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MacLeod Makes Most of Shootout Moment

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 10/23/17, 8:09AM EDT

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Rookie goalkeeper made key stop to send Rangers past Rising FC


Photo courtesy Nick Tre. Smith / Swope Park Rangers

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The way the Swope Park Rangers’ Darrin MacLeod sees it, there are only positives being a goalkeeper in a penalty shootout.

After the rookie helped the defending Western Conference champion and No. 4-seed Rangers advance past No. 5-seed Phoenix Rising FC with a crucial save in the opening round of a 4-2 shootout victory on Sunday evening, it’s hard not to see his point.

“I enjoy it,” said MacLeod. “To be honest, there’s no real pressure on the goalkeeper. You’re supposed to score penalties. It was nice to get that first one out of the way just to calm the nerves and the guys to get ahead early.”

MacLeod denied Jamaican international Kevon Lambert with the first shot of the shootout, allowing Nansel Selbol to give the hosts a lead they wouldn’t relinquish at Children’s Mercy Victory Field. The Rangers ended up going 4-for-4 from the spot, with Lebo Moloto putting away the winner after Phoenix’s Doue Mala had shot high to open the fourth round.

“There’s always pressure,” said Moloto, reflecting the flipside to MacLeod’s lack of it. “It doesn’t matter what the competition is, there’s always pressure. I’m glad to have converted and win it for the team.”

That the game came down to a penalty shootout had a certain air of inevitability to it. After the clash was postponed to Sunday at halftime after lightning and torrential rain on Sunday night, the teams played a cagey affair through the second 45 minutes when. Chances were fleeting, although both Phoenix’s Didier Drogba and Swope Park’s Selbol threatened to break the deadlock.

The strange circumstances of resuming the contest 16 hours after it had been wrapped up the night before played a role in that as the teams looked to regain their footing on a much more pleasant afternoon.

“It’s always going to be a big difference, especially in a playoff environment like this,” said Swope Park defender Amer Didic. “Last night we had to stop a couple hours and sit in the locker room and wait. Then [we] go back out and warm up just to have it called off and scheduled again for today. It’s difficult but it’s just part of the game. We just had to adapt to it.”

Didic’s goal in the 113th minute was the reason the game had to be settled in a shootout in the first place, with the defender’s first goal in the USL Cup Playoffs leveling the score after Drogba had given Rising FC the lead in the first half of extra time. A cross by Colton Storm from the left channel was flicked high in the air by Kharlton Belmar, allowing Didic to follow up with a powerful header into the left corner of the net.

“I was just hoping for a good ball in,” said Didic. “The ball went in, Kharlton tried to get a head on it to put it on frame. Instead, it popped up and that’s always an opportunity for me to go in and attack. I had to make sure to put it in the right spot because there were a couple guys in the net that were trying to block me out. I was fortunate to put it off the post and go in.”


Photo courtesy Nick Tre. Smith / Swope Park Rangers

That provided the opportunity for MacLeod to send the Rangers through. Having saved a penalty kick in his professional debut against Saint Louis FC earlier this season, the former PDL goalkeeper for K-W United FC and TFC Academy made a sterling stop to deny Lambert’s shot to the right corner. Selbol duly converted, as did Christian Duke, Belmar and Moloto to follow, keeping Swope Park’s hopes of a return to the USL Cup alive.

After making only five appearances in the regular season for the Rangers, MacLeod was more than happy to step up in the biggest game of his young career.

“We have a big group of goalkeepers here at SKC and Swope Park Rangers,” said MacLeod. “Whichever gets the nod on the day, I think we’re all capable and ready to make big plays when needed. Now that I got my opportunity, obviously I’m enjoying it and just trying to help the team as best I can.”

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