Minnesota returns to their once-a-year venture to Eastview High School in Apple Valley, an invitation to those in the southern suburbs to make their way up to the National Sports Center for the rest of the season. The smaller confines of the converted point-ball field (which, comically, had the south penalty area incorrectly sized, causing a small cadre of people to simultaneously spray-pain new lines, while scuffing out, and later spray-painting green, the old lines), may have suited the Riverhawks, as the Thunder are used to the international regulation field that is the NSC.
--- First Half ---
The choppiness of the pitch led to Minnesota pushing the ball air-ward more often than usual, while Cincinnati, in the first half, tried to work short passes among themselves. While generally a pretty and effective means of working against the opponent’s defense, the high crest, the aforementioned choppiness, and the bare spots of what was the grid-ball sidelines rendered it an ineffective tactic.
A counterattack opened up space, and a goal, for Minnesota in the 14th minute. Johnny Menyonger caused a dispossession inside the Thunder half of the center circle an moved the ball quickly into the Riverhawk’s half. A cross forward and to the right found Jacob Fenger, who slipped and regained possession (after a fortuitous, depending on your point-of-view, no-call by the referee when he took out the defender trying to regain possession - not taking possession until the defender was eating grass), took the ball into the penalty area, and dropped it back to Menyonger who easily slotted the ball to the center of the new for his fourth goal in as many games.
In the 29th minute, Mark Shulte blasted a free kick through the Cincinnati wall from 30 yards out. Goalkeeper Chris Wannamaker saved the shot, but could not handle the ball. A scramble took place inside of the Riverhawk’s goal area, as goalkeepers, defenders, and strikers all converged upon the loose ball. Orrett Pendergast was the lucky fist-comer, who on the second attempt (the first was blocked), was able to barely punch the ball through.
Minnesota finished the first-half barrage five minutes later, in the 34th minute when Jacob Fenger surprised Chris Wannamaker, making a shot out of an expected cross. Nine yards off the goal line, along the right flank, Fenger swatted a curving ball that slipped past Wannamaker into the side netting.
Despite the small dimensions of the playing area, the game was not very physical; while players on each side thought the referee missed physical fouls, he did clamp down on the retaliation, issuing yellow cards to Fred DeGrand, and Mike Gentile for retaliation, and one more in the second half. Cincinnati had a difficult time getting any offense together, with only one good chance, a loose ball in the Minnesota goal area swallowed up by Jon Lowery.
--- Second Half ---
Minnesota picked up where they left off, in the 52nd minute. with Jacob Fenger seemingly surprising Chris Wannamaker. Off a central run, Fenger shot just after entering the penalty area dead center, with a curving ball into the left-side netting.
Cincinnati then ratcheted up their offense, and Minnesota was content to drop back defensively, take some substitutions, and let them hammer away. Not surprisingly, having done it so quickly into the second half, the Riverhawks were able to consistently pound away at the bunker, and eventually breach it. The breach took place in the 82nd minute, as Daniel Alvarez performed a nice redirecting header from Shawn Roekey. Roekey was in he right-corner, Alvarez was around the penalty spot, and put in into the left side of the net, leaving Thunder goalkeeper Jon Lowrey without a chance.
Keeping the pressure up, the Riverhawks forced an own-goal in the 87th minute. This time Roekey was in the air, on the far side of the penalty area following a corner kick on the right corner, back to the right-side of the goal area, where Adam Eyr misplaced the ball into his own net.
The Riverhawks had a few more near misses in stoppage time, but there were unable to register another tally before time expired.
--- Notes ---
Some may say he’s at the end of his career, but don’t underestimate how much Donny Gramenz means to Minnesota’s defense; his substitution in the 63rd minute really signaled the start of Minnesota’s defensive disorganization.
I want some of whatever the Eastview High’s groundkeepers were drinking - it must have been pretty good.
MINNESOTA THUNDER GAME REPORT
Participants: Minnesota vs. Cincinnati
Competition: A-League
Venue: Eastview High School, Apple Valley, MN
Date: Saturday, June 8 - kickoff 7:00 p.m. (CT)
Attendance: 4,432
Weather: 75 Degrees; Sunny, Humid
Scoring Summary: 4 2F
Minnesota: 4 0
Cincinnati: 0 2
Minnesota: Menyongar (Fenger) 14th minute
Minnesota: Prendergast 29th minute
Minnesota: Fenger (Schulte) 33rd minute
Minnesota: Fenger (Prendergast) 52nd minute
Cincinnati: Alvarez (Rockey) 82nd minute
Cincinnati: Own Goal (Rockey) 82nd minute
LINEUPS:
Minnesota: 22-Jon Lowery; 20-Chris Gores (4-Eric Otto, 76); 13-Mark Schulte (Aaron Biddle, 76); 12-Adam Eyre; 21-Don Gramenz (2-Zaf Kilickan, 63); 17-Hugo Llamas; 5-Mike Gentile; 8-Johnny Torres; 10-Johnny Menyongar; 11-Jakob Fenger; 9-Orrett Prendergast (27-Thiago Martins, 56)
Cincinnati: 1-Chris Wannamaker; 21-Ben Fisher; 3-Fred DeGand; 27-Jeremy Snee; 16-Roettker, Rick; 8-Conally Edozien; 6-Daniel Alvarez; 15-Shawn Roekey; 11-Christof Lindenmayer; 13-Jeff Nikocaj; 7-Simon Lowey
Statistical Summary: Minnesota Cincinnati
Shots: 16 12
Saves: 3 9
Corner Kicks: 5 6
Fouls: 19 19
Offside: 4 5
Misconduct Summary:
Cincinnati– Alvarez(caution for reckless tackle) 20th minute
Cincinnati– DeGand(caution for retaliation) 43rd minute
Minnesota – Gentile(caution for retaliation) 45th minute
Minnesota – Martins(caution for retaliation) 60th minute
Referee: Elias Bazakos
Assistant Referee #1: Mishaun Ahmad
Assistant Referee #2: Troy Cohrs
Fourth Official: Jeremy Schroeder
