MNUFC2 captured all three points on the road on Sunday night against Sporting Kansas City II on a noticeably windy evening. First-Team Homegrown forward Darius Randell’s goal was the difference maker, bringing the Twos back into the win column, while MNUFC Academy goalkeeper Keane Perkins earned his first-ever MLS NEXT Pro clean sheet.
17’ - MNUFC2 defender Sam Vigilante forced the Sporting Kansas City II goalkeeper Jacob Molinaro to make a save from close range after Vigilante had gathered the rebound off a previously-blocked shot from inside the box.
23’ (1-0) - The Twos opened the scoring off a quick counter attack initiated by First-Team forward Marcus Caldeira when his thru-ball pass connected into the SKCII box, eventually finding its way to the left side where fellow First-Team forward Darius Randell gained possession before firing off a close-range shot, beating the keeper to take the lead.
31’ - Off yet another counter attack, MNUFC2 created another dangerous scoring chance when Caldeira brought the ball into the SKC II box, quickly passing it along to First-Team winger Mauricio González. González then took a shot from inside the box that missed just wide of the far post.
45’ + 3’ - Sporting Kansas City II drove into the Twos’ defending third, sending in a ball into the six-yard box, where an MNUFC2 defender made an attempt to clear the ball, but it went towards net. MNUFC Academy goalkeeper Keane Perkins was able to make the stop to prevent the equalizer just minutes before halftime.
61’ - The home side earned a direct free kick about 20 yards from goal. Missael Rodriguez took the kick, which bent over the cross bar and out of bounds.
68’ - Kashan Hines took advantage of an MNUFC2 mishandling of the ball, driving towards goal on the left flank, where he then struck a close-range shot at a tight angle. But, Perkins made the stop at the near post, ending the dangerous scoring opportunity.
88’ - MNUFC2 flipped the field on a transition following a SKC II free kick. Midfielder Luciano Pechota took the ball up the field and into Sporting’s defending third before connecting with Caldeira on the other side. Caldeira’s shot missed just wide of the opposite post.
90’ + 4’ - SKC II’s Rodriguez took a free kick late into second-half stoppage time that missed just inches above the cross bar in a last-minute effort to try and equalize the match.
GOALS
1-0 MNUFC2 - Darius Randell - 23’
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
MNUFC2 - Kieran Chandler (caution) - 25’
MNUFC2 - Nick Dang (caution) - 35’
NOTABLE STATS
1 – MNUFC Academy forward Nosa Osagie made his MNUFC2 and MLS NEXT Pro debut appearance, coming on as a late second-half substitute. Osagie notably is the youngest-ever player to make a game appearance for MNUFC2 at 14 years and 354 days old.
TEAM LEADERS (Updated through March 22, 2026)
Goals – Marcus Caldeira (3)
Assists – Momoh Kamara (2)
Saves – Kai Zeruhn (5)
Wins – Kai Zeruhn, Keane Perkins (1)
Shutouts – Keane Perkins (1)
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LINEUPS*
MNUFC2 XI: GK Keane Perkins; D Kieran Chandler, Anderson Farris, Nick Dang (Tim Dennis 82’), Sam Vigilante; M Alpha Kabia ©, Luciano Pechota, Darius Randell, Kenyel Michel (Issa Saidi 76’), Mauricio González (Max Harwood 46’, Nosa Osagie 90’+1’); F Marcus Caldeira
Substitutes Not Used: GK Alex Witte; D Brody Schauf, William Mayes
Sporting Kansas City II XI: GK Jacob Molinaro; D Pierre Lurot, Nate Young, Mitch Ferguson (Jack Francka 46’), Zane Wantland (Tomiwa Adewumi 76’); M Cielo Tschantret, Johann Ortiz (Gael Quintero 76’), Shane Donovan; F Tega Ikoba (Kashan Hines 65’), Missael Rodriguez, Taylor Calheira (Carter Derksen 46’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Kael Taylor
