Preview: Sporting KC II vs Louisville City FC

USL Championship Regular Season- Matchday 16

Sporting Kansas City II vs Louisville City FC

Wednesday, July 28, 7:00 p.m. CST

Where: Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kansas

How to Watch: ESPN+

Hosting one of the best teams in the USL, Sporting Kansas City II will be looking for their first home win against Louisville City FC since May of 2019 when SKC loanee Abdul Rwatubyaye scored the winner in the 90th minute for Swope Park Rangers.

Entering Wednesday in last place of the Central Division, Sporting II sit with 14 points and a 3-7-5 record as the best of the four last-place teams in the USL Championship. SKC II is hoping to improve its 1-3-2 home record.

They are coming from a scoreless draw with the OKC Energy on July 24. Kendall McIntosh kept his second consecutive shutout in their draw.

SKC II ended their short two-game road trip with four points, previously taking all three points in their visit to Atlanta United 2.

Enoch Mushagalusa leads SKC II with five goals. Followed by Rojay Smith with four and Tyler Freeman with three. McIntosh’s two shutouts leads the team.

For injury news, forward Dominik Resetar is back healthy but SKC II are still without two of their offseason signings. Travian Sousa, who has missed the whole season, and Ropapa Mensah are both out. Additionally, frequent loanees Tyler Freeman and Grayson Barber are in COVID protocols with the first team.

These two sides met earlier this month at Children’s Mercy Park. Lou City came away with the 4-2 win thanks to a big 10-minute period for the visitors. Both sides also met four times last year, all in Louisville, in which SKC II won one and lost three. Following Wednesday's clash, both sides will meet again in Louisville in August and October.

Louisville City FC

Lou City enters Wednesday’s matchup in first place of the Central Division under interim head coach Danny Cruz. Their 8-3-3 record has earned them 27 points, which is second-most in all of the USL Championship.

They are coming off a 1-1 draw with the Colorado Springs Switchbacks on July 23. After Lou City’s Antoine Hoppenot scored the opener 74 minutes in, Michee Ngalina equalized for the Switchbacks in the 87th minute after Lou City goalkeeper Chris Hubbard was unable to make what should have been a rather simple save.

Cameron Lancaster leads Louisville with seven goals in 10 appearances. Followed by Kyle Greig with four goals while Corben Bone and Paolo DelPiccolo each have three. Jonathan Gomez leads Lou City with five assists, followed by Brian Ownby with four and Corben Bone with three. Gomez is on the verge of leaving the Kentucky club to head to La Liga in Spain where he will join Real Sociedad.

With a 2-2-1 record on the road, Lou City’s last road win came in KC earlier this month. Since then, they have gone winless on the road with a loss in Tulsa and a draw in Colorado Springs.

Predicted Starting XI

With a midweek home game with the first team off until Saturday, there could potentially be more first team loans.

I picked Kendall McIntosh to get the start as he aims for a third consecutive shutout. I also picked Kayden Pierre to return on loan at right-back, allowing Jake Davis to return to the midfield. Wilson Harris is also expected to return to SKC II on loan as he continues his search for his first goal of 2021.

Final Prediction

In their first meeting this year, SKC II did well to hang with Lou City aside from a horrible 10-minute spell in the second half that put SKC II three goals behind. Suffering losses to FC Tulsa, Atlanta United 2 and the Indy Eleven, Lou City can be beaten. But they don’t get beaten often.

I’m going to predict a 2-1 win for Lou City.

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