It seems that Rochester invites extreme weather when it visits to Minnesota. In 1999 it was temperatures in the 30s; this game brought mid-90s temperatures and extreme humidity. Few players remain from 1999, and the game was fairly clean. Not counting the 6-1 win over the San Diego Gauchos in an US Open Cup match, Minnesota’s last two home games had been played to draws (versus Vancouver and Richmond).
--- First Half ---
Both teams playing very slowly, both teams seemingly wondering how they can swim through the humidity for 90 minutes. Rochester received an early break in the 6th minute when a Minnesota defender stumbled allowing Kirk Wilson an unobstructed run around the left corner into the penalty area - as the Thunder tied to reform, he passed back to a waiting Stoian Mladenov, who easily put in a low shot into the left side of the net.
Minnesota began picking up the pace after 20 minutes, but it could hardly be called full-speed. Minnesota attempted to mix the long ball with building up their offense, but most of the game was played within the midfield. Minnesota also started using the NSC’s dimensions (as opposed to Frontier Field’s diminutive proportions) to gain the advantage in possession, but the speed of the game allowed the Rhino’s to adjust.
In the 35th minute, in a rare foray into any team’s offensive third, a series of back-and-forth headers between Jacob Fenger and Amos Magee equalized the game at one. Magee started by running to a 50-50 ball to the right of Rochester’s penalty area, and sent the ball to Fenger in front of the goal area, which went back to Magee a few feet from his original position, inside the penalty area, who’s final header was just over the reach of Scott Vallow’s fingertips, and blooped over the goal line, finally resting against the net on the left side of the goal.
Rochester nearly took the lead again in stoppage time, off a corner kick, where the follow-up shot pinged off the upper-right corner of the goal.
--- Second Half ---
As the sun set, and the temperature became gradually cooler, the pace continued to rise. Play continued to rest in the midfield, as both teams seemingly playing at deadlock. Shots, if any, came from the outside and were of little consequence, as both teams were looking for defensive mistakes to take advantage of. Rochester’s best chance was in the 85th minute on a break-away; the resulting header prompted a diving, one-handed save my Minnesota keeper Jon Lowery. Minnesota’s best was in stoppage, in a flurry of activity, shots, saves, and blocked shots in the Rhino’s penalty area.
--- OT Notes ---
This was not a day to play 110 minutes of soccer - the pace, which had increased over time in regulation, reduced noticeably in the second half. Rochester uses all five subs, Minnesota was content with three. The Rhinos had one good chance in the first OT, when a defensive breakdown allowed a break-away, but was cleared by a potentially dangerous, but ultimately clean, tackle as the defense caught-up. Minnesota pressed more in the second overtime, but was unable to put any quality chances; neither could Rochester, as both teams were just totally spent. The game ended knotted at one apiece.
--- Notes ---
Adam Eyre is a fine defender, but seems prone to lapses of concentration. Fortunately for the Thunder, it didn’t burn them - but there seems to be one or two moments per game.
Kudos to Center Referee Jesse Johnson, who empowered his Assistant Referees to call fouls, and to recommend misconduct charges (each AR recommended a yellow per half, one to the Rhinos, one to the Thunder). Perhaps Hugh Dallas in the US-Germany game will have to positive consequences.
MINNESOTA THUNDER GAME REPORT
Participants: Minnesota vs. Rochester
Competition: A-League
Time/Date: 7p.m.; Saturday, June 29
Venue: National Sports Center, Blaine, MN
Attendance: 3,710
Weather: 93 Degrees; Humid
Scoring Summary: 1 2 OT OT F
Minnesota: 1 0 0 0 1
Rochester: 1 0 0 0 1
Rochester – Stoian Mladenov (Wilson) 6th minute
Minnesota – Amos Magee (Fenger) 34th minute
LINEUPS:
Minnesota: 22-Jon Lowery; 20-Chris Gores; 13-Mark Schulte; 12-Adam Eyre;
6-Matt Schmidt; 5-Mike Gentile; 7-Amos Magee (2--Zafer Kilickan—62nd
minute); 21-Don Gramenz; 10-Johnny Menyongar; 11-Jakob Fenger (9—Orrett
Prendergast—80th minute); 8-Johnny Torres (17—Hugo Llamas—45th minute)
Rochester: 24-Scott Vallow; 3-Craig Demmin; 6-Mali Walton; 11-Billy
Sedgewick; 16-Kalin Bankov; 7-Temoc Suarez (5--Yuri Lavrynenko—62nd
minute); 10-Stoian Mladenov; 15-Martin Nash (20—Jimmy Tanner—68th
minute); 23-Lenin Steenkamp (58—Carlos Zavada—83rd); 21-Kirk Wilson
(13—Jamal Ballantyne—76th minute); 22-Dan Stebbins (9—Greg Simmonds—45th
minute)
Statistical Summary: Minnesota /Rochester
Shots: 15/ 11
Saves: 3/ 3
Corner Kicks: 7/ 7
Fouls: 15/ 18
Offside: 3/ 9
Misconduct Summary:
Minnesota – Don Gramenz (caution for a professional foul) 27th minute
Minnesota – Johnny Torres (caution for a reckless foul) 28th minute
Minnesota—Orrett Prendergast (caution for retaliation) 91st minute
Minnesota—Zafer Kilickan (caution for a late tackle) 108th minute
Rochester—Mladenov (caution for a reckless foul) 51st minute
Rochester—Simmonds (caution for a reckless foul) 86th minute
Rochester– Billy Sedgewick (caution for a flying elbow) 95th minute
Rochester—Zavala (caution for pushing)—110th minute
Referee: Jesse Johnson
Assistant Referee #1: Mishaun Ahmad
Assistant Referee #2: Troy Cohrs
Fourth Official: Fotis Bazakos
