Sporting KC II Suffers 5-1 Loss at Real Monarchs in Midweek Matchup

June 12, 2024 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro)
Sporting Kansas City II News Release

Sporting Kansas City II (6-4-3, 22 points) suffered their first road loss of 2024, slipping 5-1 to Real Monarchs (4-7-1, 14 points) at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah on Wednesday evening. Ethan Bryant tallied his second score of the season to make the match 3-1, however, the home side added two more goals to close the contest.

A young lineup featuring four Sporting KC Academy players started for head coach Benny Feilhaber’s group including 16-year-old goalkeeper Jack Kortkamp who made his pro debut. On the backline, Leo Christiano made his first pro start alongside Demarre Montoute, Alex Cunningham and Jonathan Robinson.

Jake Swallen played as the six and Bryant patroled the midfield with Johann Ortiz. Up top, Maouloune Goumballe and Medgy Alexandre were split out wide of striker Pau Vidal.

Sporting KC II was unable to get a shot off until the 52nd minute as Real Monarchs took a 1-0 lead 24 minutes into the match. The young Kortkamp was called on to make seven saves on the night, facing 25 shots. The hosts nearly scored in the fifth minute but had a goal called back after Kortkamp had possession of the ball taken away from him illegally.

In the 13th, Montoute made a brilliant slide tackle inside the 18 to cleanly win the ball back and stop a dangerous-looking attack. Kortkamp made his first save in the 15th, diving to his right to block a shot and then collect the bouncing ball inside the box. He then made a save on the near post, corralling a hard shot right at his chest by bouncing the ball off the turf.

The first score of the night came in the 24th when Benji Redzic scored from close range after Christiano got in front of the initial shot. The Monarchs forward was played in on goal and finished with a lofted effort. Feilhaber went to his bench in the 26th, bringing on Cielo Tschantret for Swallen.

Kortkamp made another save right before the half-hour mark before SKC II’s first corner of the night came in the 45th. The initial ball was played in and cleared by Real and sent down the field as a counterattack. Ortiz got back behind the ball, stopped the attack and took the match to the half.

Out of the break, Sebastian Cruz, Kamron Habibullah and Roberto Hategan all entered the match for Robinson, Ortiz and Alexandre. Vidal got to the endline in the 50th and chipped one across the goal mouth, however, no SKC II runners were home, and the ball drifted over the top…