MNUFC2 gained two points after Sunday night’s matchup against St. Louis CITY2 at CITYPARK. The Twos were able to level the score, 2-2, late in regulation time, then were able to win the shootout from the mark, 4-2, notably extending a perfect record this season in shootouts.
The Twos found their first chance on goal in the fourth minute after Aidan Martinez picked off a pass in the middle third of the field, where he took space up the pitch before he laid it off to Darius Randell for a shot from the right side of the 18-yard box. Randell’s shot was deflected out by St. Louis CITY2 defense, giving MNUFC2 their first corner of the game.
16-year old MNUFC Academy goalkeeper Kai Zeruhn made a crucial save after CITY2 were granted a free kick a few yards out from the 18-yard box. Mykhi Joyner took the free kick, striking it towards goal but Zeruhn made a diving save, keeping the score 0-0.
MNUFC2 created two consecutive chances to goal, the first chance came from Jordan Adebayo-Smith serving the ball into the box, finding Loïc Mesanvi on the far post. Mesanvi tried to finish the cross but was hit out of bounds by St. Louis, giving them a corner kick. The second goal scoring opportunity came from Britton Fischer finding the volley off the deflection from the corner kick, but was also hit out of bounds.
In the 22nd minute, St. Louis sent in a service off a corner kick opportunity. The delivery entered the goalkeeper’s box, ultimately finding the feet of Brendan McSorley, who took a one-time shot at the net. McSorley’s shot was blocked by the MNUFC2 defense and cleared away.
Just a minute later, Randell took advantage of space in the attacking third, where he created another dangerous scoring chance. His shot from the right side of CITY2’s box from mid-distance hit the crossbar and bounced out of play.
Minnesota scored the opening goal in the 36th minute after Enrique Nieves found an open pocket of space and fired off a shot from distance, slipping it past St. Louis goalkeeper Nicholas Ryan Bishop.
Two minutes later, Adebayo-Smith nearly scored the second goal for Minnesota after Randell crossed the ball from the right side, finding Adebayo-Smith on the left flank for a header to goal that wasn’t on frame.
St. Louis scored the equalizer in the 49th minute after they were able to work the ball from the right side to the left, finding Mykhi Joyner inside the 18-yard box for a shot on goal that tucked inside the far corner of the net.
The Twos continued to create chances on goal. In the 53rd minute, Mesanvi, on the ball, dribbled through CITY2 players into the box where he was able to get a shot off that was deflected by Bishop.
In the 68th minute, St. Louis took the lead after Brendan McSorley connected a header via service into the box from a corner kick, ultimately finding the back of the net.
The Twos leveled the score in the 86th minute after Mesanvi was able to keep possession under the CITY2’s pressure, passing it underneath Randell before connecting with Rory O’Driscoll on the right side of the 18-yard box. O’Driscoll slotted the ball into goal to make the score 2-2.
A multitude of scoring opportunities by both MNUFC2 and St. Louis CITY2 were taken during the final minutes of regulation, but neither side was able to score the game-winner, sending the game into a shootout from the mark. In the end, MNUFC2 captured two points following a 4-2 shootout result.
GOALS
1-0 MNUFC2 - Enrique Nieves, assisted by Aidan Martinez (36’)
1-1 CITY2 - Mykhi Joyner, assisted by Matteo Kidd (49’)
1-2 CITY2 - Brendan McSorley, assisted by Mykhi Joyner (69’)
2-2 MNUFC2 - Rory O’Driscoll, assisted by Loïc Mesanvi (86’)
SHOOTOUT SUMMARY
MNUFC2
Jordan Adebayo-Smith - Goal
Loïc Mesanvi - Save
Enrique Nieves - Goal
Rory O’Driscoll - Goal
Darius Randell - Goal
CITY2
Michael Wentzel - Save
Ryan Becher - Goal
Seth Antwi - Save
Mykhi Joyner - Goal
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
Caution, CITY2 - Brendan McSorley (48’)
Caution, CITY2 - Oscar Benitez (83’)
Caution, CITY2 - Tyson Pearce (90’ + 3’)
Caution, MNUFC2 - Matúš Kmeť (90’ + 4’)
NOTABLE STATS
1 - MNUFC2 forward Enrique Nieves scored his very first Twos & MLS NEXT Pro goal on Sunday night against St. Louis CITY2.
1 - Additionally, MNUFC Academy midfielder Aidan Martinez provided his very first Twos & MLS NEXT Pro assist on Nieves’ goal.
4 - Including tonight, all four of MNUFC2’s draws this season have resulted in a shootout victory that earns an additional point. The Twos are now 4/4 in their shootouts in 2024, and notably are the only team in MLS NEXT Pro, to-date, with a perfect record in shootouts from the mark.
TEAM LEADERS (Updated through Sept. 15)
Goals – Patrick Weah (8)
Assists – Britton Fischer (4)
Saves – Alec Smir (25)
Wins – Alec Smir, Clint Irwin (3)
Shutouts – Clint Irwin (2)
