Swope Park gets into the win column for the first time this season in its first meeting with Louisville City FC since the 2017 USL Cup.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The Rangers took their first win of the season in a topsy-turvy contest against LouCity at Children’s Mercy Field. The contest entered a 63-minute lightning delay in the 13th minute with little having occurred, but after the game resumed Louisville almost took the lead in the 25th minute when Abdou Mbacke Thiam had a chance smothered by SPR goalkeeper John Pulskamp. The Rangers’ first good chance arrived three minutes later when Felipe Hernandez rang a shot off the crossbar from 25 yards, but two minutes later Hernandez capitalized on a turnover by Louisville goalkeeper Brian Holt to put the hosts ahead. Four minutes later the Rangers doubled their lead as Rassambek Akhmatov lifted home a through-ball by Mark Segbers. LouCity pulled a goal back four minutes into the second half as Magnus Rasmussen curled home a free kick from 20 yards into the top-left corner, and Pulskamp had to come up big again to keep SPR ahead as he denied a chance for Thiam moments later after a clever back-heel by Luke Spencer. Louisville pulled level in the 58th minute, however, as Spencer forced home a finish from close range at the second attempt. But LouCity was reduced to 10 men with two minutes to go when Niall McCabe was shown a red card for a hard foul, and off the ensuing free kick Abdul Rwatubyaye flicked home a header for the Rangers to earn Swope Park a dramatic late winner.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Abdul Rwatubyaye, Swope Park Rangers – Making his debut for Swope Park, Rwatubyaye scored the late game-winner to add to a strong defensive performance that saw him make eight clearances and win 16 of 22 combined duels.