FENTON, Mo. – Saint Louis FC rallied after going behind early in the second half and then held off Sporting Kansas City II late to earn a 3-2 victory at West Community Stadium on Friday night. The win moved STLFC into second place in the Group E standings ahead of Saturday’s meeting between first-placed Indy Eleven and third-placed Louisville City FC at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Following the opening minutes of the contest, between 7:00 and 8:46 of the match, players from both sides came together at the center circle, united against racism, and in support of equality, diversity and compassion.

In the game, Saint Louis created the first big chance in the 11th minute when Joaquin Rivas was played into the penalty area by Todd Wharton, but SKC II goalkeeper John Pulskamp came off his line quickly to make a good save. That theme continued throughout the first half as the hosts created most of the attacking chances. Richard Bryan went close nine minutes later but slid his finish from the right side of the area wide of the left spot, while Pulskamp made a big save to deny Tyler Blackwood in the 22nd minute at point-blank range after a good cross from the left by Paris Gee.

STLFC’s Russell Cicerone also bounced a shot just wide of the left post 11 minutes before halftime after a good cutback cross by Kyle Greig from the right, and then in first-half stoppage time he forced a kick-save by Pulskamp with a shot from the left side of the penalty area as the game went to the break even.

After few chances in the opening 45 minutes, though, Sporting capitalized on an opportunity two minutes into the second half. Petar Cuic stole possession as Saint Louis tried to build in its own half and quickly sent a pass forward to Wilson Harris breaking into the penalty area. Harris fired home a low finish for his sixth goal of the season as the visitors took the lead.

The advantage didn’t last long, however, as six minutes later STLFC equalized. Off a free kick from the left the ball deflected to the back post where it fell loose in the area. Greig was the first to react and produced a remarkable sliding finish that saw him roof a shot into the top-right corner of the net, breaking Pulskamp’s shutout.

In the 58th minute the hosts then hit the front as Wharton threaded a pass from the left channel through to Blackwood as he broke into the right side of the penalty area. The English forward showed patience as covering defenders converged, and then created space for a right-footed shot that squeezed into the left corner of the net.

Greig almost added a third in the 67th minute with a curling shot from 25 yards that produced a good diving save by Pulskamp, but with seven minutes remaining Kadeem Dacres capitalized on a misplay on the SKC II back line and broke in on goal after a long goal kick upfield. The second-half substitute took one touch to control and slid his first goal of the season past Pulskamp into the right corner of the net.

Sporting made things interesting in second-half stoppage time as Phanuel Kavita was whistled for a foul in the area, allowing Harris to step up and bag his second of the night and seventh goal of the season with a strong finish to the right corner past diving STLFC goalkeeper Kyle Morton. The visitors were unable to complete the comeback as Danny Barbir’s last-minute header from a corner kick flew wide of the left post, and Saint Louis held on for a vital three points to its playoff chances.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Tyler Blackwood, Saint Louis FC – Blackwood had one goal on four shots, notching his first tally since July 26, and recorded one key pass while completing 19 of 23 passes overall.