Sporting KC II claim the extra point against Austin FC II in First MLS Next PRO Home Game

Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence, KS welcomed Sporting Kansas City II on a beautiful afternoon for their first home game of the MLS Next Pro season against Austin FC II. Sporting KC II was able to come away with the extra point in penalty kicks after the 1-1 draw in regular time. They was clinical from the spot along with a fantastic effort from Goalkeeper Ethan Bandre to seal the extra point. 

Sporting KC II had a helpful influx of five first team loanees in Cam Duke, Jake Davis, and Ozzie Cisneros as they all made their return to the SKC II starting 11. Chris Rindov made his professional debut this afternoon for SKC II along with a fantastic headed effort in the 52nd min this afternoon. Danny Flores also made his debut as a substitute. 

SKC II was slow out of the gate and found themselves on their heels in the 13th minute. Austin FC II’s Valentin Noel tried to capitalize on a wide open look on goal, but a sliding effort from Lucas Rosa deflected the ball over the crossbar. 

Rosa again got a rise out of the home crowd in the 32nd minute as he sent his volley shot just over the bar from a Cisneros cross on the left side. Nassim Mekideche was able to head a cross from Josh Coan in the 40th minute but the attempt was saved to the bottom right by Austin FC II’s Damian Las. 

As the halftime whistle drew the teams sat level at 0-0. After a slow start to the half Sporting KC II looked more alive with four attempts in the last 20 minutes.

Sporting KC II came out firing in the second half with a header by Bakary Bagayoko in the 47th that was sent high and wide from a cross from Coan. SKC II bolstered their squad with a series of substitutes in the second half as Amadou Traore and Bakary Bagayoko were replaced by Andrew Draper and Pau Vidal. Bandre made a fantastic save in the 67th minute that resulted in a counterattack from SKC II. Draper made a near box to box run and then slotted the ball to Vidal who was able to put a shot on the deck to the right-hand corner to put SKC II up 1-0. 

The Goals

Vidal fires it in with his left! 💫

1-0 @SportingKCII pic.twitter.com/y6sZpUONYb

— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) April 2, 2023

The lead was short lived as Austin FC II’s Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez header in the 72nd minute found the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1. 

Ocampo-Chávez heads it off the post and in to tie the game for @AustinFCII! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dghf0ypkzz

— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) April 2, 2023

Full time ended with both teams level at 1-1 which would send us to everyone’s favorite thing. A penalty shootout. 

Austin FC II took the first kick from the spot with a clever chip from Alonso Ramirez. Sporting KC II followed that up with a goal of their own from Pau Vidal that slotted into the lower right-hand corner. Bandre made a phenomenal save on Austin FC II’s second shot from CJ Fodrey. Andrew Draper then took his turn from the spot and converted the penalty to put SKC II up 2-1. Austin FC II’s Steeve Louis Jean missed their second attempt, putting his shot just left of the goal. Rosa took his position behind the ball and converted SKC II’s penalty, putting them up 3-1. Bryan Arellano slotted Austin FC II’s 4th attempt home with a shot to the bottom left making it 3-2. It all ended with Sporting KC II taking the extra point with a shot sunk in the bottom right from Flores. 

Sporting KC II were able to get their first two points in the MLS Next Pro season in Sunday’s draw. SKC II is set to play their first 12 home games at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence, KS this season. Their next matchup will be at home on April 9th against Los Angeles Football Club 2. Sporting KC II tickets can be purchased from SeakGeek. Check with a Seatgeek representative first, but I heard from several fans at the game this afternoon that they were offering the first three home matches free with a promo code and in prior seasons Sporting KC season ticket members received free tickets [Editor: I can confirm I was emailed an offer for free tickets to one of the first three home games].

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