Swope Park Rangers Stay Unbeaten After 1-1 Draw with San Antonio FC

April 9, 2016 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Sporting Kansas City II News Release

The Swope Park Rangers played to a 1-1 draw with San Antonio FC on Saturday night to preserve the club's unbeaten start to the season. Daniel Salloi scored in just the second minute to put the Rangers in front before Danny Garcia equalized for San Antonio in what was their first-ever home game at Toyota Field.

The Rangers (2-0-1, 7 pts.) started brightly and earned two corners in the early stages, the second of which led to the opening goal. Tomas Granitto swung in the corner and two SAFC (1-0-1, 4 pts.) players made a hash of their clearance before the ball fell to Salloi who took his time before firing past Josh Ford in the San Antonio goal for his team-leading second strike of the season.

San Antonio, buoyed by a record-setting crowd of 8,466, took control of the game and began threatening the SPR goal as the first half wore on. Garcia, Rafael Castillo, Jason Johnson and Stephen McCarthy each saw efforts either just miss the target or saved by Rangers goalkeeper Jon Kempin, who ended the game with a season-high six saves.

In the 42nd minute, the Rangers resistance was broken when Carlos Alvarez flicked a ball through to Garcia who was racing in on goal, and the winger lifted his finish over Kempin to make the score 1-1. Granitto almost provided the Rangers with an immediate riposte, but his rising strike went just over the bar as the two sides went into halftime with the score tied.

San Antonio had the better chances in the second half, but were denied continually by a resolute SPR defense and goalkeeper Kempin - who made four of his six saves in the second period. The game saw two players make debuts for the club, with Will Little, who was celebrating his 18th birthday, and Johnny Grant each making appearances off the bench in the second half as the Rangers battled to a 1-1 draw.

United Soccer League Championship Stories from April 9, 2016

• Swope Park Rangers Stay Unbeaten After 1-1 Draw with San Antonio FC - Sporting Kansas City II
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• San Antonio FC Record 1-1 Draw with Swope Park Rangers - San Antonio FC
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• Rhinos at Kickers Today at 5:00pm - Rochester Rhinos
• USL Digital Network Kicks off with SanAntonioFC.com this Weekend - USL

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