KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Indy Eleven rallied from a halftime deficit but was unable to take advantage of its second-half chances in a 1-1 draw with Sporting Kansas City II at Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday evening that saw Graham Smith pull off a remarkable goal-line clearance in stoppage time to earn his side a point.

Looking to rebound from defeat in midweek, Indy had an early chance to take the lead as Neveal Hackshaw played Patrick Seagrist into the left side of the penalty area to deliver a low cross for Jordan Hamilton, whose first-time shot was saved by SKC II’s John Pulskamp. Seagrist also delivered another chance for Hamilton in the 17th minute after Nicky Law’s cross from the left had been cleared to the left by the Sporting defense, but Hamilton’s header went wide of the left post.

The hosts went close seven minutes before the halftime break as Wilson Harris cut in from the right side of the penalty area and curled a shot wide of the far post, but the 2020 USL Championship Young Player of the Year found the net in the 40th minute as Kayden Pierre delivered a perfect angled cross into the top of the six-yard box from the right that allowed Harris to tap home from close range.

Indy almost hit back immediately as Jeremiah Gutjahr first a shot from 25 yards off a half-cleared corner that deflected just over the crossbar, while early in the second half Enoch Mushagalusa went close to doubling Sporting’s lead as he controlled a ball over the top in the right side of the penalty area and cut inside onto his left foot for a near-post shot that Indy goalkeeper Jordan Farr got down well to parry wide.

The visitors leveled in the 51st minute, however, as Indy turned over possession in the SKC II half, setting up a shot for Nicky Law from the right side of the penalty area that Pulskamp got down well to save, only for the rebound to fall to Hamilton to tuck away. Hamilton almost notched a second in the 63rd minute as he got onto a through-ball by Seagrist but sent his finish wide of the left post as Pulskamp came quickly off his line to challenge. Seagrist and Hamilton almost connected again moments later, but Seagrist’s knock-down header went just out of the reach of the Canadian forward and behind for a goal kick.

Gordon Wild also went close for Indy as he hit the woodwork in the 67th minute with a header off a cross from the right by Nick Moon that went off the crossbar and was cleared by the Sporting defense. Manuel Arteaga also had a shot strike the right post with a powerful effort from the right side of the penalty area with a minute to go that was turned onto the upright by Pulskamp as he sent it behind for a corner.

Indy should have claimed victory in stoppage time as SKC II got caught upfield as Wild got onto a pass into the right channel and cut back a pass to Jared Timmer, which drew Pulskamp off his line only for Timmer’s shot to be blocked away by Smith to keep the game level. That proved the final chance of the game as honors ended all square.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Graham Smith, Sporting Kansas City II – Smith completed 87 of 95 passes, and won 3 of 3 duels and 3 of 3 aerial duels before recording a miraculous goal line clearance that preserved a point for his side.   

Scoring Summary
SKC – Wilson Harris (Kayden Pierre) 40’
IND – Jordan Hamilton 51’

Full Box Score