The Swope Park Rangers (0-3-2, 2 points) shut out Birmingham Legion FC (2-2-1, 7 points) on Saturday for their first clean sheet of the season, battling to a 0-0 road draw at BBVA Compass Stadium.
The result saw SPR limit USL Championship expansion side Birmingham to just three shots on target, none of which after the 30th minute. The visitors put six shots on frame themselves, but Legion goalkeeper Matt Van Oekel delivered a strong performance between the posts to ensure a sharing of the spoils.
Ethan Vanacore-Decker—one of three fresh faces in the Rangers’ starting lineup alongside Ayyoub Allach and Sporting KC Academy product Will Little—nearly opened the scoring within 60 seconds when Felipe Hernandez forced a turnover and set the striker through on goal, but Van Oekel sprung low to make the save.