KC Reporter

Sporting Kansas City II will travel to Arlington, Texas, for a match against North Texas SC at Choctaw Stadium on Sunday. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. CT and will be available for free streaming on MLSNEXTPro.com.

Interim head coach Ike Opara aims to build on the team's recent win over Real Monarchs, where Anthony Samways scored the decisive goal in second-half stoppage time. Earlier this season, Sporting KC II managed a comeback draw against North Texas SC and secured an extra point by winning in a penalty shootout.

Cielo Tschantret, captain of Sporting KC II, scored his first goal of the season during that earlier match against North Texas and has since added two more goals across 23 starts. He has played both defensive and midfield roles throughout the year. Maouloune Goumballe assisted Tschantret’s goal in March and currently leads the team with three assists along with four goals.

In goal, Jack Kortkamp, who is on loan from the first team, recorded his first win of the season in last week's victory over Real Monarchs and leads Kansas City keepers with 41 saves. Jacob Molinaro, a product of SKC Academy, has started 11 matches this season and achieved five results. Molinaro also participated in his first U.S. Youth National Team camp held in Fayetteville, Georgia.

Last Saturday saw several milestones for Sporting KC II. Both Anthony Samways and midfielder Blaine Mabie scored their first professional goals during Opara's initial win as interim head coach. Mabie converted a penalty before Samways delivered a late winner in stoppage time—a performance that earned him MLS NEXT Pro Goal of Matchweek 26 honors.

"Right on time! Anthony Samways' stoppage time game-winner takes home @MLSNEXTPRO Goal of Matchweek 26 honors!"

North Texas SC is led by head coach John Gall and currently holds eighth place in the Western Conference standings—one point ahead of Austin FC II—as the regular season nears its end. Samuel Sarver leads North Texas SC’s scoring efforts with 16 goals so far this year; he previously scored four times against Sporting KC II in July.

After Sunday’s match, Sporting KC II will return home for their final two games of the regular season: hosting Whitecaps FC 2 on September 19 and Ventura County FC on September 28 at Children's Mercy Park. Tickets are available through SeatGeek.com for $10 per match.