Ghanaian youngster Latif Blessing scored his first competitive goal since moving to the United States scoring the second for Swope Park Rangers as they thrashed Energy FC 3-1 on Saturday at the Children’s Mercy Victory Field in Swope Soccer Village.
Blessing is originally a player of Sporting Kansas City but turned out for their affiliate team Swope Park Rangers in the lower-tier United Soccer League.
After going a goal down in the first half, the Rangers rallied with goals from Kharlton Belmar, Latif Blessing and Daniel Salloi for a sixth straight home win dating back to last season.
The visitors Energy scored first in the 23rd minute through Coady Andrews but Rangers responded through Belmar, who would not be denied in the 42nd minute and pulled the Rangers level at 1-1 with a first-time finish from eight yards out.
The Rangers carried the momentum into the second half and took a 2-1 lead as a pair of forwards on loan from Sporting Kansas City combined for the go-ahead goal. Salloi picked off a pass from Michael Daly and then put a perfectly-placed pass into the path of Blessing for the clinical game-winner.
Salloi, who scored in the Rangers’ season opener a year ago, once again put himself on the scoresheet in the 71st minute. Club captain and fellow Academy product Christian Duke split the OKC Energy FC backline with a well-weighted through ball that Salloi slotted confidently past Cody Laurendi for the 3-1 lead.