photo by: Chance Parker

Sporting KC II celebrates after winning in penalty kicks against North Texas SC. Sporting KC II won in a penalty shootout at Rock Chalk Park on Sunday, June 25, 2023.

Sporting Kansas City II certainly possessed a flair for the dramatic this month.

The developmental team ended three of its four June matches tied after regulation, meaning, under MLS Next Pro rules, that it played three penalty shootouts as well. In turn, all three of those shootouts were decided by a single kick.

The decisive shot came from North Texas’ Hope Avayevu on Sunday, as his effort bounced off the crossbar and out to give SKC II a 5-4 shootout win following the draw at Rock Chalk Park, moving the club to 5-4-5 on the year.

The teams had traded goals on either side of the halftime break, with Sporting substitute Pau Vidal answering Alejandro Urzua to even the score at 1-1 in the 57th minute off an assist from Danny Flores.

photo by: Chance Parker

Sporting KC II forward Pau Vidal celebrates after scoring a goal against North Texas SC. Sporting KC II won in a penalty shootout at Rock Chalk Park on Sunday, June 25, 2023.

John Pulskamp, who had started for Sporting’s parent club to begin the year, tallied five saves for SKC II, and defender and 2023 MLS SuperDraft pick Chris Rindov hit the go-ahead penalty before Ayaveyu’s miss.

Vidal currently sits in a tie for third in MLS Next Pro with eight goals on the year. SKC II moved itself further up in a crowded Western Conference race, to sixth place with 23 points. Teams No. 5 through No. 10 are separated by just three points.

The league awards the typical three points for wins and one point for ties in regulation, but resolves each tie with a compulsory shootout that grants the winner an additional point. SKC II previously lost a shootout 5-4 in Vancouver to open the month on June 2 but won by the same margin against Tacoma Defiance in Lawrence on June 15. The team has now just lost one game (May 26 against Real Monarchs) in nearly two months of play.

The club will remain at home for a rematch with Vancouver on July 2.

photo by: Chance Parker

Sporting KC II celebrates after winning in penalty kicks against North Texas SC. Sporting KC II won in a penalty shootout at Rock Chalk Park on Sunday, June 25, 2023.

photo by: Chance Parker

Sporting KC II midfielder Osvaldo Cisneros blows a kiss during the match against North Texas SC. Sporting KC II won in a penalty shootout at Rock Chalk Park on Sunday, June 25, 2023.

photo by: Chance Parker

Sporting KC II midfielder Osvaldo Cisneros blows a kiss during the match against North Texas SC. Sporting KC II won in a penalty shootout at Rock Chalk Park on Sunday, June 25, 2023.

photo by: Chance Parker

Sporting KC II goalie John Pulskamp during the match against North Texas SC. Sporting KC II won in a penalty shootout at Rock Chalk Park on Sunday, June 25, 2023.

photo by: Chance Parker

Sporting KC II midfielder Ethan Bryant during the match against North Texas SC. Sporting KC II won in a penalty shoot out at Rock Chalk Park on Sunday, June 25, 2023.

photo by: Chance Parker

Sporting KC II forward Alenis Vargas dribbles against North Texas SC. Sporting KC II won in a penalty shootout at Rock Chalk Park on Sunday, June 25, 2023.

photo by: Chance Parker

Sporting KC II forward Pau Vidal celebrates after scoring a goal against North Texas SC. Sporting KC II won in a penalty shootout at Rock Chalk Park on Sunday, June 25, 2023.

photo by: Chance Parker

Sporting KC II forward Pau Vidal celebrates after scoring a goal against North Texas SC. Sporting KC II won in a penalty shootout at Rock Chalk Park on Sunday, June 25, 2023.

photo by: Chance Parker

Sporting KC II forward Pau Vidal celebrates after scoring a goal against North Texas SC. Sporting KC II won in a penalty shootout at Rock Chalk Park on Sunday, June 25, 2023.

photo by: Chance Parker

Sporting KC II forward Pau Vidal celebrates after scoring a goal against North Texas SC. Sporting KC II won in a penalty shootout at Rock Chalk Park on Sunday, June 25, 2023.

photo by: Chance Parker

Sporting KC II forward Pau Vidal celebrates after scoring a goal against North Texas SC. Sporting KC II won in a penalty shootout at Rock Chalk Park on Sunday, June 25, 2023.

photo by: Chance Parker

Sporting KC II goalie John Pulskamp during the match against North Texas SC. Sporting KC II won in a penalty shootout at Rock Chalk Park on Sunday, June 25, 2023.

photo by: Chance Parker

North Texas SC defender Amet Korça dribbles the ball during the match against Sporting KC II. Sporting KC II won in a penalty shootout at Rock Chalk Park on Sunday, June 25, 2023.

photo by: Chance Parker

Sporting KC II midfielder Felipe Hernandez dribbles the ball during the match against North Texas SC. Sporting KC II won in a penalty shootout at Rock Chalk Park on Sunday, June 25, 2023.

photo by: Chance Parker

North Texas SC defender Manuel Caicedo during the match against Sporting KC II. Sporting KC II won in a penalty shootout at Rock Chalk Park on Sunday, June 25, 2023.

photo by: Chance Parker

Sporting KC II goalie John Pulskamp during the match against North Texas SC. Sporting KC II won in a penalty shootout at Rock Chalk Park on Sunday, June 25, 2023.

Sporting KC II forward Alenis Vargas shoots the ball against North Texas SC. Sporting KC II won in a penalty shootout at Rock Chalk Park on Sunday, June 25, 2023.

photo by: Chance Parker

Sporting KC II midfielder Felipe Hernandez dribbles the ball during the match against North Texas SC. Sporting KC II won in a penalty shootout at Rock Chalk Park on Sunday, June 25, 2023.