KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Coming on for his professional debut with five minutes to go, the Swope Park Rangers’ Daniel Salloi didn’t have much time to make an impact.

In the end, though, his first professional goal couldn’t have proved more valuable as the Rangers held on for a 2-1 victory against the Portland Timbers 2 on Saturday night at Children’s Mercy Park.

“I got my first touch of the game,” Salloi said. “I played it into the space and I made my run into the box, and I was hoping I would get a good ball. I got a very good ball from Mark [Anthony Gonzalez] – thanks for him – and then it was an easy finish, but I’m happy I that could score.”

A Homegrown signing for Sporting Kansas City this offseason, Salloi succeeded where the Rangers had been left frustrated for most of the night. Despite numerous chances in both halves, the game still stood in the balance as Swope Park held a 1-0 lead when Salloi came on.

His finish proved vital as Portland’s Nick Besler, playing on the same field as his older brother Matt does for SKC, grabbed a stoppage-time goal that set up a dramatic finish. Rangers Coach Marc Dos Santos was pleased with the patience his side showed to keep creating chances.

“I looked at my assistant and said when we don’t score on so many opportunities it becomes dangerous,” Dos Santos said. “But I think that, one of the things we spoke about at halftime is to stay patient, make sure we don’t get out of our place. Stay patient, stay patient, and they stayed patient.”

That paid off three minutes after the break when Dane Kelly was brought down in the penalty area, and Kevin Oliveira converted from the spot for the first goal in the Rangers’ history.

With a first win under their belts, the Rangers will now look to push on as they visit another attack-minded side in Tulsa Roughnecks FC next Saturday at ONEOK Field.

After notching his first goal in a Rangers uniform, Salloi said he hoped it’s the start of big things to come for both him and the club.

“I can show a path to the other kids in the Academy,” he said, “[that] there is a way up and I am scoring for the Swope Park Rangers and then hopefully next week I’m scoring for Sporting. That is the plan.”