Playoff Preview: Swope Park Rangers vs. LA Galaxy II
September 29, 2016 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Sporting Kansas City II News Release
The Swope Park Rangers begin play in the USL Cup Playoffs when they host LA Galaxy II in a Western Conference Quarterfinal at Swope Soccer Village on Friday, Sept. 30. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT, while tickets are available via c499e4a8c6a4df6ac3f4c176e Ticketmaster and the game will be live streamed on SportingKC.com.
The Rangers begin their quest for the USL Cup after closing out their regular season with a 14-10-6 (48 pts.) record and finishing fourth in the Western Conference. The side won six of their last seven games, including four in a row to conclude the season, and clinched a home playoff game with last Saturday's 2-0 victory over Seattle Sounders FC 2.
In that regular-season finale, the Rangers took the lead when rookie defender Amer Didic headed in Ayrton's corner kick for his first professional goal in the 11th minute. With 15 minutes remaining, Tyler Pasher knocked home Dane Kelly's low cross to double the Rangers' lead and seal a fourth-place finish.
Galaxy II enters the postseason as the fifth seed in the West, going 12-7-11 (47 pts.) in the regular season. The visitors went unbeaten in their final four games of the season (2-0-2), but posted only three victories in their final 11 games, dating back to July 30. In comparison, the Rangers won seven of their last 11 games, stretching back to the same date.
LA closed out their regular-season campaign with a 3-1 victory over Real Monarchs last Saturday. Adonis Amaya put Galaxy II ahead in the 18th minute before Boyd Okwuonu hit back for the Monarchs 11 minutes later. A second-half strike from Raul Mendiola and a second goal on the day for Amaya sealed all three points and a fifth-place finish for LA.
The Rangers triumphed over Galaxy II in the only meeting between the two sides this season, earning a 2-1 victory at Swope Soccer Village on Aug. 27. Bradford Jamieson IV put the visitors ahead in the opening minutes but SPR responded with goals from Christian Duke and Mark Anthony Gonzalez before the interval to claim the 2-1 victory.
LA have advanced to the postseason in each of the previous two seasons and were USL finalists last season, advancing to the USL Championship as Western Conference Champions and falling 2-1 to the Rochester Rhinos after extra time.
USL Cup Playoffs: Western Conference Quarterfinal Date: Friday, September 30, 2016 Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. CT Location: Swope Soccer Village (Kansas City, Mo.)
Swope Park Rangers: 14-10-6, 48 pts. 4th seed.
LA Galaxy II: 12-7-11, 47 pts. 5th seed.
Swope Park Rangers game notes: cadfba82f3c1dbd9addb6e4e6 Link
BROADCAST INFORMATION Live Stream: The game will be broadcast on SportingKC.com and YouTube.com/USL Talent: Carter Augustine (play-by-play), Nate Bukaty (analyst)
SOCIAL TAGS Game-specific hashtag: #SPRvLA
Swope Park Rangers Twitter: @SwopeRangers Instagram: @swopeparkrangers
• Discuss this story on the United Soccer League Championship message board...
United Soccer League Championship Stories from September 29, 2016
- Wilmington Hammerheads FC Awarded PDL Franchise Organization - USL
- USL Selects Buffalo.Agency as Its Public Relations Partner - USL
- Playoff Preview: Swope Park Rangers vs. LA Galaxy II - Sporting Kansas City II
- 2016 USL Cup Playoffs: Look at the Western Conference Field - USL
- 2016 USL Cup Playoffs: Look at the Western Conference Field - USL
- WFC2 Defender Deklan Wynne Called up to New Zealand - Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
- Rhinos Playoff Match Preview - Rochester Rhinos
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Sporting Kansas City II Stories
- Sporting KC II Suffers Defeat to Ventura County FC in 2024 Home Opener
- Sporting KC II Signs Jacob Molinaro to MLS NEXT Pro Amateur Contract
- Sporting KC II Returns to Rock Chalk Park to Take on Ventura County FC on Sunday
- Know Before You Go: Rock Chalk Park 2024
- Sporting KC II Opens 2024 Season with a Come-From-Behind Win at Houston Dynamo 2