Recap: Sporting KC II suffers late loss at Austin FC II

Sporting Kansas City II (5-13-3, 19 points) suffered a late loss at Austin FC II (14-2-5, 49 points) on Sunday night after Ibrahima Sall found the back of the net in the 89th minute. The defeat snaps Sporting KC II's two game win streak while Austin takes a four point lead in the Western Conference.

Alex Cunningham took the first shot of the contest in the fourth minute, firing high after being set up by Zamir Loyo Reynaga. Austin then came close on back-to-back shots off the woodwork in the 16th and the 20th minutes. First, Erick Feliciano fired one off Jacob Molinaro's right hand post before Stefan Dobrijevic ripped the ball off the top of the crossbar from close range, resulting in an SKC II goal kick.

The first shot on target of the night came from the head of Missael Rodriguez after a deflected cross in the box. The winger's effort was secured on the near post by Erik Lauta who made four saves in the game. The Black and Verde's second save came in the 26th after Loyo Reynaga headed the ball down and on target. Somehow, Lauta reacted quick enough to poke the ball away from the goal to keep SKC II off the board. 

Molinaro's first of four saves came a minute later on the other end of the pitch. The SKC Academy product caught a midlevel shot sent right into his stomach on his left post. Molinaro was called back into action in the 35th when an Austin free kick appeared destined for the goal. The SKC II keeper dove at full extension and was able to muscle the ball over the bar. 

On the other side of the halftime break, Austin subbed on their leading scorer Diego Abarca who would go onto assist the game-winning goal. Molinaro kept the match goalless in the 54th, denying a header from Dobrijevic. SKC II Head Coach Lee Tschantret made his first of five subs in the 56th, swapping Tega Ikoba for Kashan Hines. He went back to his bench in the 68th, bringing on Ty Haas and Sam Worcester for Shane Donovan and Daniel Russo. Sall came on in the 70th replacing Dobrijevic. 

On the cusp of the 80 minute mark, Tschantret made his final two changes, subbing Jack Francka and Johann Ortiz on for Cunningham and Gael Quintero. Three minutes later, Blaine Mabie came inches away from opening the scoring, rifling a shot barely past the post from just outside the box. In the 89th, Sall tucked in a cross from Abarca to give the hosts the lead. 

Sporting KC II launched a valiant effort in the fourth and final minute of stoppage time with Ikoba forcing a reaction save from Lauta before a second corner pinged off the crossbar and away from danger. An SKC II foul shut down any more hopes of an equalizer and Austin escaped with the win, improving their hold on the Western Conference top spot.

Kansas City will be back at Victory Field at Swope Soccer Village on Saturday when they face Colorado Rapids 2 at 7 p.m. CT. Tickets are on sale now at SeatGeek.com for just $10. Fans can also stream the match at both MLSNEXTPro.com and in the OneFootball App.

Sporting Kansas City II: Jacob Molinaro; Alex Cunningham (Jack Francka 78'), Pierre Lurot, Mitch Ferguson, Daniel Russo (Sam Worcester 68'); Blaine Mabie (C), Gael Quintero (Johann Ortiz 78'), Zamir Loyo Reynaga; Shane Donovan (Ty Haas 67'), Kashan Hines (Tega Ikoba 56'), Missael Rodriguez

Subs Not Used: Brady Krysiewicz, Zane Wantland, Trevor Burns, Finn Dean

Austin FC II: Erik Lauta; Daniel Ciesla, Evan Watt, Jules Bery, Patrick Cayelli; Djakaria Barro (C), Christian Ayala (Kenan Hot 84'), Adrian Gonzalez (Marcel Ruszel 46'); Micah Burton (Diego Abarca 46'), Stefan Dobrijevic (Ibrahima Sall 70'), Erick Feliciano (Patrick Gryczewski 78')

Subs Not Used: Liam Flynn, Dren Dobruna, Ryan Klinger, Vlad Danciutiu

Scoring Summary:

ATX - Ibrahima Sall 4 (Diego Abarca) 89'

Misconduct Summary:

ATX - Adrian Gonzalez (Yellow Card; Unsporting Conduct) 29'
ATX - Jules Bery (Yellow Card; Unsporting Conduct) 31'
SKC - Missael Rodriguez (Yellow Card; Unsporting Conduct) 52'
ATX - Patrick Cayelli (Yellow Card; Unsporting Conduct) 64'
ATX - Evan Watt (Yellow Card; Unsporting Conduct) 77'
SKC - Pierre Lurot (Yellow Card; Unsporting Conduct) 84'

Referee: Jorge Medina
Assistant Referee: Carson Thomas
Assistant Referee: Jacobo Zuniga
Fourth Official: Gloria Martinez Resendiz