Sporting KC II Takes Road Point in Shootout Defeat at Austin FC II

May 17, 2024 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro)
Sporting Kansas City II News Release

Sporting Kansas City II (5-3-2, 17 points) earned a point on the road against Austin FC II (2-3-3, 10 points), falling 5-4 in a shootout at Parmer Field in Austin, Texas on Friday night. Winger Maouloune Goumballe fired home his third goal of his rookie campaign, capping off a brilliant bit of passing between Kamron Habibullah and Beto Avila before Austin leveled prior to halftime. Second half substitute Ethan Bryant converted a penalty in the 82nd and Austin would again draw even minutes later to send the match to kicks from the spot.

Head coach Benny Feilhaber’s starting XI featured two Sporting Kansas City first team loanees playing in defense. Shot-stopper Ryan Schewe started in goal while Chris Rindov manned the center of the back four alongside Demarre Montoute. Jonathan Robinson started on the left and Academy Amateur player Alex Cunningham played on the right in his first 2024 start.

Rookies Cielo Tscahntret and Jake Swallen both played as holding mids while goalscoring threat Habibullah played attacking mid. Goumbale and Roberto Hategan began the match on the wing with Avila, the MLS NEXT Pro Player of Matchweek 9, starting up top.

The first 10 minutes saw no shots, but several near chances for SKC II as the high press put Austin under. A handful of turnovers in their defensive third nearly led to opportunities, however, Kansas City lacked that final touch to get going toward goal.

In the 15th minute, Austin native Avila had the honor of taking the first shot, receiving a pass from Tschantret at the top of the box before skimming a shot along the turf, just wide of the mark. Two minutes later, Antonio Gomez was booked with the match’s first yellow card after sliding through Habibullah’s legs. On the restart, Swallen ambitiously went for goal but bounced his free-kick off target.

A minute later Goumballe found the target and the back of the net to conclude a superb exhibition of passing from SKC II. Hategan played a crafty ball to Cunningham on the sideline where the 17-year-old slotted a pass to Habibullah. With one touch, the Canadian dropped the ball off to Avila at the endline where he cut it back to Goumballe in the middle of the area. The Hoosier wasted no time, burying the ball with a one-time finish from close range.

Schewe made his first save of the night a minute later, snagging a shot right in his path in the middle of his net. Swallen was then shown…