May 4, 2003 - Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Minnesota gambled on playing their home opener in the Metrodome, based on the weather. May, in Minnesota can change from high 80's one day, to near freezing the next, quite literally. The Metrodome, while astroturf, had the advantage of bringing in fans for their opener regardless of the weather. And it worked; close to 6,000 people attended what would have been a wet and dreary night with temperatures falling from the low 50s into the high 40s by game's end.
Inside, of course, was Astroturf. Anything left to be said? Probably nothing that those reading this haven't already said (or swore, or spat, or worse). The dimensions, at least, were intended for soccer, with both the length and width of the field very close to the international regulation of the National Sports Center.
--- First Half ---
The first twenty minutes of the game was a mix of both teams feeling themselves out, as well as feeling the rug out. Throughout the match, there was a little of the ball getting away from players, but play was relatively tentative with little happening from either side. Cincinnati adjusted earlier in the 24th minute with an open player* taking the ball at the left top of the penalty area - unfortunately the shot lacked power, and it was an easy save for Thunder keeper Joe Warren. One minute later the Riverhawks* in the right side of the penalty area sent a shot over the crossbar.
Johnny Menyonger started Minnesota's offense the the 26th minute inside the left side of the penalty area, also going high, and then left in the 29th minute. Johnny Torres ran into the Riverhawks penalty area deep on the left side in the 41st minute, but his shot was deflected. Minnesota nearly ended up with a goal in the 45th minute, when Torres was pushed barely outside of the Riverhawks penalty area, but the free kick went into the wall.
Neither team put a lot onto the goalkeepers - Minnesota, while getting into the penalty area, kept putting the ball high and wide of the net; Cincinnati put a couple on goal, but lacked the power to make it difficult. As the half went on, Minnesota continued to increase the pressure on the Riverhawks; possession was about 50-50, but the Thunder spent more time in their offensive third.
* = I apologize for missing the numbers (and hence the names) of these players. I tried a different shorthand, and well, it got off to a rough start.
--- Second Half ---
Minnesota started out pounding at Cincinnati's doorstep as the half opened. Don Gramenz crossed left-to-right to Johnny Menyonger inside the penalty area in the 46th minute, but the shot went high. The Thunder followed up in the 48th with Marco Ferruzzi along the right line of the penalty area, crossing left, past Johnny Menyonger who was making a dummy run, to Johnny Torres - this shot also went over the crossbar. Ferruzzi had another try in the 52nd minute from 25 yards out, beating Riverhawks goalkeeper Eric Pattison, but just missing wide left. Minnesota finally had a quality shot on net in the 54th minute by Marco Ferruzzi, again inside the penalty area; Pattison made an outstanding one-handed reaction-save.
The 50th minute broke the tie score for Minnesota: Johnny Torres, taking a long ball for a break-away down the left flank, angled in at about 12 yards from the goal-line, took an uncontested shot that Pattison was unable to control - the resulting rebound came right to the feet of Johnny Menyonger, at the right post where he easily tapped it in.
The Thunder's pressure didn't let up; in the 60th minute Menyonger just missed the upper-right corner from 20 yards out
The Riverhawks best chance came in the 69th minute, by Marcel Matis, on a diving header on the right corner of the goal area sent the ball straight ahead, wide of the goal. Unfortunately for the Riverhawks, it would be the last time they had an offensive chance inside the Thunder's penalty area.
Forward substitute Melvin Tarley sent a ball just wide left from the top of the penalty area; co-sub Amos Magee broke into the right side of the penalty area two minutes later in the 81st, sending a low ball that hit the left post.
The Riverhawks' last hurrah came from a 20-yard shot by Joe Morelli that went straight into the hands of Joe Warren.
Reiswerg made another great save in the 89th minute, kicking another Magee shot deep in the right side of the penalty area.
Final Score: Minnesota Thunder 1 - Cincinnati Riverhawks 0
--- Notes ---
The Thunder's defense was rock-solid, only allowing a few chances for Cincinnati, and even fewer forays into their penalty area (while Minnesota seemingly camped out in the Riverhawks' defensive third). One change from previous years is that the defense didn't move up offensively, as they had in the past. Time will tell if this will be a steady tactic for Buzz Lagos, or if it was because of the three forwards the Riverhawks had in their formation. Cincinnati also didn't use the flanks, playing up the middle continually, while the Thunder alternated between the middle, the flanks, and crosses from the corners.
-Minnesota Thunder Game Report -
Match-up: Minnesota Thunder vs. Cincinnati Riverhawks
Date: Sunday, May 4, 2003
Competition: Regular season match
Venue: Metrodome (Minneapolis, Minn.)
Kickoff: 5 p.m. CT
Attendance: 5,893
Weather: 64 degrees (Indoor)
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Riverhawks 0 0 0
Thunder 0 1 1
Scoring:
Thunder - Johnny Menyongar (Johnny Torres), 56.
Lineups:
THUNDER -- 23-Joe Warren, 12-Steve Shak, 4-Adam Eyre, 13-Mark Schulte, 21-Don Gramenz, 14-Kevin Anderson, 17-Hugo Llamas, 2-Zafer Kilickan (16-Jason Willan, 76), 20-Marco Ferruzzi, 9-Johnny Torres (18-Melvin Tarley, 72), 10-Johnny Menyongar (7-Amos Magee, 74). Subs not used: 5-Carlos Parra, 8-Greg Wheaton, 22-Sean Brown, 24-Alvin Hudson.
RIVERHAWKS -- 0-Eric Pattison, 20-Joe Morelli, 5-Bobby Meyer, 3-Jeremie Piette (8-Alizedeh Rasool, 83), 2-Nick Glaser, 12-Edward Child (4-Logan Wallace, 80), 7-Allen Eller (13-Chris Dore, 60), 26-Philippe Godoy (6-Joaquin Palomeque, 72), 9-Juan Sastoque, 11-Salvatore Piraine (10-Salvatore Piraine, 60), 24-Byron Carmichael.
Subs not used: 16-Tim Finklea, 1-Matt Reiswerg.
Stats Summary: Thunder Riverhawks
Shots 24 6
Saves 2 4
Corner Kicks 5 1
Fouls 11 11
Offside 6 2
Misconduct Summary: None
Officials:
Referee: Brent Sorg
Senior Assistant Referee: Sia Rahimi
Junior Assistant Referee: Jeremy Schroder
Fourth Official: Jeff Filipek
