photo by: Sporting KC II

Sporting KC II celebrates after topping the top-ranked club in the Western Conference, Colorado Rapids 2, 4-0 on Sunday, July 30, 2023, at Rock Chalk Park.

Sporting KC II is certainly making its case for a lengthy playoff run heading into August.

SKC II, which rolled past top-ranked Western Conference foe Colorado Rapids 2 4-0 on Sunday at Rock Chalk Park, is now locked in at fourth in the West after finishing 4-1 through July. After handing Rapids 2 its second loss of the year, SKC II (9-5-5) improved to 35 points on the season.

After a two-hour rain delay, SKC II came out ready and notched the first score on Sunday when forward Sebastian Cruz drilled his fourth goal of the season in the 17th minute. Not long after, forward Alenis Vargas netted a wild scissor-kick before the end of the first half.

SKC II head coach Benny Feilhaber believed his group was ready to get out on the pitch, regardless of the inclement weather.

“It was a fantastic match from the guys,” Feilhaber said postgame, per the team website. “The emphasis this whole week was to be able to play a 90-minute game and they did that against the best team in the league.”

After sparring for the next 31 minutes, SKC II got its next score by way of defender Nassim Mekideche, in the second half during the 59th minute. Following up Mekideche, Felipe Hernandez gave SKC II some insurance with a goal during the 72nd minute.

Both second-half scores were assisted by midfielder Ethan Bryant.

“For Nassim, I told him on the next one go to the first post,” Bryant told the team website. “I saw that they were marking the back post a lot. He made a really good run and a really good finish. For Felipe, he’s got such an engine, made a good run in from behind and I just found him, and he did the rest of the work.”

When asked about what Sunday’s match means for the team, Bryant said the win proved what the club’s ceiling can be moving forward.

“It’s huge for the confidence of everyone in the locker room,” he said. “If you didn’t believe in us, everyone believes in us now. We know that we are capable of being the best team in the league on our day.”

SKC II travels to face Houston Dynamo 2 on Sunday. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m.