MLS NEXT Pro: Sporting KC II Falls to MNUFC2 Despite Late Offensive Surge

Staff Writer
1 minute ago
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NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Sporting Kansas City II (0-3-1, 2 points) dropped a narrow 1-0 decision to MNUFC2 (2-2-0, 6 points) on Sunday night at Victory Field. A first-half strike from Minnesota’s Alisa Randell proved to be the difference, leaving Sporting still searching for their first victory of the 2026 campaign.

Despite the loss, SKC II head coach Lee Tschantret saw flashes of resilience from a rotated lineup that featured first-team midfielder Cielo Tschantret and a defensive unit anchored by captain Pierre Lurot.

Minnesota Strikes Early

The decisive moment of the match arrived in the 23rd minute. Minnesota carved through the center of the pitch with a through ball that snuck past the SKC II backline. Alisa Randell read the play perfectly, ghosting into the box and tucking a low finish into the back of the net for his first goal of the season.

Minnesota nearly doubled their advantage in the 34th minute, but SKC II defender Zane Wantland kept his side in the match with a goal-line clearance. The first half was also marked by physical play, as two Sporting players were briefly sidelined for concussion evaluations before being cleared to return to action.

Hines Sparks the Attack

Looking for an equalizer, Coach Tschantret turned to his bench at halftime, introducing Jack Francka and Carter Derksen. However, the most significant spark came in the 65th minute with the introduction of SKC Academy winger Kashan Hines.

Within minutes of entering, Hines forced a turnover and darted toward the near post, unleashing a powerful shot that required a spectacular fingertip save from Minnesota keeper Keane Perkins. Ten minutes later, Hines tested the defense again, but a backtracking MNUFC2 defender did just enough to disrupt his rhythm, allowing the keeper to gather the shot.

Missael Rodriguez also proved dangerous on set pieces, seeing two late attempts drift agonizingly high of the crossbar as Minnesota sat deep to protect their lead.

Match Statistics

Stat	Sporting KC II	MNUFC2
Score	0	1
Shots	9	22
Shots on Goal	2	3
Corner Kicks	4	11
Fouls	11	18

Looking Ahead: Home Stand Continues

Sporting KC II remains at Victory Field for their next fixture, a high-profile afternoon clash against St. Louis CITY2 on Saturday, March 28.

Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM CT
Location: Victory Field (Kansas City, KS)
Tickets: $10 via SeatGeek
Broadcast: MLSNEXTPro.com and OneFootball app

With the local rivalry on the horizon, SKC II will be desperate to convert their defensive grit into points as they look to climb off the bottom of the Western Conference table.

SKC II Starting Lineup: Jacob Molinaro; Pierre Lurot, Nate Young, Mitch Ferguson, Zane Wantland; Cielo Tschantret, Shane Donovan, Johann Ortiz; Taylor Calheira, Tega Ikoba, Missael Rodriguez.