Reserves Draw in Colorado

Less than 24 hours after the first team pulled out a 1-1 draw with the Colorado Rapids, the Swope Park Rangers picked up a 1-1 draw themselves. Like the first team game, Sporting KC was able to control the possession and pace of the game from the start. Milos Stojcev had an early effort that went off the bar and then set up an effort by CJ Sapong that Steward Ceus came up with a big kick save. Colorado came up with a few chances of their own off of free kicks, one saw an easy effort spilled by Eric Kronberg, but Kronberg did well to cover the spill. KC had trialist, Omar Colley back with the team as he partnered Julio Cesar in the center of defense. Another good chance by KC later in the half had to be tipped over the bar by Ceus, a move that probably would have kept him from giving up a goal to Teal Bunbury in the Open Cup qualifier last year in KC. Colley set up the first goal of the game in first half stoppage time, playing a ball over the top to Korede Aiyegbusi. Aiyegbusi out raced his defender and got to the ball before Ceus. Aiyegbusi's chip went over Ceus and it fell just underneath the cross bar giving the Rangers the 1-0 half time lead.

In the second half, the Rapids started to push the game more trying to find an equalizer. The possession for the Rapids went up in the 52nd minute when Omar Colley was given his marching orders for a second yellow card offense. Colorado started to try and test Kronberg more from distance, hoping that a chance would float in over him. The Rapids made their pressure pay off in the 65th minute, when Brian Mullan volleyed home a corner that went just under Kronberg when he couldn't get down fast enough. KC started to get back into the game, Juniors players, Nate Opperman and West White combined well with former Junior, Kevin Ellis down the right while KC was down a man. Mullan, who received a 10 game league suspension for his tackle that broke Steve Zakuani's leg, showed off the same tackling skills late in the second half, going through Stojcev to get the ball while Stojcev had his back to the field around midfield. It was a horrible tackle that didn't even earn the midfielder a yellow. Mullan tried to plead his case saying he'd gotten the ball, when in reality he'd slide through Stojcev's leg causing him to kick the ball out. How he avoided a card even Peter Vermes asked when he came over from observing on the far side of the field. KC had one late chance from Birahim Diop after a run by Ellis down the right. Diop got the ball at the top of the box by himself with just Ceus to beat but fired his shot wide of the post. KC is now 1-1-2 on the reserve league season with 5 points.