MNUFC2 midfielders Diogo Pacheco and Emmanuel Iwe stole the show on Sunday night, both finding the back of the net during a 2-0 shutout against LAFC2 at the National Sports Center Stadium.
The first half of the match between MNUFC2 and LAFC2 saw end-to-end action and a multitude of scoring opportunities made by the Minnesota squad.
LAFC2 started quick and early and in the first minute Nathan Ordaz made a run at goal and Twos goalkeeper Fred Emmings. His shot from close range missed just wide.
MNUFC2 had numerous open runs at goal that just additionally missed the mark, including several connections on scoring chances created by forwards Cameron Dunbar and Kameron Lacey. In the fifth minute, Lacey connected a Dunbar pass right in the center of LAFC2’s box, but his shot wouldn’t go off straight and was blocked.
Then in the 18th minute, Dunbar again made a run towards the LA box, was slightly held before crossing the ball to the center where Lacy was positioned, but Lacey’s shot was again saved.
After a scoreless first half, the Twos broke the silence and opened the scoring in the 48th minute when defender Geremy Rodas gained possession in the defending third before sending a long ball overtop the LAFC2 defense. That ball connected with midfielder Diogo Pacheco, whose run past the defense finished with the go-ahead goal.
LAFC2 continued to fight and in the 82nd minute found space atop the MNUFC2 box, sending a shot at close range, but Fred Emmings made the key save to keep the score at 1-0.
In the final minutes of the match, midfielder Emmanuel Iwe scored the second goal of the game in the 90th minute. Twos keeper Fred Emmings first sent a long-ball to the center of the pitch on a goal kick, where midfielder Cedrik Gbo connected and headed the ball forward, where Iwe made an open run and beat the goalie to secure the 2-0 win.
Sunday night’s win marked the fifth total shutout on the season for MNUFC2 – notably the fourth shutout in the past five games. It was also Emmings’ second clean sheet of 2023.
With the result, MNUFC2 move up to sixth place in MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference regular-season action with a 7-6-4 record (W-L-D) and 26 points.
MNUFC2 will next travel to face Houston Dynamo 2 at Aveva Stadium on Sunday, July 23 at 6:00 p.m. CT.
GOALS
1-0 MIN – Diogo Pacheco, assisted by Geremy Rodas (48’)
2-0 MIN – Emmanuel Iwe, assisted by Cedrik Gbo (90’)
DISCIPLINAIRY SUMMARY
Caution, MIN – Cedrik Gbo (19’)
Caution, MIN – Devin Padelford (37’)
Caution, LAFC – Matthew Evans (75’)
Caution, MIN – Emmanuel Iwe (79’)
Caution, LAFC – Erik Duenas (85’)
NOTABLE STATS
26-12 – MNUFC2 outshot LAFC2 26 shots to 12, including 10 shots on target compared to three.
4/5 – The clean sheet by MNUFC2 was the club’s fourth shutout in its past five games.
1 – Defender Geremy Rodas recorded his very first MNUFC2 assist tonight on Diogo Pacheco’s goal.
TEAM LEADERS (Updated through July 16)
Goals – Diogo Pacheco (8)
Assists – Diogo Pacheco (4)
Saves – Fred Emmings (34)
Wins – Fred Emmings (5)
Shutouts – Alec Smir (3)
