Sporting KC II Trounces Whitecaps FC 2 4-0 at Swangard Stadium

August 31, 2024 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro)
Sporting Kansas City II News Release

Sporting Kansas City II (7-10-5, 28 points) earned a massive three points on the road against Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 (9-7-6, 36 points) at Swangard Stadium on Saturday evening. Former Whitecaps player Kamron Habibullah struck twice in the contest for his ninth and 10th goals of the season while Jonathan Robinson and Alenis Vargas scored their firsts.

Goalkeeper Ryan Schewe earned his second professional shutout, blanking the hosts with five saves and some help from his back four.

Head coach and Sporting Legend Benny Feilhaber rolled out a starting XI with Schewe in goal and a new formation in front of him. Chris Rindov anchored the defense with Ian James and Leo Christiano on either side of him. Cielo Tschantret and Danny Flores held down the midfield while Medgy Alexandre, Kamron Habibullah and Sebastian Cruz roamed forward. Beto Avila started up top alongside Alenis Vargas, making his MLS NEXT Pro 2024 debut.

Marking his first appearance at Swangard Stadium since the 2023 season, Habibullah made it one to remember, giving SKC II the early lead in the fourth minute. After Flores forced a turnover in the attacking third, Habibullah entered the 18 and buried a shot in the back of the net past Alexander Milosevic.

The visitors remained on the attack when James sent in a cross to the six-yard box toward Avila. The striker made an acrobatic move to get a foot on the ball, sending it just off target. Moments later, Vargas rolled the first of his four shots on target into the keeper’s arms with a rolled effort.

Vancouver entered the attacking fold in the 11th with a long ball over the back four. Schewe was called into action, denying the initial attempt, but spilling a rebound in the process. The loose ball was ripped back across his body, ricocheting off the far post and out of the box on the opposite side of the attempt.

A 14th-minute corner, and the first of the night, was skipped through traffic toward Tschantret. A pair of shots were then destined for the back of the net, however, each were turned aside by a pair of defenders. Vargas then turned and fired one into the paws of Milosevic.

On the other end of the pitch, Rindov showed his defensive smarts with a superb clearance off the goalline. A Vancouver shot was then pushed wide and Schewe made a second, simple save before the match was turned on its head. A long ball over the top was picked up by Cruz and carried into the 18…