Sporting KC II grab first road win in Memphis

In their seventh match on the road this season, Sporting KC II finally grabbed their first win away from home and their second overall win of the season on Saturday night against Memphis 901 FC by a final score of 3-2.

After letting a 2-0 lead slip away, Danny Barbir headed in the winner in the 72nd minute before helping SKC II successfully defend the one-goal lead.

SKC II’s win dumped Memphis into last place of the Central Division. SKC II climbed into seventh place, improving to 2-6-4 this season with 10 points.

SKC II started four on loan from the first team, including Brooks Thompson, Kayden Pierre, Graham Smith and Grayson Barber. With Gavin Krencki in Dallas with the Academy in the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs and Remi Prieur with Kaw Valley FC, the lineup SKC II tweeted appeared to show no backup keeper. According to USL Championship MatchCenter, Max Trejo was on the bench.

Former Swope Park Rangers (SPR) right back Mark Segbers got the start for Memphis.

SKC II took the lead in the eighth minute. Rojay Smith scored his third of the year with a perfectly-placed shot in the top corner from the top of the box after a quick turn.

Smith came close to a second in the 54th minute. His attempt from outside the box dribbled just wide of the goal.

SKC II doubled their lead in the 55th minute. Enoch Mushagalusa slammed home the loose ball from short range.

Memphis pulled done back in the 58th minute. Leston Paul threaded the needle perfectly for Kyle Murphy to slide it under Brooks Thompson.

Memphis came close to equalizing with a couple of chances in the 62nd minute. Thompson reacted quickly to deny a header from Michael Salazar before Brecc Evans sent his header over.

Despite the earlier warning signs, Memphis found the equalizer soon after in the 64th minute. Kadeem Dacres supplied a neat finish to the far post assisted by Murphy.

Dacres came close again in the 69th minute. His shot from outside the box dinged off the outside of the post.

SKC II went back in front with a goal in the 72nd minute. With a delightful ball from Jake Davis, defender Danny Barbir headed it in from one yard out.

Midway through stoppage time, Thompson reacted well to deny Salazar of the ambitious bicycle kick equalizer.

It was a hard-fought match, but SKC II did well to come away with all three points. They saw just 29 percent of the possession and were given five yellow cards.

SKC II ends a tough stretch with a win and will have a little more time to recover before they return home for a meeting with Louisville City FC on Friday, July 2.

Sporting Kansas City II: Brooks Thompson; Danny Barbir; Matt Constant; Graham Smith; Kayden Pierre; Petar Cuic (Jahon Rad 60’); Christian Duke (C); Bailey Sparks (Jake Davis 61’); Grayson Barber; Rojay Smith (Dominik Resetar 87’); Enoch Mushagalusa (Aljaz Dzankic 74’)

Subs Not Used: Max Trejo; Isaiah LeFlore; Tyler Freeman

Memphis 901 FC: Brady Scott; Raúl González III (Andre Reynolds 77’); Zach Carroll; Skylar Thomas (Brecc Evans 15’); Mark Segbers; Leston Paul (C); Dominic Oduro (Kyle Murphy 45’); Laurent Kissiedou; Mitch Guitar (Francis Atuahene 77’); Kadeem Dacres; Michael Salazar

Subs Not Used: Jake Gelnovatch; Dre Fortune; Rashawn Dally

Scoring Summary:

SKC — Rojay Smith (Grayson Barber) 8’

SKC — Enoch Mushagalusa 55’

MEM — Kyle Murphy (Leston Paul) 58’

MEM — Kadeem Dacres (Kyle Murphy) 64’

SKC — Danny Barbir (Jake Davis) 72’

Misconduct Summary:

MEM — Kadeem Dacres (yellow card; foul) 32’

SKC — Graham Smith (yellow card; foul) 39’

SKC — Enoch Mushaglusa (yellow card; not retreating) 43’

MEM — Laurent Kissiedou (yellow card; foul) 48’

MEM — Zach Carroll (yellow card; foul) 52’

SKC — Petar Cuic (yellow card; foul) 60’

SKC — Danny Barbir (yellow card; foul) 88’

SKC — Aljaz Dzankic (yellow card; foul) 90+6’