MNUFC2 wasn’t able to contain a powerful Sporting Kansas City II offense, falling to the SKC II side 4-1 on Sunday evening at Rock Chalk Park. The Twos now look to their 2024 Home Opener on Friday, May 3 at the National Sports Center Stadium in Blaine, Minnesota against St. Louis CITY2.
Just two minutes into the match, Sporting Kansas City II found their first goal after Loons’ defender Victor Eriksson conceded a foul just outside the box, giving SKCII a free kick. Kamron Habibullah lined up to take the shot off the set piece, and the shot went past the MNUFC2 wall and eventually past Twos’ goalkeeper Kai Zeruhn. The young keeper nearly made the save, getting one hand in contact with the scoring ball.
Shortly after SKCII scored their first goal from a set piece, another free kick was given to the opposing team near Minnesota’s box. For the second time, Habibullah took the free kick, serving it over the Loon’s wall. The service in nearly went out on the endline but was kept in by Zeruhn.
In the 20th minute, SKCII found the back of the net for the second time after Felipe Hernández ran onto the ball that was played up the right flank. Hernandez, just outside the box, passed the ball inside to Habibullah for a shot that was aimed for the far corner, going past Zeruhn for the second time in the first half.
Minnesota kept pressure on the home side with another chance to score after a cross from the right flank was deflected off one of SKCII defenders to the feet of Kage Romanshyn JR. for a shot on goal. Romanshyn Jr.’s close shot on goal was saved by Pulskamp.
In the 32nd minute, Weah had another close chance to score after winger Darius Randell found him in the attacking third. Weah settled the ball from the air and took a shot from the left flank that deflected off Sporting Kansas City II, ultimately giving MNUFC2 a corner.
Three minutes before half, Habibullah nearly scored his third goal of the match, but the shot hit off the far goalpost, deflected back out into play and eventually was cleared out.
In contrast to the first moments of the first half, the Twos started the second half off quickly out of the gates and found themselves on the scoreboard just two minutes into the second half. Their high press saw Randell create a turnover in the attacking half where he then connected a thru-ball to Weah, who then found himself in a one-v-one situation and cut it inside for a shot on goal that flew past Pulskamp.
Sporting Kansas City II found the back of the net two times in two minutes but both goals were called offside, keeping the score 1-2.
MNUFC2 nearly leveled the score when forward Loïc Mesanvi took a close-range shot after running onto a through ball inside the 18-yard-box, but his shot was kick-saved by Pulskamp. But the Kansas City side struck once again when Danny Flores scored SKC II’s third goal after Habibullah, on the left flank, passed it back inside the box. Hernandez let the pass be, allowing Flores to take a shot and find the far corner of the net.
In the 70th minute, Zeruhn made a crucial save after SKCII placed a long ball into their attacking third. Habibullah slipped the ball to Beto Avila on the right side near the six-yard-box. Avila’s first shot was blocked by MNUFC2 defender Morris Duggan and back out to Avila for a second shot inside the six that Zeruhn deflected.
Then in the 75th minute, Habibullah scored his third goal of the match after connecting with a pass on the left flank where he fired a shot off, finding the top right corner, solidifying the 4-1 scoreline to finish the game.
GOALS
0-1 SKCII – Kamron Habibullah (2’)0-2 SKCII – Kamron Habibullah, assisted by Felipe Hernandez (20’)
1-2 MNUFC2 – Patrick Weah, assisted by Darius Randell (48’)
1-3 SKCII – Danny Flores, assisted by Kamron Habibullah (64’)
1-4 SKCII – Kamron Habibullah, assisted by Jacob Bartlett (76’)
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
Caution, SKCII – Kamron Habibullah (12’)
Caution, SKCII – Ian James (18’)
Caution, MNUFC2 – Victor Eriksson (41’)
Caution, MNUFC2 – Moses Nyeman (44’)
Caution, SKC – Brandon Munson (85’)
NOTABLE STATS
1 – MNUFC Academy U17 goalkeeper Kai Zeruhn made his MNUFC2, MLS NEXT Pro and professional debut against Sporting Kansas City II. During the match, Zeruhn made five saves.
TEAM LEADERS (Updated through April 28)
Goals – Carlos Harvey (3)
Assists – Molik Jesse Khan (2)
Saves – Alec Smir (15)
Wins – Alec Smir (1)
Shutouts – N/A
