Several people have expressed disappointment in Minnesota’s start this year,
with a 3-1-3 (WDL) start, but considering last year’s horrendous debut, things
may be coming together. With this game against the Storm, Minnesota has won
both home games, and a critical road game against Milwaukee.
First Half:
Minnesota continued to dominate possession throughout the half with several
close chances, many created by Prendergast. Orret picked up his second assist
following a corner kick, that Hirschfeld was only, because of the mass of
people in the area, able to weakly punch out to the upper-right corner of the
penalty area. Prendergast, back to the goal, popped the ball up and to the
right a few yards, to Johnny Menyongar, who, also back to the goal, slammed the
ball to the opposite corner.
Calgary’s best chance was a penalty kick in the 34th minute, when Minnesota
goalkeeper Jon Lowery grabbed and held Damir Jesic on the extreme right-side of
the Thunder’s penalty area on one-on-none breakaway. Mark McKenna’s penalty try
forced a diving save to Lowery’s left, but the rebound went directly to Peter
Heidler who easily one-timed it straight ahead, to pull to back to a one-goal
deficit.
The game became a bit chippy for a few minutes, starting in the 40th, but
overall was a pretty clean, free-flowing game that really favored the Thunder
and their wide pitch. Calgary either couldn’t muster a continued attack, or
were playing for a counter-attack that never materialized.
Second Half:
The second half was, in terms of flow, much the same. The Storm managed a few
more chances than in the first, taking the ball into the penalty area, but
never able to get the full possession necessary for a quality chance on goal.
Minnesota continued to press forward, scoring again in the 63rd minute, again
on an Orret Prendergast rebound off the post; this time off the left post, that
rebounded to the opposite side of the goal-mouth into open space. Mike Gentile
reached the ball first was gently one-timed it into the open net.
Gentile picked up an assist in stoppage time, in a pinpoint cross 40 yards out,
creating a Thiago Martins break-away. He ran past the left side of the penalty
arc, and into the penalty area, and slid the ball to the lower-left corner,
just as two defenders were about to sandwich him.
Notes:
Calgary almost got burned for a pair of additional goals, when Lars Hirschfeld
couldn’t hold onto what could be described as relatively tame shots.
As well as Orret Prendergast played, it looked from me that he conned the
referee a couple of times with two obvious dives. As is always the case,
perhaps the referee saw something I didn’t, but if the habit continues, look
for some yellow plastic.
MINNESOTA THUNDER GAME REPORT
Participants: Minnesota vs. Calgary
Competition: A-League
Venue: National Sports Center, Blaine, MN
Date: Saturday, June 1 - kickoff 7:35 p.m. (CT)
Attendance: 2,648
Weather: Clear, warm
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Minnesota: 2 2 4
Calgary: 1 0 1
Minnesota - Magee (Prendergast) 3rd minute
Minnesota - Menyongar (Prendergast) 26th minute
Calgary - Heidler (McKenna) 34th minute
Minnesota - Gentile (Prendergast) 63rd minute
Minnesota - Martins (Gentile) 90th minute
LINEUPS:
Minnesota: 22-Jon Lowery; 12-Adam Eyre; 20-Chris Gores; 13-Mark Schulte; 21-Don
Gramenz; 5-;Mike Gentile; 17-Hugo Llamas; 7-Amos Magee (8-Johnny Torres, 46); 10-Johnny
Menyongar; 11-Jakob Fenger (6-Matt Schmidt, 80); 9-Orrett Prendergast (27-
Thiago Martins, 71)
Calgary: 33-Lars Hirschfeld; 20-Nikolas Ledgerwood; 4-Liam DeSilva; 5-Mike
Pavicic; 8-Jamie Auvigne; 22-Peter Heidler; 10-Mark McKenna; 19-Damir Jesic
(15-Conrad Chala, 75); 13-Nicolas Ledgerwood; 16-Kurt Bosch; 17-Hugo Martins
(7-Felix Napuri, 66)
Statistical Summary: Minnesota Calgary
Shots: 20 13
Saves: 3 2
Corner Kicks: 5 1
Fouls: 15 7
Offside: 2 0
Misconduct Summary:
Minnesota - Gores (caution - reckless tackle) 29th minute
Minnesota - Schulte (caution - reckless tackle) 55th minute
Referee: Kelly Ross
Assistant Referee #1: Bob Petersen
Assistant Referee #2: Jeremy Schroeder
Fourth Official: Troy Cohrs
