Minnesota choose the perfect location to hold their first two homes games:
for the opener, it was cold, wet, rainy, and indoors in the Hubert H.
Humphrey Metrodome; for the second, it was dry, comfortable, an absolute
perfect day to watch soccer, except the home team lost.
The first half was played in very fast paced, both teams working on
pushing the ball up as fast as possible, from quick buildups to long
balls, trying to work the other team down. Minnesota had the first chance,
in the 3rd minute, as Don Gramenz crossed left-to-right to Kevin Anderson,
whose shot was saved by Milwaukee goalkeeper Jim Larkin. While pressure
was pretty even by both sides, Minnesota had the next two changes, going
wide each time: in the 10th minute by Don Gramenz on the left top of the
penalty area after a nifty pass-back by Johnny Torres; and again in the
13th when Johnny Menyonger was out-jumped in the upper-left corner of the
Wave United?s goal area.
Milwaukee countered back in the 16th when Dino Delevski fired one from the
top of the penalty arc high and wide left. Delevski would pound away near
this position for much of the game (although his success came from further
in). Two minutes later, Minnesota?s Johnnys crossed from the right flank
to left of the goal area - Torres stretched vertically, but took
Menyonger?s cross just over and right of the goal.
Milwaukee crammed a lot of action in their offensive third in the 25th
through 27th minutes, with Matt Schmidt forcing a corner kick after a
deflection from 19 yards out, and then taking a header from the middle of
the area, which was saved by Joe Warren.
Minnesota scored their only tally in the 30th minute, on a timed run by
Don Gramenz up the middle of the penalty area - the ball fed nicely by
Johnny Menyonger, meeting up at the penalty spot, with Gramenz slotting
the ball underneath a diving Larkin.
From this point, Minnesota started getting sloppy. Foreshadowing happened
one minute later, with a giveaway six yards from their own goal line, with
Delevski trying to run in on goal after the takeaway, but sending the ball
high. Then a minute later, top of the arc, launching the ball high. In the
38th minute, Milwaukee almost evened it up, with a header by Anthony
Maher that high the crossbar.
Milwaukee absolutely owned the final five minutes of the half - forcing
the Thunder to just dump the ball downfield, where the Wave United easily
restarted their offensive attack. One thing that was noticed, that there
were few fouls (compared to previous years with the Rampage) - although
tempers would flare later in the second half.
You would think, with Milwaukee playing the night before, they would be
tired, but in the second half, it was Minnesota that seemed tired, being
out-hustled, and misfiring on simple passes and frequently sending the
ball over the touchline while unpressured. Milwaukee opened the half on
the attack with Delevski, at the top of the area, sending a ball on goal,
which Warren saved.
Tempers flared soon after, with a quick flurry of yellow cards:
* 52nd minute, Matt Schmidt for Dissent (arguing on a non-call)
* 53rd minute, on a professional foul committed by Mark Shulte.
* 58th minute, unsporting behavior by Troy Dusosky.
* 63rd minute on Steve Shak, possibly for a professional foul.
Milwaukee evened things up in the 73rd minute, with _____ lofting a high,
floating ball to an unmarked Dino Delevski, on the left side of the
penalty area, who punched it in on a full volley to the opposite end of
the goal. They nearly went up 2-1 two minutes later, when Steve Bernal
took a great cross to the top of the goal area, forcing Joe Warren to make
a diving, one handed save for a goal kick.
The Wave United finally got that 2-1 lead in the 89th minute, after a
mis-handed header by Minnesota gave Milwaukee a corner kick, which was
converted on nice service to Todd Dusosky, who headed it in from the top
of the goal area.
Minnesota was unable to mount a serious attack, in the three stoppage
minutes added, or really at all through the half. Minnesota?s play up the
center was good, but service from the flanks was poor, allowing Milwaukee
to focus up the middle, stifling any serious chances.
Venue: National Sports Center, Blaine
Attendance: 2,987
Weather: 68 degrees; partly cloudy.
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Thunder 1 0 1
Wave United 0 2 2
Scoring:
Thunder ? Don Gramenz (Johnny Menyongar), 30.
Wave United ? Dino Delevski (Greg Howes) 76.
Wave United ? Todd Dusoksy (Delevski), 88.
Stats Summary: Thunder Wave United
Shots 12 19
Saves 6 1
Corner Kicks 3 8
Fouls 14 9
Offside 2 3
Misconduct Summary:
Wave United - Matt Schmidt (caution) 51.
Thunder - Mark Schulte (caution) 52.
Wave United - Troy Dusosky (caution) 57.
Thunder - Steve Shak (caution) 62.
Officials:
Referee: Marcel Yonan
Senior Assistant Referee: Mishaun Ahmad
Junior Assistant Referee: Jeremy Schroeder
Fourth Official: Jeff Filipek
