach Benny Feilhaber rolled out a starting XI with no first-team loanees. On International Goalkeeper Day, Ethan Bandre had control of the back line and earned a shutout. Rosa was joined on the back four by Jahon Rad, along with Mo Abualnadi and Nati Clarke who both made their first starts. The midfield consisted of Bryant, captain Josh Coan and Enzo Mauriz while the front three was comprised of Cruz, Draper and Vidal.

Feilhaber and SKC II controlled the contest right from the start. As has become standard with the 2023 SKC II squad they scored the first goal of the match, jumping out to an early lead in the sixth minute. Draper found Cruz open in space outside the 18 and the former Sporting KC Academy player fired a rocket past Gavin Beavers from long range.

Hungry for more the visitors went back on the attack within five minutes of the opener. Draper was played through on goal and beat Beavers after the keeper got a touch on the ball. However, the offside flag went up before any celebrations could take place wiping away the lead doubler.

Despite keeping the ball in the attacking third SKC II would go the remainder of the first half without another goal. Rosa and Clarke gave the host’s outside backs fits throughout the first, offering up delectable service after service into the area. Rosa almost connected with Vidal in the 18th but the eventual goalscorer was denied by Beavers.

Twice, Cruz came within inches of a brace with a headed attempt toward goal that awkwardly bounced into the keeper’s grasp and a half volley that short-hopped into the side netting. Vidal was slipped into the 18 a minute after Cruz’s near make but…