KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Swope Park Rangers recorded their ninth consecutive victory at Children’s Mercy Victory Field as a trio of first-half goals led to a 3-0 win against Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 on Friday night. The Rangers took the lead in just the eighth minute as a through-ball by Kevin Oliveira played in Nansel Selbol, and the Nigerian waited out WFC2 goalkeeper Spencer Richey before finishing. SPR’s Lebo Moloto forced a big save from Richey just over 10 minutes later, but in the 28th minute Moloto finished from close range to cap a strong move down the right side. Moloto then played provider to set up Kharlton Belmar for his fourth goal of the season seven minutes before halftime. Selbol had a close-range effort saved early in the second half, and while Vancouver’s Ben McKendry pulled a goal back from the penalty spot with five minutes to go, the Rangers cruised to their fourth win of the season.

Scoring: 
8’ – SPR – Nansel Selbol (Kevin Oliveira)
28’ – SPR – Lebo Moloto (Colton Storm)
38’ – SPR – Kharlton Belmar (Lebo Moloto)
85’ – VAN – Ben McKendry (penalty)

• #SPRvVAN: Full match and Opta box score

Three Things That Matter:

• 1. Swope Park appeared intent on getting out onto the front foot early against Vancouver after having conceded five first-half goals in its last two outings, and with some decisive passing movement effectively had the three points wrapped up by the halftime break. The Rangers found space in the right channel of the Vancouver defense regularly, as both Nansel Selbol and Kharlton Belmar produced finishes from the position, while the accuracy the side showed in the WFC2 half – sitting at 72 percent for the game – was a welcome return to form for the defending Western Conference champions.

• 2. Lebo Moloto and Kevin Oliveira were at the center of the decisive attacking moves for the Rangers, with Oliveira providing the assist on Nansel Selbol’s opener and Moloto recording a goal and assist in the second and third goals of the night. A midfielder with his former club, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Moloto also completed all 24 of his passes of the game as he dropped out of the front line to create space for Kharlton Belmar and Selbol to break in behind, while Oliveira put in another strong performance completing 88 percent of his 42 passes.

• 3. Vancouver found possession of its own, but WFC2 sputtered in the attacking third as it was unable to match the host’s incisiveness. Until it was awarded a penalty kick with five minutes to go, all four of Vancouver’s shots had been blocked by a swarming Rangers defense, while WFC2’s 21 crosses on the night rarely found their targets. Add in only a 61 percent accuracy rate on Vancouver’s passes in Swope Park’s half, and saw its winless streak reach three games.  

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Lebo Moloto, Swope Park Rangers – Moloto had a goal and assist, and completed all 24 passes during the game to link up play in attack as the Rangers took a comfortable victory.

Upcoming Games
Swope Park Rangers at Rio Grande Valley FC – May 13, 8:30 p.m. ET, H-E-B Park
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 at Tulsa Roughnecks FC – May 11, 8 p.m. ET, ONEOK Field