Sporting KC II settle for draw against Atlanta United 2

Sporting KC II surrendered a lead twice to settle for a 2-2 draw on the road against Atlanta United 2 on Wednesday evening.

All four goals came in a 13-minute period in the second half. Enoch Mushagalusa was the main man for the visitors. The winger scored a brace, opening his scoring account for 2021.

There were seven changes to the lineup from SKC II’s emphatic 4-1 win over FC Tulsa last week. The four players who retained their spot were Amadou Dia, Danny Barbir, Petar Cuic and Enoch Mushagalusa.

The visitors had the first big chance nine minutes in when Barbir knocked a corner kick back for Mushagalusa to hit it towards goal, but his attempt was met with a big save by Atlanta keeper Alec Kann.

SKC II had their best chance of the first half in the 23rd minute. Kayden Pierre whipped in a great ball to find Ropapa Mensah, but Kann denied again with a kick save from short range.

Pierre created one final chance in the first half with some brilliant skill before feeding it into Rojay Smith, but Smith was unable to put it on goal.

SKC II found the opener in the 61st minute with Mushagalusa’s first goal of the night. After Mensah’s pass took him wide on the left side, Mushagalusa was able to cut it to his right and find the back of the net.

Atlanta found the equalizer in the 67th minute from a set piece. Bradley Camdem Fewo took credit for the goal after Krenecki came out to punch the ball, but punched the ball straight down and off the arm of Camdem before dribbling across the line.

Sporting II had a good response with the go-ahead goal two minutes later. After a fantastic solo effort, Mushagalusa found his second goal of the night.

Once again, the lead did not last long. After a deflection sent the ball to the top of the box, Coleman Gannon made the visitors pay with a great strike in the 74th minute to equalize at 2-2.

The hosts came close to taking their first lead of the game in the final 10 minutes, but Krenecki dove to his right to deny a goal. Moments later, an Atlanta shot rolled just wide.

Mushagalusa came close to his third, but he couldn’t get enough curl from his right foot to find the top corner in the 89th minute. Jake Davis also had an effort in stoppage time that narrowly missed.

A point on the road keeps SKC II in sixth place with seven points of the Central Division with a 1-3-4 record. Atlanta United 2 remains in second place on 12 points with a 3-2-3 record.

SKC II will hit the road again next Wednesday when they travel to FC Tulsa for the second time this year.

Sporting Kansas City II: Gavin Krenecki; Amadou Dia; Danny Barbir; Aljaz Dzankic; Kayden Pierre; Petar Cuic (Jayin Van Deventer 27’) (Jahon Rad 86’); Christian Duke (C); Jake Davis; Rojay Smith; Ropapa Mensah (Dominik Resetar 77’); Enoch Mushagalusa

Subs Not Used: Max Trejo; Matt Constant; Michael Lenis; Ozzie Cisneros

Atlanta United 2: Alec Kann; Caleb Wiley; Bradley Kamdem Fewo (C); Josh Bauer; Aiden McFadden; Robbie Mertz; Chris Allan; Efrain Morales (William Reilly 59’); Darwin Matheus (Coleman Gannon 59’); Matías Benítez; Connor Stanley (David Mejia 72’)

Subs Not Used: Rocco Ríos Novo; Bryce Washington; Ajani Fortune; Alex Garuba

Scoring Summary:

SKC — Enoch Mushagalusa (Ropapa Mensah) 61’

ATL — Bradley Kamdem 67’

SKC — Enoch Mushagalusa (Amadou Dia) 69’

ATL — Coleman Gannon 74’

Misconduct Summary:

SKC — Jake Davis (yellow card; foul) 47’

ATL — Efrain Morales (yellow card; foul) 58’

ATL — Robbie Mertz (yellow card; foul) 80’

SKC — Amadou Dia (yellow card; foul) 82’

SKC — Kayden Pierre (yellow card; foul) 87’