Down two goals in the first 10 minutes of the game, MNUFC2 stormed back and tallied two unanswered goals during a 2(9)-2(8) draw against Earthquakes II on Sunday night at PayPal Park, eventually coming away with an extra point after winning the shootout.
The home side struck twice in quick succession, both times dribbling through MNUFC2 defenders and finding open space. First, San Jose’s Roberto Hategan made space and although Loons goalkeeper Fred Emmings got a piece of the shot, the ball found the back of the net in the 5th minute. Three minutes later, Earthquakes II yet again controlled possession in the 18-yard box and had Eduardo Blancas atop the box, doubling his squad’s lead in the first half.
Things settled down throughout the remainder of the first half, and the Twos started to regain some possession from the Quakes, creating opportunities with service inside the San Jose box, but having little success.
Just three minutes before halftime, MNUFC2 found its chance and capitalized on it. Defender Nick Richardson first received a long-ball from Emmings into the attacking half, quickly moving it to winger Juan Mosquera before making a run at goal. Mosquera then quickly sent a one-touch pass to Midfielder Molik Jesse Khan, who then connected a through-ball pass inside the box back to Richardson on his run towards goal. Richardson then briefly dribbled and laid the pass off to the center of the box, where forward Kameron Lacey struck a shot that scored to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Minnesota started the second half off strong, holding possession in their attacking third within the first 15 minutes. Khan notably struck a shot outside the box in the 54th minute that missed just wide of the far post.
In the 70th minute, defender Devin Padelford made a run towards the goal and was fouled inside the box – the referee pointed to the mark and awarded MNUFC2 a penalty kick. Midfielder Emmanuel Iwe took the attempt, which was initially saved, but then scored on the ensuing rebound, equalizing the game at 2-2.
Both sides finished regulation with closed scoring opportunities, but the match went to a shootout to determine who gets the extra point. After 10 rounds, MNUFC2 secured the extra point, with the match ending 2(9)-2(8) in favor of the Twos.
With the draw and extra point, MNUFC2 sit in seventh place in MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference regular-season action with a 9-9-7 record (W-L-D) and 38 points.
MNUFC2 returns home next week to take on Austin FC II on Sunday, September 10 at the National Sports Center Stadium in Blaine, Minnesota at 5:00 p.m. CT. The match can be streamed on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV App, and is the second-to-last home game of the regular-season.
GOALS
0-1 SJ – Roberto Hategan, assisted by Aaron Edwards (5’)
0-2 SJ – Eduardo Blancas, assisted by Jose Serrano (8’)
1-2 MIN – Kameron Lacey, assisted by Nick Richardson (42’)
2-2 MIN – Emmanuel Iwe, unassisted (71’)
SHOOTOUT SUMMARY
MIN
Pacheco – Scored
Bello – Saved
Iwe – Scored
O’Driscoll – Scored
Richardson – Scored
Mesanvi – Scored
Khan – Scored
Mosquera – Scored
Marques – Scored
Rodas – Scored
SJ
Blancas – Scored
Richmond – Scored
Tingey – Scored
Serrano – Scored
Cilley – Missed
Edwards – Scored
Chow – Scored
Cano – Scored
Ayon – Scored
Carrillo – Missed
DISCIPLINAIRY SUMMARY
Caution, MIN – Juan Mosquera (24’)
Caution, MIN – Molik Jesse Khan (30’)
Caution, SJ – Roberto Hategan (38’)
Caution, MIN – Rory O’Driscoll (60’)
Caution, SJ – Alex Chow (67’)
Caution, SJ – Isreal Carrillo (90’+4’)
NOTABLE STATS
9 – Forward Kameron Lacey scored his ninth goal of the season, which makes him the goals leader for MNUFC2 this season.
1 – Twos defender Nick Richardson provided his first MNUFC2 assist tonight for Kameron Lacey’s 42nd-minute goal
TEAM LEADERS (Updated through September 3)
Goals – Kameron Lacey (9)
Assists – Diogo Pacheco (4)
Saves – Fred Emmings (67)
Wins – Fred Emmings (7)
Shutouts – Fred Emmings, Alec Smir (3)
