Sports stats



USL Sporting Kansas City II

Swope Park Rangers Fall to First Defeat of the Season

April 23, 2016 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Sporting Kansas City II News Release


The Swope Park Rangers suffered their first defeat of the 2016 USL season with a 1-0 defeat to OKC Energy FC on Saturday night. Kalen Ryden scored the only goal of the game in the 79th minute to guide the Energy to victory as concluded their three-game road swing with a win, a draw and a loss.

The Rangers (2-1-1, 7 pts.) spent the opening exchanges feeling out their opposition, with the pace of the game suffering as a result. OKC (1-1-1, 4 pts.) created the first chance of note in the 18th minute, when FC Dallas loanee Coy Craft got on the end of a cross from Sebastian Dalgaard at the back post, but his finish from a tight angle crashed off the post and out.

Tomas Granitto and Nansel Selbol each saw efforts fly off target as the half wore on before Craft again went close for the Energy, but his chipped effort just before halftime clipped the outside of the post and went out for a goal kick.

OKC pushed hard for the go-ahead goal in the second half, with SPR goalkeeper Jon Kempin called into action to make four saves in the second period. First, Kempin dove to his left to parry away a goal-bound free kick from Jose Cuevas in the 54th minute, before denying Danni Konig with his feet 12 minutes later.

The Rangers almost pulled ahead in the 70th minute when a corner was cleared and fell to Kevin Oliveira, but the midfielder's powerful strike from distance did not dip in time and flew just over the bar.

In the 79th minute, Kalen Ryden scored his first goal for OKC to put his side into a 1-0 lead. Dalgaard floated in a deep cross from the right and an unmarked Ryden placed his header back across Kempin and into the bottom corner.

SPR went in search for an equalizing goal in the final 10 minutes and created two chances, but Kris Tyrpak's attempt from close range was deflected off the line by Cyprian Hedrick and Daniel Salloi could only bounce his finish over the bar when well placed inside the area.

Kempin made two further diving saves to deny Peter Toth and Jordan Rideout as the clock ticked down and the Rangers suffered their first defeat of the season.

Check out the Sporting Kansas City II Statistics

• Discuss this story on the United Soccer League Championship message board...

United Soccer League Championship Stories from April 23, 2016


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.

OurSports Central