Swope Park Rangers Fall 3-1 to OKC Energy FC

June 18, 2016 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Sporting Kansas City II News Release

The Swope Park Rangers suffered a 3-1 defeat to OKC Energy FC at Swope Soccer Village on Saturday night. An early goal from Ayrton gave the Rangers the lead, but OKC hit back with goals from Michael Thomas, Wojciech Wojcik and Daniel Gonzalez to claim all three points.

The Rangers (4-7-2, 14 pts.) started the game on the front foot and took the lead in the seventh minute. Nansel Selbol dribbled past two defenders down the right and his deflected cross was met at the far post by Ayrton, whose low shot found a way into the back of the net through a crowd of bodies on the line to make the score 1-0.

Selbol threatened again in the 20th minute when he skipped past his man and fired a powerful shot on frame that Cody Laurendi beat away. Seven minutes later, Tomas Granitto lined up a free kick from 30 yards that was destined for the top corner, but Laurendi again was there to deny the Rangers their second goal.

The Energy (5-2-4, 19 pts.) found an equalizer in first-half stoppage time with their first real opportunity in the game. After a giveaway in the back by SPR, Sebastian Dalgaard floated in a cross that Kansas City native Thomas got his head to and directed into the corner to make the halftime score 1-1.

The two sides traded chances in the second half, with Kelly and Ayrton each forcing saves from Laurendi, while Zac Lubin produced a fine stop to deny Danni Konig at the other end.

In the 64th minute, OKC found the go-ahead goal when, after a sustained period of pressure, Wojcik turned home a cross from Michael Harris to make the score 2-1. Ten minutes later, the Energy opened up a two-goal cushion when substitute Gonzalez found space in the area and saw his first effort saved by Lubin, but tucked away the rebound into the side-netting to make the score 3-1.

The Rangers threw numbers forward in the final 15 minutes, but it was OKC who went closest to adding to their lead in the 83rd minute when Ballo sliced an attempted clearance against his own crossbar as the Rangers dropped to 3-2-0 at home this season.

United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 18, 2016

• FC Montreal Loses 2-1 in Pittsburgh - FC Montreal
• Swope Park Rangers Fall 3-1 to OKC Energy FC - Sporting Kansas City II
• Switchbacks Unbeaten Streak Ends with 2-1 Loss to San Antonio - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
• San Antonio FC Earns Three Points After 2-1 Win over Colorado Springs - San Antonio FC
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• No More Ties: Whitecaps FC 2 Target Three Points against Rival Timbers 2 on Father's Day - Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
• Preview: City Islanders Return to USL Play in Charleston Tonight - Penn FC

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