North Texas SC picked up one point in a high-scoring match against Sporting KC II, which was ultimately decided by kicks from the spot following 90+ minutes of play.
For the second week in a row, North Texas SC played a 4-2-3-1 with JT Harms again getting the start in place of Michael Collodi.
Head Coach John Gall did make a few tactical changes, though, starting Tarik Scott as the lone striker and dropping Sam Sarver into the central midfield. Daniel Baran and Isaiah Kaakoush both got their first starts of the season, with Baran playing on the left wing and Kaakoush playing alongside Mohammed Cisset at center back.
For Sporting KC II, they kept the same shape they’ve held all season. Sporting (pun intended) a 4-3-3, Jacob Molinaro got his second consecutive start of the season in goal, replacing Jack Kortkamp.
The front three players remained the same from previous match-ups, with Medgy Alexandre and Maouloune Goumballe swapping up top, and Goumballe looking to be their primary forward. David Zavala also got his first start of the season, replacing Shane Donovan in the midfield.
The first half of this game was incredibly defensive. Both teams struggled to get past the back line of their opponents and develop anything in the final third. North Texas was able to secure most of the possession and get the best opportunities, but Sporting KC II scored first.
In the 29th minute, Alexandre took a shot from the top of the box, which deflected off of Cisset. It was then deflected out to Cielo Tschantret, who shot a screamer back at the net and past Harms to make it 1-0, Kansas City.
North Texas wouldn’t let the lead last long, though. In the 36th minute, after a pass back from Leo Christiano for SKCII, Scott took the ball away from his defender and poked it past Molinaro to tie the game at 1-1.
“It felt good to get back on the scoresheet. I have not been able to score in the last few games, and it’s great to finally break that now,” Scott said after the game. “It helps build the confidence for what is to come, and I will work to continue off that.”
Five minutes later, Sam Sarver drew a penalty in the 41st minute, as he was tracking down a cross from Malachi Molina. Molina stepped up to take the PK and buried the goal to make it 2-1.
The home team continued the scoring in the second half. After a cross from Baran into the box, the ball deflected off a SKCII defender and back to an unmarked Scott, who slotted it home to make it 3-1 for North Texas in the 49th minute.
Despite some great chances for both teams, the next goal wouldn’t come until the 81st minute. Bryan Arellano crossed a corner into the box, where Johann Ortiz headed the ball into the net, to cut the lead to 3-2.
“Goals change games. At 3-1, when you give up a goal on a set piece, it gives the other team momentum,” said North Texas Coach John Gall. “We had chances, and if you don’t capitalize on them, you leave yourself open to these things. We’re making a lot of mistakes, and we’re being punished for them. The game was in control and we looked good, but when you give away goals, it changes everything.”
Less than five minutes later, Sporting KC II tied the game 3-3. Christiano slipped a pass toward Goumballe, who shielded his body from the defender to lay it off to Gael Quintero, who equalized it.
After 90 minutes of soccer, the game headed to a shootout:
NTX – 🔴🟢🔴🟢🔴🟢🟢🔴
SKC – 🟢🔴🟢🔴🔴🟢🟢🟢
Unfortunately, after eight rounds, Sporting KC II won it.
“We’re really disappointed as a group,” said North Texas SC Netminder JT Harms. “It’s not up to our standard. We have a lot to focus on and need to regroup in training.”
In a disappointing game like tonight’s, there’s no real “Man of the Match” for the losing team. However, it would be wrong of me not to mention Tarik Scott’s great performance. Scott was quick, decisive, and found a way to be in the right place at the right time, to walk away with a brace on the scoresheet.
Up next, North Texas SC travels to Providence Park to take on Portland Timbers 2 on Saturday, April 5th at 3:00 pm CT. The Timbers2 are currently 0-1-1 on the season.