MNUFC2 on Sunday night recorded a clean sheet, defeating the Colorado Rapids 2 by a 2-0 score, extending the Twos’ win streak to three games in a row.
Rapids 2 recorded the first true scoring chance of the night in the eighth minute when midfielder Jonathan Lewis was on the receiving end of a chipped pass above Minnesota United defender Victor Eriksson. Lewis made a run towards the MNUFC2 goal, taking a shot in the left corner of the six-yard that was ultimately saved by MNUFC goalkeeper Clint Irwin.
Shortly after that chance, MNUFC2 saw its first goal opportunity when first team forward Jordan Adebayo-Smith found space, unmarked, inside the Colorado 18-yard box before settling the ball and taking a one-time shot. The shot, however, went too high above the far corner.
In his first professional start, MNUFC Academy U19 defender Dom Mawing made a key stop in the 21st minute. Darren Yapi made a run into the Minnesota box, pulling Irwin far off the goal line. Yapi beat out Irwin and took a shot, but was cleared by Mawing who had made a last-ditch, sliding effort to prevent the score. Just moments later, Colorado yet again found open space where Lewis had a one-v-one situation with Irwin. But, Minnesota United defender Morris Duggan caught up to the forward and was able to make a block to prevent the shot.
Though Rapids 2 had plenty of scoring chances on the Twos during the first half, it was MNUFC2 that struck first. In the 29th minute, Adebayo-Smith made a run inside the Colorado box and in the process was fouled. The referee awarded a penalty kick to MNUFC2. In the 30th minute, first team Homegrown Player Patrick Weah converted the penalty kick attempt to give the Twos the 1-0 lead. MNUFC2 ultimately entered halftime with the lead.
The second half slowed down a bit compared to the first 45 minutes of Sunday night’s contest, where the first real scoring chance came from an unintentional deflection by MNUFC2 midfielder Kage Romanshyn Jr., who had made a tackle attempt, but the ball deflected towards the Colorado goal, forcing the Rapids 2 keeper to make a leaping save in the 50th minute.
Rapids 2 continued to maintain possession in the Minnesota third, but the Twos defense stepped up to quash each offensive attempt near goal. Compared to the nine shots Colorado took in the first half, the home side only had three recorded shots, one on target in the final 45 minutes.
In the 78th minute, Duggan again came to the defensive rescue when a Rapids 2 player made a run at goal on the left flank, initially beating Duggan. But, the German defender recovered and made a sliding tackle to clear the ball and stop the scoring opportunity.
In the 90th minute, MNUFC2 finished off the night on a positive note when midfielder Molik Jesse Khan connected on a ball from Academy forward Julian Banks about 20 yards out from goal, hitting a strike from distance that found the back of the net to extend the lead and give the Twos a 2-0 final score victory.
MNUFC2 has now won three games in a row to finish out the month of May.
GOALS
1-0 MNUFC2 – Patrick Weah, PK (30’)
2-0 MNUFC2 – Molik Jesse Khan, assisted by Julian Banks (90’)
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
Caution, COL2 – Darren Yapi (23’)
Caution, COL2 – Daouda Amadou (59’)
Caution, MNUFC2 – Dom Mawing (60’)
NOTABLE STATS
3 – MNUFC2 won its third straight game in a row on Sunday night, finishing the month of May with a 3-1-0 (W-L-D) record and a goal differential of +4 (7 GF, 3 GA).
5 – Forward Patrick Weah scored his fifth goal of the MLS NEXT Pro regular season. Weah has scored a goal in five out of the past six matches.
1 – MNUFC Academy U19 forward Julian Banks provided his very first professional assist on the final goal of the night scored by Molik Jesse Khan.
TEAM LEADERS (Updated through May 26)
Goals – Patrick Weah (5)
Assists – Britton Fischer, Molik Jesse Khan (2)
Saves – Alec Smir (15)
Wins – Alec Smir (2)
Shutouts – Clint Irwin (1)
