MNUFC2 earned a shootout win over St. Louis CITY2 after playing to a 2-2 draw in regulation and taking the extra point by putting away four of its five attempts from the mark at the National Sports Center Stadium on Sunday evening.
CITY2 came hot out of the gates with high pressure on the Twos all over the field. The St. Louis side found its luck first, going up over MNUFC2 in the 13th minute. CITY2 midfielder Faysal Bettache, atop the 18-yard-box, was able to turn and strike a bending ball into the upper left corner of the net for the lead.
MNUFC2 answered back just four minutes later when midfielder Molik Jesse Khan made a quick read on St. Louis and intercepted a pass in the attacking half. Khan began his run towards goal, joined by midfielder Emmanuel Iwe and forward Kameron Lacey. Lacey, slowing his run and losing his defender, created enough space to receive the ball from Khan and fire a cross-body shot into the far post.
Jesse Khan notched a goal of his own to give the Twos their first lead of the match in the 40th minute. Defender Devin Padelford played into the feet of the Trinidadian international, who spun off his mark to complete a give-and-go pass with midfielder Zaydan Bello. Khan dribbled his way into the six-yard-box and placed his shot into the high center of the goal.
CITY2 quickly evened up the score before the whistle blew. Awarded a free kick in its defensive third, goalkeeper Michael Creek delivered a long ball over the MNUFC2 backline, allowing John Klein to take a touch and slip his shot past goalkeeper Fred Emmings.
The last 45 minutes remained scoreless for both sides but was filled with chances for the Twos and featured key saves by Emmings, therefore sending the teams into a shootout. The 19-year-old saved two penalties while his teammates converted four of their five attempts. MNUFC2 would secure a 2(4)-2(3) shootout win and two points over CITY2.
With the result, MNUFC2 sit in sixth place in MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference regular-season action with a 9-7-6 record (W-L-D) and 36 points.
MNUFC2 will next travel to Rock Chalk Park to take on Sporting KC II on Saturday, August 19th at 7:00pm CT. The match will be streamed on MLSNEXTPro.com.
GOALS
0-1 STL – Faysal Bettache, assisted by John Klein (13’)
1-1 MIN – Kameron Lacey, assisted by Molik Jesse Khan (18’)
2-1 MIN – Molik Jesse Khan, assisted by Zaydan Bello (40’)
2-2 STL – John Klein, unassisted (45’)
SHOOTOUT SUMMARY
MIN
Bello – Scored
Khan – Missed
Padelford – Scored
Mosquera – Scored
Marques - Scored
STL
Schneider – Scored
Wentzel – Saved
Jensen – Saved
Joyner – Scored
Palazolo - Scored
DISCIPLINAIRY SUMMARY
Caution, MIN – Molik Jesse Khan (57’)
Caution, STL – Caden Glover (75’)
Caution, STL – Wan Kuzain (90’+3’)
Caution, STL – Dida Armstrong (90’+5’)
NOTEABLE STATS
8 – With his goal tonight, Kameron Lacey has joined Diogo Pacheco as leading scorer this season for MNUFC2.
1 – Midfielder Jesse Khan provided his first-ever MNUFC2 assist on Kameron Lacey’s equalizing goal.
TEAM LEADERS (Updated through Aug. 13)
Goals – Diogo Pacheco, Kameron Lacey (8)
Assists – Diogo Pacheco (4)
Saves – Fred Emmings (58)
Wins – Fred Emmings (7)
Shutouts – Fred Emmings, Alec Smir (3)
