Sporting KC has partnered with USL PRO clubs Orlando City SC and OKC Energy FC for the 2014 season. As part of the agreement, Sporting KC will loan players to the clubs to play games and gain experience throughout the year. Each week, we’ll recap the performances of the Sporting KC players on loan.
OKC Energy FC came up empty-handed last week after Arizona United and LA Galaxy II defeated Jimmy Nielsen's men at Pribil Stadium. The pair of results leaves Energy FC (8-11-5, 29 points) in the eighth and final USL PRO playoff spot with four regular season contests remaining.
Midfielder Jimmy Medranda featured as a second half substitute in both games, playing 45 minutes in a 2-1 loss to Arizona on Thursday and 19 minutes in a 1-0 loss to LA on Saturday.
OKC trailed after just four minutes on Thursday as Jonathan Top fired Arizona in front. The hosts controlled proceedings for most of the match, unleashing 20 shots (two from Medranda) compared to their opponents' seven, yet found themselves behind 2-0 after Sam Garza buried a 74th-minute penalty kick after drawing a foul on former Sporting KC defender Cyprian Hedrick inside the box. Former Sporting KC trialist Adda Djeziri cut the deficit in half three minutes later, but Arizona goalkeeper Evan Newton made six second half saves to prevent OKC from salvaging a point.
Saturday saw Energy FC suffer defeat to LA Galaxy II for the fourth time this season. Daniel Steres netted the 19th-minute winner for the visitors, who limited OKC to just two shots on goal.
With 29 points on the year, Energy FC has a two-point cushion on Arizona United, the Orange County Blues and the Charlotte Eagles for the final postseason position in USL PRO. Nielsen's squad has a pivotal rematch at Arizona United (8-12-5, 27 points) on Friday before hosting their final home game against the Charleston Battery (8-8-8, 32 points) on Sunday.
Meanwhile, USL PRO affiliate Orlando City SC looks poised for a first place finish in the regular season after they dispatched the Harrisburg Islanders 3-1 on Saturday. Orlando City (16-2-4 (52 points) has a three-point lead on the Richmond Kickers with two games in hand.
Arizona United was deducted two league points for fielding an ineligible player on June 21
Jimmy Medranda (OKC Energy FC)
2014 USL PRO Stats
<strong>Games Played</strong> |
<strong>Minutes Played</strong> |
<strong>Goals</strong> |
<strong>Assists</strong> |
<strong>Shots</strong> |
<strong>Fouls</strong> |
7 |
334 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
8 |
Christian Duke (OKC Energy FC)
2014 USL PRO Stats
<strong>Games Played</strong> |
<strong>Minutes Played</strong> |
<strong>Goals</strong> |
<strong>Assists</strong> |
<strong>Shots</strong> |
<strong>Fouls</strong> |
9 |
608 |
0 |
3 |
6 |
7 |
