Sporting KC II smashed by Atlanta United 2 for fifth straight loss

Sporting KC II took their fifth straight loss by a final score of 4-1 against Atlanta United 2 on Saturday afternoon at Children’s Mercy Park.

Things started well but quickly turned ugly as the first half drew to a close. Three more goals conceded in the second half secured a bad loss for Paulo Nagamura’s side.

Bad giveaways were the theme of the day for SKC II as they suffered another loss at home. SKC II is now 1-5-2 at home this year.

Saturday’s loss puts SKC II 11 points out of a playoff position, now sitting with 14 points and a 3-15-5 record in last place of the Central Division.

There were three first team loanees including Kendall McIntosh, Graham Smith and Ozzie Cisneros. Cisneros was one of the four Academy products in the starting XI, in addition to Jake Davis, Isaiah LeFLore and Christian Duke.

Atlanta’s starting lineup included a 16-year-old Caleb Wiley at left back and Tyler Wolff, son of Sporting Legend Josh Wolff.

SKC II had the first couple of chances of the game. Graham Smith had a tame header easily saved by the keeper in the 14th minute. Two minutes later Jamil Roberts got on the end of a ball from Petar Cuic, but he pulled his shot wide.

With Atlanta’s first chance of the game in the 39th minute, a horrendous SKC II giveaway was punished. Petar Cuic took way to long on the ball, and ATL2 eventually won at the top of the box before falling to Connor Stanley, who centered it to a wide-open Darwin Matheus, who smashed it in off the underside of the crossbar from near the penalty spot.

Cuic’s giveaway was so bad that he was immediately subbed off before getting an earful from head coach Paulo Nagamura on the sideline.

Atlanta nearly found a second in first half stoppage time. After Graham Smith failed to deal with a long ball, Atlanta worker the ball to Robbie Mertz, who touched the ball around McIntosh and had a wide-open net to pass into until a heroic sliding challenge from Isaiah LeFlore kept it a one-goal deficit at halftime.

Atlanta got their second goal with a quick attack in the 47th minute. Jake Davis lost the ball this time, leading to the attack finished when Phillip Goodrum found Tyler Wolff on his left, who dispatched the ball into the far post.

Rojay Smith had an opportunity in the 50th minute, but his effort was saved by the keeper at his near post. On the ensuing corner, Jahon Rad’s header went just over.

It went from bad to worse for SKC II when they went 3-0 down in the 54th minute. After the original shot was saved off the line by Jake Davis, super-sub Phillip Goodrum poked it in to secure all three points for the visitors.

Graham Smith saved SKC II from further embarrassment with a clearance off the line as he was facing his own goal in the 68th minute.

The fourth eventually came in the 74th minute. This time it was a giveaway from Danny Barbir. Goodrum added his second of the day with a tidy finish past McIntosh assisted by a good ball from Macky Diop.

Graham Smith got a late consolation in the 86th minute, heading in a good delivery from a free kick from Jake Davis.

Sporting II return to action next Sunday when they host the Indy Eleven.

SKC II captain Chrisitan Duke also hit a milestone as he passed 15,000 regular-season minutes played in his USL career.

Sporting KC II: Kendall McIntosh; Isaiah LeFlore; Danny Barbir; Graham Smith; Jake Davis; Petar Cuic (Jahon Rad 42’); Christian Duke (C) (Jayvin Van Deventer 77’); Ozzie Cisneros (Michael Lenis 59’); Rojay Smith (Zion Long 59’); Enoch Mushagalusa; Jamil Roberts (Coby Jones 77’)

Subs Not Used: Remi Prieur; Matt Constant

Atlanta United 2: Rocco Rios Novo; Caleb Wiley; Josh Bauer; Aiden McFadden; Bryce Washington; Ajani Fortune; Abdoulaye Diop (Chris Allan 73’); Robbie Mertz (C) (Matias Benitez 77’); Connor Stanley (David Mejia 73’); Tyler Wolff; Darwin Matheus (Phillip Goodrum 45’)

Subs Not Used: Vicente Reyes; Noah Cobb

Scoring Summary:

ATL — Darwin Matheus (Connor Stanley) 39’

ATL — Tyler Wolff (Phillip Goodrum) 47’

ATL — Phillip Goodrum 54’

ATL — Phillip Goodrum (Amadou Diop) 74’

SKC — Graham Smith (Jake Davis) 86’

Misconduct Summary:

ATL — Abdoulaye Diop (yellow card; foul) 36’

SKC — Jake Davis (yellow card; foul) 58’

ATL — Amadou Diop (yellow card; foul) 76’

ATL — Chris Allan (yellow card; foul) 85’

SKC — Jahon Rad (yellow card; foul) 90+2’