Sporting KC II Drop Final Game to Oakland

Sporting KC II ended what could very well be their final season the USL Championship on Saturday night in Oakland, California. A second minute goal by the Oakland Roots midfielder Jesus Enriquez was all that divided the two teams on Saturday night. The win by the Roots combined with a loss by Los Angeles Galaxy II saw the Roots clinch a playoff berth.

Enriquez finished a one time effort in just the second minute after Kendall McIntosh didn’t hold a long ball over the top to forward Quincy Amarikwa. McIntosh came off his line quickly and went to ground to collect the ball, but didn’t hold it and the ball went right to Enriquez who finished into the empty net to score what would end up being the only goal of the game.

After the early mistake, McIntosh was solid the rest of the way for SKCII as he regularly was quick off his line the rest of the game to cut out Oakland attacks and collect the ball. McIntosh kept Oakland from extending their lead by being quick off his line and making a handful of saves throughout the game. Unfortunately for KC they really couldn’t get much of anything going offensively. The Oakland defense did a good job of shutting down Enoch Mushagalusa, denying KC’s leading goal scorer from getting chances to run at the Oakland defense.

Throughout the game KC controlled the game, having almost 60% of possession in the game, but couldn’t turn all of that possession into meaningful chances against the Roots defense. KC finished with just four shots in the game, with their first in the second half not coming until there were fewer than 10 minutes left in the game.

Officially, SKCII end the 2021 season with a 4-20-8 record, their fewest wins for the team in their six year history in the USL, one fewer than the five they picked up in the COVID shortened 2020 season. That includes their 1-0 win over Atlanta United II being changed to a 3-0 Atlanta win after KC was forced to forfeit as midfielder Jake Davis played when he should have sat out due to yellow card accumulation. With that loss, SKCII went winless in their final eight games in the season, losing seven of them. Their last win was on September 4th against the Oklahoma City Energy. Mushagalusa finished the season as SKCII’s leading scorer with eight goals while also leading the team in appearances (32), starts (27), and minutes played (2,522). Davis finished the season as the team’s leader in assists with six.