MNUFC2 and The Town FC played to a 1-1 draw at Allianz Field Thursday night, where the Twos took home the extra point following a 5-3 shootout from the penalty mark.
Throughout the first 20 minutes of the match, MNUFC2 impressively controlled the game, holding over 65 percent of the possession while notably connecting nearly 100 passes within the The Town FC’s half. Though the Twos controlled the first part of the half inside The Town’s area, they weren’t able to connect any shots on target.
But, MNUFC2 broke through and scored the opening goal in the 28th minute after Loïc Mesanvi gained possession in the middle third and took space up the pitch. Unopposed by The Town, Mesanvi pulled up about 25 yards out from goal and fired off a long-distance shot, finding the top right corner of the goal to give the Twos the 1-0 lead.
The Town FC were able to level the score in the 32nd minute after a long throw-in inside Minnesota’s defensive third reached the six-yard area where it bounced around until finding Eduardo Blancas Maravilla for a one-touch past Clint Irwin.
In the 47th minute, first team defender Hugo Bacharach was shown his second yellow card of the match. Resulting in an ejection, forcing MNUFC2 to play down a man for the remainder of the game.
Fighting to find the game winner late into the match, the Twos nearly had a chance at goal. In the 90th minute, forward Jordan Adebayo-Smith made a run into the box when he connected a pass with Darrius Randell, who had open space on the right side of the box. Randell took the shot, which sped past the far left post. Randell’s last shot towards the goal was MNUFC2’s last hope to score a game-winning goal in regulation, ultimately resulting in the 1-1 draw before the shootout from the mark.
GOALS
1-0 MNUFC2 - Loïc Mesanvi, assisted by Hassani Dotson (28’)
1-1 TTFC - Eduardo Blancas, assisted by Wilson Eisner (32’)
SHOOTOUT SUMMARY
MNUFC2
Jordan Adebayo-Smith - Goal
Kage Romanshyn Jr. - Goal
Aidan Martinez - Goal
Anderson Farris - Goal
Darius Randell - Goal
TTFC
Eduardo Blancas - Goal
Julian Donnery - Saved
Jermaine Spivey - Goal
Edwyn Mendoza - Goal
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
Caution, MNUFC2 - Hugo Bacharach (14’)
Caution, MNUFC2 - Moses Nyeman (32’)
Caution, TTFC - Casey Walls (38’)
Caution, TTFC - Cruz Medina (47’)
Ejection, MNUFC2 - Hugo Bacharach (50’)
NOTABLE STATS
308 - MNUFC2 made 308 passing attempts inside of The Town FC’s half on Thursday night, completing nearly 80 percent of those passes. In comparison, The Town only recorded 140 passing attempts inside MNUFC2’s half.
TEAM LEADERS (Updated through August 8)
Goals – Patrick Weah (8)
Assists – Molik Jesse Khan (3)
Saves – Alec Smir (19)
Wins – Clint Irwin (3)
Shutouts – Clint Irwin (2)
