Sporting KC II downed by Lou City

Against a rampant attack, Sporting KC II suffered their seventh defeat of the year as they took a 4-2 loss against Louisville City FC at home on Friday night.

A three-goal second half for Louisville was too much to overcome. Academy player Coby Jones did open his professional scoring account for SKC II with a strike in the second half.

John Pulskamp joined Kayden Pierre, Graham Smith and Tyler Freeman on loan from the first team.

Lou City had one major absentee, their top scorer Cameron Lancaster. Former SKC loanee Parker Siegfried got the start for the visitors as Chris Hubbard dropped to the bench for the first time this season after conceding three goals last time out.

The visitors struck first early on in the fifth minute. After Danny Barbir’s pass was intercepted, it was Kyle Greig, who played college ball at Benedectine College, with the finish as he passed it into the net in front of a row of his supporters as Corben Bone got the assist.

SKC II nearly had an immediate response, but Rojay Smith’s shot was well-saved by Siegfried. Smith did eventually find the 1-1 equalizer in the 13th minute. Freeman’s cross from the right was met well by Smith, who had a perfectly placed header past the keeper from about nine yards out.

Lou City had a chance to go back ahead just before halftime. Sean Totsch delivered a great ball behind Barbir and the SKC II defense and drew Pulskamp out, but Brian Ownby was unable to apply the necessary finish as his attempt sailed wide and high.

SKC II also had a chance in first half stoppage time. Freeman had the ball on the right wing, but his shot was tamed by Siegfried once again.

Louisville regained the lead in the 57th minute. A late-tracking Rojay Smith was unable to do enough to offset Ownby, who sent a well-placed shot past Pulskamp to make it 2-1 with more than 30 minutes remaining.

Lou City nearly added a third a minute later, but Pulskamp did well to deny Jonathan Gomez. The visitors did get their third in the 59th minute. After Jake Davis was the victim of a basketball pick, Ownby delivered a ball into the box from the right, where Alexis Souahy did enough to guide it past the keeper despite not making the best of contact.

It went from bad to worse for SKC II as they conceded a fourth in the 67th minute. After some good work along the sideline by Gomez, who found a wide-open Greig, who had a simple header into an open goal for his second goal of the night.

The second half wasn’t all bad for SKC II. Coby Jones scored his first professional goal, blasting the loose ball in from about eight yards out to make it 4-2 in the 80th minute.

SKC II nearly pulled another one back in the 89th minute, but Rojay Smith's effort was tipped away by the keeper. Another chance came in stoppage time, but Isaiah LeFLore’s deflected effort was sent just wide.

Sporting KC II dropped to 2-7-4 on the season with 10 points, as they remain in seventh place of the Central Division. Lou City hit 20 points with a 6-2-2 record, taking them to the top of the division as they have now scored 15 goals in their last five games.

SKC II will hit the road again when they travel to Atlanta United 2 for the second time this season next Saturday.

Sporting KC II: John Pulskamp; Danny Barbir; Aljaz Dzankic (Coby Jones 68’); Graham Smith; Kayden Pierre; Christian Duke (C); Petar Cuic (Dominik Resetar 87’); Jake Davis (Jahon Rad 77’); Enoch Mushagalusa; Tyler Freeman (Isaiah LeFlore 69’); Rojay Smith

Subs Not Used: Gavin Krenecki; Matt Constant; Michael Lenis

Louisville City FC: Parker Siegfried; Alexis Souahy; Sean Totsch; Wes Charpie; Jonathan Gomez; Corben Bone (Napo Matsoso 72’); Tyler Gibson; Brian Ownby (James McLaughlin 81’); Paolo DelPiccolo (George Davis IV 81’); Kyle Greig; Antoine Hoppenot (Niall McCabe 63’)

Subs Not Used: Chris Hubbard; Pat McMahon; Akil Watts

Scoring Summary:

LOU — Kyle Greig (Corben Bone) 5’

SKC — Rojay Smith (Tyler Freeman) 13’

LOU — Brian Ownby (Corben Bone) 57’

LOU — Alexis Souahy (Corben Bone) 59’

LOU — Kyle Greig (Jonathan Gomez) 67’

SKC — Coby Jones 80’

Misconduct Summary:

SKC — Christian Duke (yellow card; foul) 21’

SKC — Enoch Mushagalusa (yellow card; foul) 42’

LOU — George Davis IV (yellow card; foul) 82’