Sporting KC II Salvage a Point against the OKC Energy with a Late Equalizer

Sporting Kansas City II opened their home schedule against the OKC Energy on a beautiful Friday night in KC. The SKC II lineup featured nine (!) loans from the first team, including six Homegrown players.

The Energy lineup had former SKC II player Tucker Stephenson on the bench to start the game (he did come on to start the second half).

Sporting KC II came out at full speed and looked much sharper than their Week 1 showing. SKC Homegrown Ozzie Cisneros, along with Cameron Duke, consistently ripped through the midfield with pace and skill.

The first big chance of the half came in the 14th minute when Sporting KC 2021 second round SuperDraft pick Matt Constant got on the end of a Tyler Freeman corner to force a diving save from the OKC Energy keeper.

After that, Sporting got their biggest scare of the first half with a beautiful low cross in from the right side of the attack that was put into a very dangerous spot. Goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh put his body on the line to dive and make a save but he ended up appearing to catch a boot to the face/head. He was down a long time (there were seven minutes of first half stoppage time) but he was able to continue.

The next best chance for SKC II came when Tyler Freeman hit a clever free kick up and around the wall only to have it pushed aside by a diving keeper. It may have been destined for the post but we’ll never know.

It appeared that Grayson Barber was about to open his account as halftime approached but his beautiful curling shot on the ground was pulled back for a deserved foul on Cam Duke that earned him a yellow card.

Speaking of yellow cards, OKC picked up one by Muengnenshime Sunday Goshit and he frankly could have gotten a second for a studs up challenge on Amadou Dia who is seeing his first official action of 2021.

The teams entered the half tied 0-0.

The second half started with more of the same. The first good chance of the half came when Barber stole the ball just outside the OKC box and drew a foul. The ensuing freekick by Freeman, however, was right at the keeper who wasn’t challenged.

While SKC II controlled the first 10 minutes of the half, OKC were about to hit on a counter attack and multiple SKC II players tried to foul to stop it before Jahon Rad was successful and picked up KC’s second yellow. Shortly after Rad was on the receiving end of a tough challenge from Baseljevic who would pick up a yellow of his own.

In the 61st minute SKC II made their first change of the match bringing on Enoch Mushagalusa and Jake Davis for Wilson Harris and Cam Duke. Tyler Freeman moved up top to striker.

In the 68th minute SKC made another double sub as Michael Lenis came on for Kayden Pierre and Rojay Smith came on for Barber. Immediately after OKC hit a counter attack out of nowhere and Frankie Lopez beat Graham Smith down the sideline and blasted a shot that snuck under Kendall McIntosh to open the scoring. 1-0 OKC.

For a while the subs seemed to disrupt the game as KC couldn’t re-establish their rhythm until quite late.

SKC II made their final sub bringing off Jahon Rad for Christian Duke. The Duke brothers weren’t on the field together, but they played in the same game.

Sporting KC II continued to control possession and in the 85th minute finally broke through. Enoch took the ball up the right side of the field and danced around his defender to cut back a ball to an on rushing Freeman who blasted it home! 1-1.

They tried to repeat the magic with Rojay Smith coming up the same side and he tried to find Freeman on the cut back but the defender forced the shot over the bar.

Moments later the OKC goal scorer Lopez tried to break Christian Duke’s leg with a horrifc challenge and was rightfully sent off with a red card. In the aftermath both coaches were also given yellow cards. Shortly after the came petered out and came to an end 1-1.

They’ll be back at home next Friday against the Colorado Springs Switchbacks at 7:00 PM CST.