The Thunder cruised to a 3-0 victory over the Calgary Mustangs Thursday night to give coach Buzz Lagos his 300th career victory. The Thunder got first half goals from Kevin Friedland and Dustin Branan before Melvin Tarley iced the game early in the second half.
With an eye towards the major match-up against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Tuesday, Lagos kept Marco Ferruzzi and David Castellanos on the bench to start the match. The Thunder still started the match at a much quicker pace than the Mustangs, though, with Melvin Tarley chasing down a poor backpass to Calgary keeper Lutz Pfannenestiel. The keeper managed block the Brooklyn Park natives shot, though, and Jay Alberts rushed follow up was well over the bar.
In the fourteenth minute, Chris Brunt ventured forward with the ball on the right wing and sent a long, looping cross to the left side of the penalty area, where an unmarked Kevin Friedland headed the ball past the onsrushing Pfannenestiel to give the Thunder the early advantage.
Friedland nearly had another six minutes later, as Johnny Menyongar controlled the ball brilliantly to Jeff Matteo who sent the former Kansas City Wizard through behind the defense, but Pfannenestiel managed to touch the ball wide.
On the ensuing corner, however, Calgarys defense was asleep again, Matteos cross headed in by an unmarked Dustin Branan.
Matteo nearly managed to get on the scoresheet himself in the 23rd minute. Menyongar chased down yet another poor backpass, dropping the ball off to Tarley, who probably should have shot, but instead found Matteo at the top of the box, his shot beat Pfannenestiel, but came back off the post.
It wasnt until the 25th minute that Calgary ventured into the attacking third of the match, as Sergei Kolomiets sent in a cross from the right hand side, but the danger was headed away by Dustin Branan.
The Thunder thought that theyd got a third in the 29th minute when Tarley impressively controlled the ball and sent it back to Matteo at the top of the box. His pass was a little too far for the former midfielder, and he had to stretch to get it to Alberts, but his shot hit the bottom of the bar. The ball bounced straight down and then out, with the Thunder players and fans arguing for a goal, but referee David Simon was not moved.
As the half came to a close, Brian Roberts had a free header at the back-post from a Kevin Friedland cross, but his header flew inches over the bar.
As the second half began, the Thunder looked to be starting to slow things down, saving their energy for the upcoming Open Cup match. The Mustangs still couldnt seem to get a handle on the match, however. Their first legitimate scoring chance came in the 49th minute, Warren making his first save of the match, spilling Conrad Smiths shot, but Chris Brunt cleared the danger.
The game was lacking energy as the Thunder were content to knock the ball around, and the Mustangs fouling frequently. On a counter attack, Johnny Menyongar was pulled down from behind on a breakaway, and Geert Brusselers was lucky to only see yellow for the foul. Jeff Matteo was pushed from behind by Stefffen Holdt after one of his mazy runs through three or four players.
Any remaining doubt of the outcome of the match was expunged in the 56th minute as Kevin Friedlands cross was tipped by Menyongar at the near post to Tarley on the back post who chipped Pfannenestiel to make it 3-0.
From that point on, the match became a scrimmage, Calgary threatening only once or twice from free kicks, and Minnesota bringing on Castellanos, Magee and Ferruzzi to keep each member of team fresh for Tuesday night.
The Thunder had a few chances to add to their lead, the best coming in stoppage time, Castellanos flicked on to Tarley, who spun and passed to Amos Magee, but his shot was brilliantly saved by Pfannenestiel.
The win gives coach Buzz Lagos an all-time record of 300-127-31. It puts the Thunder into sole possession of second place, five points behind division leading Vancouver, but with two games in hand. In third place, three points behind the Thunder are the Portland Timbers, who have a game in hand over the Thunder.
Up next for the Thunder is the LA Galaxy in the Open Cup, and then face the Edmonton Aviators in the League at Macalester College in Saint Paul.
