It’s Week Five of the USL Championship regular season and Bethlehem Steel FC is getting ready for their inaugural match against Swope Park Rangers. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Who are Swope Park Rangers?
Steel FC and Swope Park Rangers share many similarities. Both have been around in the USL Championship since 2016 and are the USL Championship affiliate of MLS-sides in Philadelphia Union and Sporting Kansas City. Swope Park has seen three contracted players promoted to Sporting Kansas City through their affiliation with the MLS club (Jaylin Lindsey, Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal and Adrian Zendejas), while Steel FC has seen four players promoted to Philadelphia Union (Cory Burke, Derrick Jones, Olivier Mbaizo and Matt Real).
Over their first three seasons in the league, the Rangers have established themselves as a powerful side with an impressive 46-29-21 record. During their first two seasons, Swope Park claimed the Western Conference Championship in 2016 and 2017 but were ultimately unable to claim the USL Cup with losses to New York Red Bulls II and Louisville City FC. Last year, the Rangers were knocked out of the 2018 USL Cup Playoffs in the Western Conference semifinals.
Swope Park on the field
The club has gotten off to a rough start in their first season in the Eastern Conference, earning a one point in two matches and only scoring three times. Swope Park started its season on the road at Red Bulls II, falling by a score of 3-1, and then drew at home against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 2-2.
The Rangers are a team that aren’t going to beat you down with their height, but do have other ways of getting their goals and points. Despite having only having four players taller than six feet out of 18 players, Swope Park has scored three goals in 2019, all from the run of play. The Rangers are a fast, technical squad that will move the ball around and create openings in the opposing defense.
Steel FC take on Swope Park Rangers at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan. at 5:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 6. The match can be viewed on ESPN+.
Players to watch
Killian Colombie – Colombie is in his first season with the Rangers, but has previous experience with USL League Two side Albion Hurricanes FC Royals in 2018, posting a joint conference-best 10 goals to go along with five assists for the 7-7-0 side. He spent time in Paris Saint-Germain’s Academy as a youth player, and recently trained with Scottish club Hearts of Midlothian and MLS sides New York Red Bulls and San Jose Earthquakes. Colombie recorded an assist on Kelyn Rowe’s goal against Pittsburgh.
Kelyn Rowe – A veteran player with over 200 MLS games played in 161 starts, Rowe was a key piece in Swope Parks draw against Pittsburgh. Rowe is a Sporting Kansas City player who has only been loaned to the Rangers once so far this year. Although he may not be a regular for Swope Park, but he instantly becomes a game-changer when on the pitch for the USL Championship side.
Gedion Zelalem – A 22-year-old midfielder that has represented both the United States and Germany at the international youth levels, Zelalem is also signed with the Rangers’ MLS-affiliate and can cause problems in the midfield.
Injuries/Suspensions
Mohammad Abualnadi
Head coach
Paulo Nagamura – Paulo Nagamura is entering his first season as the head coach of the Swope Park Rangers, having served as the assistant coach in the club’s run to the USL Cup Final in 2017. He announced his retirement from professional soccer at the conclusion of the 2016 MLS season with Sporting Kansas City. He enjoyed a successful first season in coaching, aiding then head coach Nikola Popovic as the Rangers went 17-8-7 on their way to clinching a second consecutive Western Conference Championship. Nagamura, 34, enjoyed a 12-year MLS career that saw him win two MLS Cup championships and three Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles. He made 269 appearances in MLS, including 240 starts, recording 15 goals and 21 assists.
