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Road to the USL Cup Final – SPR Postseason Bound

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 10/21/16, 10:45AM EDT

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The Rangers clinched a playoff berth in their inaugural season with victory in OKC


Photo courtesy of OKC Energy FC

Ahead of the 2016 USL Cup Final, Presented by Nike, we’re taking a look at the road of the two finalists to their first visit to the championship game. Tune in this Sunday on ESPNU, the WatchESPN app, or SiriusXM FC 85 as the New York Red Bulls II host the Swope Park Rangers at 8 p.m. ET.

OKC Energy FC vs. Swope Park Rangers
September 18, 2016 – Taft Stadium

The Swope Park Rangers had won three of their previous four games to move within range of a place in the 2016 USL Cup Playoffs as they prepared to visit OKC Energy FC for their third-to-last game of the regular season at Taft Stadium.

After a dominant first-half display, the Rangers’ place in the postseason was confirmed, as the Canadian duo of Mark Anthony Gonzalez and Tyler Pasher each recorded a goal and assist to lead the side to a victory.

The Rangers had made a fast start the week before as they took a 3-0 victory against Tulsa Roughnecks FC that featured an outstanding finish by forward Kris Tyrpak. Against Energy FC on the road, it was Dane Kelly who grabbed the opening for a second consecutive contest, as the USL’s all-time leading scorer ran onto a chipped pass by Gonzalez before unleashing a fierce left-footed finish from 15 yards to give Swope Park the lead.

Eight minutes later it was Gonzalez’s turn to find the back of the net, as he and Pasher linked up to devastating effect. A through-ball down the left saw Pasher dummy and turn his man before racing onto the ball, and his inch-perfect first-time cross was met by a first-time finish by Gonzalez inside the six-yard area to make it 2-0 in the 24th minute.

The Rangers completed an outstanding first half with nine minutes to go before the break, as Pasher’s speed again was crucial to the finish. Two quick passes from Amer Didic to Christian Duke, and then from Duke to split the Energy FC back line allowed Pasher to race in behind the defense, and his low shot easily found the back of the net for a three-goal lead.

From there, the Rangers put on a defensive clinic, holding OKC without a shot on goal in the contest as the hosts were unable to find a way back into the game. When the final whistle blew, the Rangers were on their way to the postseason in impressive fashion in the club’s inaugural season.