Allianz Field was alive on Wednesday night with the sound of…Germans! The Loons welcomed 2. Bundesliga side FC Kaiserslautern to St Paul for an international friendly. The Red Devils, as they’re known to their fans, have a rich history that has spanned 123 years and has a proud and loyal fanbase that has seen their club through all the ups and downs that come with being part of German soccer culture for so long. Some of those proud, loyal fans even found their way to Allianz Field to cheer on their squad amongst a sea of Black and Blue-clad fans that know a thing or two about pride and loyalty to their home team. While this was an international friendly with no real consequences for either team, these are the kind of matches that are about more than simply winning or losing. Above all else, this is an example of what the beautiful game is meant to do: bring people of different colors and creeds together to enjoy the sport they all love.
Obviously, MNUFC was excited to host their new friends from Deutschland, but FCK made themselves a little too comfortable in our house early on in the match. In the 5th minute of play, it was FC Kaiserslautern and former USMNT forward Terrence Boyd that got the scoring started for the visiting side, as he put just enough spicy mustard on the kick to put it past a charging Eric Dick to make it 1-0, FCK.
The Loons wouldn’t take too long in bringing the match even, though, when in the 21st minute, DJ Taylor’s well-placed cross connected with a sprinting Ménder García in front of the goal for the boys in Black and Blue’s first score of the game, 1-1 spiele. Hopefully, nobody went to the das badezimmer because the Loons weren’t about to slow things down. They would strike again just three minutes later with a sweet shot from Sang Bin Jeong near the post that would get just the right angle to fly past the FCK keeper. 2-1, die Seetaucher.
Apparently the weather was feeling as friendly as the match, as lightning in the area of the stadium would contribute to an extended half time. When the storms finally cleared out of the area and the teams returned from the locker room to start the second half, the Loons would take the field with a completely new lineup of eleven that would take the field. A majority of the new eleven taking the field was composed of a number of MNUFC2 players — giving the young, talented pros a chance to gain some minutes with the first team, as well as a unique opportunity to face an international opponent.
Twosies forward Diogo Pacheco was definitely up to the task, making a series of attacking runs, two of which came oh-so-close to finding their way into the net. As was Cameron Dunbar, who got a clean look from the top of the box that he blasted towards the goal, only to have the keeper get just enough of his finger tip on the ball to change its course away from the goal. Seeing some of the next generation of Loons on the field and making plays was something any fan in attendance could feel encouraged about when looking to the future of the club.
Neither MNUFC or FC Kaiserslautern showed any let up in their second-half performances, even if it didn’t result in any further scoring. All in all, it was a hard-fought friendly, and even with some less-than-desirable weather, the match was an enjoyable event for the home crowd and our visitors in attendance. Thank you for being a friend, FC Kaiserslautern. It was a pleasure hosting you and your fans…wie auch immer, hier ist Wonderwall…
UP NEXT
Minnesota United vs. Portland Timbers
Allianz Field | St Paul, Minnesota
07.01.23 | MLS Matchday 21 | Game no. 19
7:30 pm CT | AppleTV - MLS Season Pass, 1500 ESPN
