Calgary’s A-League franchise has undergone several changes in the offseason: new ownership, name, colors, coach, and stadium. One element that hasn’t changed on Calgary soccer scene is the region’s unpredictable spring weather. The side opened their home schedule in the midst of a May snowstorm but was able to secure a 0-0 tie with the visiting Minnesota Thunder.
The early part of the game didn’t have a lot of scoring chances. Players seemed to be concentrating on playing through the inclement weather on an unfamiliar surface with unfamiliar teammates.
The first decent chance of the game for the Mustangs occurred in the 32nd minute when the new signed Conrad Smith made a run down the right sideline. He cut sharply towards the goal when he neared the touch line. However, his shot was right at Thunder keeper Joe Warren.
Minnesota had an opportunity in the 41st minute when Jeff Matteo put a good cross through from the left side, but no Thunder player could put a foot on the ball as it skipped over the damp carpet. The half ended 0-0
Early in the second half, eighteen year old Mustang John Castrillion Jr. put a dangerous cross into the box from the left side, but a Minnesota defender cleared the ball before any Calgary player could get to it. Less than a minute later, Steffan Holdt took a shot that went right into Warren’s arms. In the 61st minute, Mesut Mert of the Mustangs’ shot also was directed right at Warren, resulting in another straight-forward save for the Thunder keeper. Mert had another chance in the 67th minute that also went right on goal.
The last real chance of regulation occurred in the 85th minute when recently added substitute Nick Zuniga could not reach a Calgary pass through the box. Ninety minutes ended with the nil-nil score intact.
Once extra time began, the game started to open up. Attacks were more aggressive, but once the ball neared the penalty area the defense stifled the chance. Calgary had a couple of chances in the first overtime period, including an uncompleted finish by Raad. The Thunder’s best opportunity came from Matteo, but he was stymied by Mustang keeper Lutz Pfannenstiel, who had a quiet but solid match. Overtime solved nothing and the game ended at 0-0.
Lineups
Calgary: Pfannenstiel, Pavicic, Richer (Chala 108), Gillespie, Castrillion, Brusselers, Mert, Holdt, Jesic (Kolomiets-Raad 38), Savic, Smith (Zuniga 80)
Minnesota: Warren, Branan, Wilson, Brunt, Tenoff (Vorenkamp 69), Kilickan (Friedland 62), Menyongar (Tarley 75), Juarez, Alberts, Matteo, Morehead
Cautions: none
Ejections: none
Attendance: about 800
NOTES: Twelve members of the Mustangs also were part of the Calgary Storm franchise. Of those twelve, seven of them were with the club in their original PDL year. However, only three (Conrad Chala, Jamie Auvigne, and Nick Zuniga) have played in all four seasons of Calgary USL soccer…The Mustang imports hail from various points on the globe: Geert Brusselers (Holland), Frederik Janssens (Belgium), Sergei Kolomiets-Raad (Russia), Lutz Pfannenstiel (Germany) Zdravko Savic (Slovenia), and Conrad Smith (Trinidad and Tobago)…Smith has played for Trinidad & Tobago’s senior national club and is the only Mustang who holds any “A” caps…Damir Jesic returns after missing the entire 2003 season with a knee injury…Jordan Gillespie, Aaron Richer, Mesut Mert, and Steven Frazeo were first team all-Canadians in the 2003 Canadian university season. Mert won the national MVP award for the second time in 2003. He first won it in the 2001 season. Aaron Richer won the MVP award for the Canada West division.
