KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Ozzie Cisneros scored the only goal of the game as Sporting Kansas City II took a 1-0 victory against Atlanta United 2 on Wednesday night at Children’s Mercy Park that officially eliminated Atlanta from postseason contention.

Sporting had an early chance as Enoch Mushagalusa ran onto a ball over the top by Isaiah LeFlore but didn’t seriously test Atlanta goalkeeper Vicente Reyes with his finish. The hosts went closer in the 15th minute, though, when Mataeo Bunbury controlled in the left side of the penalty area and created space for a low shot to the far post that went narrowly wide, and then four minutes later Jake Davis hit the woodwork with a rasping shot from 25 yards that caromed up and over the crossbar.

Atlanta’s first effort on goal didn’t arrive until eight minutes before halftime, but a well-worked move that saw Josh Bauer lift a ball toward the left side of the penalty area was headed centrally by Caleb Wiley only for Darwin Matheus’ header to be saved by SKC II’s John Pulskamp.

The teams exchanged chances early in the second half, with Atlanta’s Abdoulaye Diop winning possession just outside the SKC II penalty area and playing a quick pass to Macky Diop in the left side of the box, only for Pulskamp to come quickly off his line and smother the chance. At the other end, Davis went close once more for the host as another long-range effort fizzed just over the crossbar, while on the hour-mark Mushagalusa drove into the right side of the penalty area but had his near-post shot parried behind by Reyes.

Sporting broke through with 21 minutes to go, however, when Mushagalusa slipped a pass to Cisneros at the top of the penalty area and the youngster turned and drove right into the box before shooting low into the left corner of the net. Pulskamp then ensured the side maintained its lead in the 74th minute as he first made a diving save on a free kick by Atlanta’s Bradley Kamdem Fewo to the left corner and then recovered to smother the rebound chance as both Matheus and Philip Goodrum descended trying to finish. The hosts saw out the game from there, however, to earn a solid victory.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Ozzie Cisneros, Sporting Kansas City II – Cisneros scored the decisive goal for the hosts and had three shots and three key passes overall while completing 26 of 30 passes in a solid all-around display.

Scoring Summary
SKC – Ozzie Cisneros (Enoch Mushagalusa) 69’

Full Box Score