SKC II Preseason Recap: Sporting KC II takes 3-0 victory in the final match of the 2023 preseason presented by Central Bank
The Central Bank-presented 2023 preseason for Sporting Kansas City II ended Sunday afternoon with a 3-0 win in a 75-minute friendly against UMKC at the Swope Soccer Village. Josh Coan scored a penalty in the first half before Bakary Bagayoko and Ethan Bryant hit the net in the second half. Ethan Bandre made four saves that day and kept a clean sheet.
In the final of the pre-season, head coach Benny Feilhaber presented a starting eleven that should contest the entire competition. Bandre handled the goal with Lucas Rosa, Jahon Rad, Nassim Mekideche and Diedie Traore a line in front of him. The midfield was occupied by the trio of Bryant, Coan and Enzo Mauriz. The top three consisted of Bagayoko, Sebastian Cruz and Amadou Traore.
The Traore duo worked early on on SKC II’s left flank as the pair launched attack after attack for the home side. None of the early attempts brought anything on the scoreboard, but consistent early pressure wore down UMKC Roos’ defense. The visitors would score the first shot on goal of the game, a try from the top of the box that forced Bandre into a comfortable save.
Bagayoko and Mauriz saw the attempts narrowly miss immediately after Bandre’s save on back-to-back attacks. Bagayoko was a close-range headshot and Mauriz was a smasher from beyond the 18th. Bandre made his second save in a similar fashion to the first, securing a shot down the middle of his goal. At the other end of the field, Amadou Traore took over, slipping past the defenders and into the box. His cross was blocked by an outstretched arm from Roos, resulting in an SKC II penalty which Coan put neatly into the bottom right corner of the goal.
SKC II kept up the pressure in the first round, but couldn’t extend their lead. The half-time whistle provided some relief for UMKC but was short-lived as the hosts got out on the second shot. Bagayoko scored his third goal of the pre-season from close range and Bryant completed a brilliant team goal that started from the back line.
Bandre made two more saves, the last of which was his best of the day. The goalkeeper stretched at full length and saved the shot around his right post, securing the goal for SKC II. The friendly match ended in the 75th minute and both teams took part in a practice penalty shootout. SKC II also took victory here and crowned the pre-season 2023.
The club played in five games, maintaining a 3-2 record and scoring nine goals. Bagayoko pushed the team forward with three preseason results while Amadou Traore added two finishes. Now the regular season of MLS NEXT Pro begins. On Sunday, the SKC II will open their second year in the league with a trip to DICK’S Sporting Goods Park to take on Rapids 2. Fans can catch and follow the game with the MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app @SportingKCII on Twitter for updates during the competition.
SK C: Ethan Bandre; Lucas Rosa, Jahon Rad, Nassim Mekideche, Diedie Traore; Enzo Mauriz, Josh Coan, Ethan Bryant; Sebastian Cruz, Bakary Bagayoko, and Amadou Traore