Sporting KC II Suffers 2-0 Defeat at Home Against Austin FC II

August 18, 2024 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro)
Sporting Kansas City II News Release

Sporting Kansas City II (7-10-5, 28 points) suffered a 2-0 home defeat against Austin FC II (4-6-10, 25 points) on Sunday night at Children’s Mercy Victory Field in Kansas City, Missouri. A penalty stop late in the first half by 16-year-old Academy goalkeeper Jack Kortkamp was answered by two second-half scores by Austin, giving the visitors all three points.

The loss marks SKC II’s first home defeat since May 5 after the side earned five straight results in front of their supporters.

Head coach Benny Feilhaber’s starting XI saw Kortkamp make his second-ever start with the familiar back line of Carson Klein, Chris Rindov, Leo Christiano and Mason Visconti in front of him. Sebastian Cruz and Shane Donovan played a double holding mid while Kamron Habibullah played the 10. Beto Avila started at striker and Maouloune Goumballe played out wide opposite Medgy Alexandre.

Sporting Kansas City II controlled the flow of the contest for the majority of the first half. Avila took the first crack at goal of the night in the sixth minute, pushing a shot barely wide of the far post. Less than five minutes later an Alexandre cross was defended by Austin before Habibullah rolled the ball into Marcus Alstrup’s arms in the middle of his net.

Visconti then did well to win a corner which was whipped into a dangerous area. Avila made an acrobatic attempt on the ball, making a strong connection with it in midair, but hitting it off frame. A few more ticks off the clock and Avila gained access to Austin’s box once more. This time the forward was clattered into hard by a defender but no call was given. The Texas native dissented to the call which earned him the first yellow card of the evening.

A little over 10 minutes later another 50/50 call inside the 18 went against Avila much to the chagrin of the SKC II faithful. In the 30th, Austin was granted a penalty kick after a foul called on Alexandre at the top of the box. Three minutes later, Kortkamp made a superb save, pushing the spot kick off his left post and into the middle of the area where Rindov thundered it away from danger.

The final attack of the first came from a brilliant combo pass between Avila and Habibullah near midfield. A backheel flick generated enough space for a clever through-ball to Goumballe who was unable to get a shot on target after Alstrup cut down his angle. Halftime came with the score even at zero.

Feilhaber made one swap…